Laying Claim to the Soul (16 page)

“Here, let me,” Wol-itelm said taking the necklace and placing it around her neck.

“Thank you, I will cherish it always. I’d like you to meet my sister, Melody. She’ll be living here with us for a while.” She pulled her best friend to her side.

“Ahh, yes it is a pleasure to meet you, dear. Of course you will be coming shopping with us. I’ve heard all about your shoe fetish and you are both going to let me catch up with you.”

“Yes! Another one for shoes. I told you we needed to go to that new store. Maybe your man there would allow us to go tomorrow and his mom can go too. Huge sale too.” Melody said, really smiling for the first time in a while.

“Well son, would you allow us ladies a day shopping?” his mother asked and he moaned next to them.

“We’ll see. Go spend some time with Chax’s father, you pain in the butt. Both of you.” He slapped both of their asses pushing them towards the patio where Bael and Apollyon were with Chax and Hoyt.

“Watch it, bud. You can touch my ass but your hands do not touch others, even my sister,” she snarled over her shoulder at him.

“You did not just snarl at me.” Wol-itelm stepped towards her and she yelped, moving through the patio door away from him. He snorted a little puff of smoke coming out of his nose the promise of something tonight in his eyes.

She squirmed and stepped up to Chax giving him a kiss on his cheek. “Are you causing trouble again?” Chax asked staring down at her, giving her one of those looks that had her toes curling in her shoes.

“I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m so bad. I mean I think I’m doing pretty good considering I’m used to going where I want to, shopping and work. Do you know how hard it is not to go just jump in my car and go to the store?” Tabby shook her head as Melody nodded.

“You and me both. Aimee called last week and wanted to go out and I had to tell her no. It gets lonely sitting around doing nothing.” Melody said as Shane came up, wrapping his arms around her.

“Well then it is good you will be studying each night, isn’t it? It will keep you two busy. And, we don’t mind taking you shopping, but it must be planned. As I’m sure Wol-itelm is doing right now. There is no way he would allow Tabby or you out in a store if it was dangerous.” Shane nipped Melody’s neck.

“You know, sometimes a surprise is safer than planning. I mean who knows who is lurking around listening to all your plans and making their own plans, just saying.” Tabby stated, a heaviness in her chest, thinking of her brother.

Tabby could still see them as children, Ben helping her with her homework or beating up a boy who had made a pass at her in high school. “I just wish…” she swallowed the tears, knowing it also hurt her sister thinking of him. She reached over, taking Melody’s hand and squeezing it.

Chax’s father stepped forward, holding out his hand to her. He was handsome, Chax had his eyes. She placed her hand into his and he pulled her into a hug. “I know just what you are going through. My brother hasn’t been around for over 600 years.” Next to them, Apollyon snarled.

“Do not even mention that man’s name. If I find his ass, he’ll regret double crossing me. You see in time, each of us has someone that hurts us, but we must go on. Think of your mother. Would she want you worrying? Sure, she would be hurt, but I’m pretty sure she’d be right here protecting you. Both of you have much to live for and Melody, Ben was not your second mate. Your second mate is still out there.”

“What?” Both Shane and Melody yelled making Apollyon laugh. But she was also shocked to say the least.

“If you know who, don’t you think you can share it with them?” Tabby asked.

“It is not my place to say who, but I will give the man a heads up and allow him the freedom to come here. My gift to you Melody, because no man has the right to do what was done to you. Even I have standards.”

Tabby was actually shocked. “Okay, I’m confused. Isn’t the devil or all those other names supposed to mean you are evil to the core, that you thrive on making people miserable?” she asked, earning a moan from Hoyt and hiss from Chax.

“Tabatha!” Wol-itelm snapped from the doorway.

“Damn it, what? I’m just asking a question? How am I supposed to learn if I can’t ask?” she stomped her foot, pissed off.

Apollyn and Chax’s father laughed. “Your perception of our world is off a little. It is another world, not the hell below the ground humans think of. Don’t get me wrong, I get the souls from your Earth that have created havoc on this planet, but that is one of the ways we feed. Where your vampires drink blood, we feed off souls that are sent to us. To those who come to our world from here, yes it is hell, because they don’t die. Their terror is our food.” Apollyon stated, sending a chill down her spine.

“But,” Chax covered her mouth with his hand and whispered in her ear.

“I will explain later, not another word!” he hissed and bit down on her neck hard, waiting till she submitted to him, lowering her head and apologizing.

“I think I’ll go start on dinner, it’s safer,” she mumbled and pulled out of Chax’s arms when he released her. “Come on Melody, let’s go plot something fun.” She teased earning a swat on her sore ass from Wol-itelm when she walked by him.

“Plot anything and I’ll tan your hid again,” he grumbled.

She glanced over her shoulder, blowing a raspberry at him. “You’re no fun, you old lizard. Maybe I need a lizard purse and shoes.”

Laughter burst out in the dining room from Wol-itelm’s mom and dad. Her father smiled and shook his head. “You are so like your mother.”

Tabby couldn’t but help smiling, remembering her mom getting in so much trouble from her mate. Looking up, her father nodded. “I knew each time her butt was smacked and I even had a hand on her ass a few times for the risks she took. I believe you are going to have red cheeks most of your life daughter, if you keep it up.”

“Well, I must be like my father also since I seem to speak my mind even though there are a room full of people around, which shouldn’t be hearing this conversation,” she bit back.

She moved into the kitchen, Melody’s eyes big as saucers, staring at me. “What is wrong with you?” she yanked her down at the table. “Do you have a death wish?”

She sighed, blowing a piece of her hair out of her face before she laid her head down on her arms on the table. “I swear Melody, it’s like I can’t stop myself. Maybe it was that crap they injected into me when they took me. Every time I go into a new room, I’m afraid someone is going to pop in and take me away.” She looked up at her best friend. “After my punishment earlier, I sat on the bed and just stared at nothing, not knowing what to do. I feel like I’m stuck in one place and nothing is ever going to change, that I’ll have to look over my shoulder every single minute. How can I bring children into my life? I can’t even take them for a damn walk in the fresh air.” By now the tears were rolling down her cheeks and wouldn’t stop. “I’m even afraid to sleep, to wake up and it’ll be another dream.”

Melody went to hug her, but moved back. Wol-itelm, Chax and Hoyt came into the room, sensing her need. Wol-itelm lifted her up into his arms, hugging her tightly as he sat down with her in is lap. Both Hoyt and Chax knelt beside their chair rubbing her arms, kissing her skin.

The room heated and she knew Wol-itelm was angry as were all of her men. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a cry baby especially when we have so many people out there.” She tried to move away from Wol-itelm, but he wouldn’t allow it. His arms were like steal around her.

Wol-itelm looked down at her. “I wish I could give you the promise that nothing else will happen. That everything will be okay, but I’m afraid I can’t, Little Pet. We would each lay down our lives for you, you know this. You have a room full of people out there that could destroy galaxies and would for you, but there will always be those that are jealous or do not want us together. But I promise you Tabby, look at me,” he asked, releasing his hold on her waist and brushing away the tears.

“I promise you, no, we promise you that we will be with you every step of the way. You are not alone in this anymore. Any time you need to cry, you do it. Don’t you know we each have very broad shoulders and are very good looking to boot? Not to mention we listen pretty well too.” He teased and she smiled.

“And who told you this, my gecko?” she stared into his eyes and felt peace settle in her bones. In her head, Hoyt and Chax whispered over and over their love for her.

“Oh I have it on good authority. You see there is this beautiful woman… Ouch!” he glared at her after she reached up and twisted his nipple. “What was that for?”

“Beautiful woman? Who was telling you that you were good looking? I’ll rip her head off,” she snarled.

“Don’t Tabby. Calm breaths, you can’t change here there isn’t enough room and I was talking about you silly lady,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Sorry, but see, I’m a mess. Is it normal to be so up and down? What if I say something to someone and end up getting killed? I just don’t know any more, Wol-itelm. I used to know where I was going in life, but now I don’t know anything. How can we even plan a wedding? I can’t go to the florist, go looking for a dress and I sure don’t want to do it sitting behind a computer. It’s not the same.”

“You are not backing out of this wedding. I will personally take you wherever you need to go and I’m sure your father will help also,” Hoyt said nodding towards the door where her father stood staring at her.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to get snippy,” she said and he grinned.

“Honey you have my wit, that’s for sure, and your man is right. If you need to go somewhere, I’ll be happy to go with you. Why don’t the two of you make a list of places you want to visit to help plan your wedding and we can make sure one of us takes you.”

“I really hate schedules,” she grumbled but knew there was no choice. “Sounds good, but we’re still going shoe shopping, yes?” Tabby asked.

“Yes we are, and if my son says no, I’ll rip his ear off,” Ivyflame said coming into the room. “Now how about I show you some of our dishes too. We can have a smorgasbord of food here.” She asked, heading into the kitchen and taking off her jacket, placing it on the chair.

Placing a quick kiss on Wol-itelm, she stood up. “Sounds good. I need something to keep my mind off of things. Thank you Chax, Hoyt, Wol-itelm.” She touched her collar and both Chax and Wol-itelm grumbled about a full house and Hoyt laughed, placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Be good. We’ll be here if you need us.” He turned to leave, but she latched onto his arm, looking at the potato bin.

“Could you check for me?” she asked. Melody squealed and ran to her side as Wol-itelm’s frowned.

“What am I missing?” she asked.

“There are no snakes in this kitchen or in this house, little pet, I promise,” Wol-itelm said over his shoulder before leaving the kitchen. “You wouldn’t be standing there if there was.”

His mom shivered as if getting the picture in her head. “I might be a dragon, as humans call us, but even I can’t stand those things.” She shivered again and at once Wol-itelm’s father was there rubbing her arms.

“Are you okay?” he asked the worried look in his had Tabby looking over at the door to the kitchen where Wol-itelm still stood.

“
I’ll always be worried about you, little pet. We all will.”
She nodded and felt his arms around her even when he wasn’t standing behind her.

“I’m fine, just the pictures of what happened to our new daughter…Well, you know I don’t like the slimy things and the thought that one bit her… Find these people, Whitehowl. No women should be scared in her own home. It’s just wrong.” She kissed her husband’s chin. “Now, off with you while we girls work in here. Oh, and why don’t you ask the other mothers to come in? I’m sure they would like to be in here rather than in there listening to all of you beating your chests.”

Just as she said that, Hoyt’s mother and grandmother came into the kitchen. “Really, you would think we were at a howl the way the men are in there acting,” Grace said, winking at her and introducing herself and Helen, Hoyt’s grandmother.

“Why don’t you two use that computer behind you to start looking up places that you would like to visit so you can get moving on that wedding I want to be at.” Grace pointed to. “We can cook and listen at the same time. Now do you have a date?” She asked as the three women set out exploring her kitchen.

She looked at Melody, smiling. “Well since I’m carrying twins, I guess we’ll have to do it soon. I missed Christmas, but we could do it Valentine’s Day?” she glanced at Melody, who was shaking her head.

“No, we both hate that day. How about on March 25th,” Melody grinned. “It’s on a Saturday too.”

“That sounds nice and it’s not too far away. Why are you frowning?” Ivyflame asked.

“It’s her birthday and she doesn’t like to celebrate it. Hasn’t for the past 15 years ever since… Damn it Tabby, that hurt!” Melody reached down and rubbed her ankle, glaring at her.

“Well then you don’t need to tell everyone about what happened,” she frowned and thought back to that day. “You know now that I think about it, it’s when Ben started attacking weird around me.”

“Do you think Hoyt would know? He and Ben were best friends back then.” Melody asked ,sadness surrounded them both. “It’s been hard hasn’t it? First we thought he was dead and now this betrayal.” Tabby leaned over, taking Melody’s hands in hers. “Let’s do it on the 25th. Give us something to celebrate that is good.”

“You have a question for me?” Hoyt asked, coming into the kitchen.

She rolled her eyes. “I swear I keep forgetting they hear everything,” Tabby nodded to the other chair beside her. “Sit, we have a question for you.”

He leaned down and kissed her cheek, his hand wrapped around her shoulders as he pulled her chair closer to his. “Now what do you want to know?” he asked nibbling her neck.

“Stop that, I can’t concentrate when you do that?” Tabby pulled away from him, smacking his leg. “When I was 15 ,on my birthday, my brother, well, ruined the day. I had never known he could be so nasty. Even mom and dad were surprised. You weren’t there, but I was wondering if anything happened around that time. Maybe to give us some kind of clue as to why Ben is acting this way?” Tabby asked, watching Hoyt frowning and sitting back.