Nikolas (25 page)

They had decided to order lunch when Zeke’s phone rang. He looked at it and announced, “Xenia. Hello? You did? Okay, hang on. You’re on speaker, go ahead.”

Xenia’s voice came over the small phone, but with everyone in the room being a shifter, they could hear her with no trouble. “I think I found something. Look at photo seventeen. In the top left corner, there are several round glyphs. If I could get that blown up a little, I could be sure, but it looks like a drawing of the Cleopatra Disk.”

While Julian began working frantically on his computer, Sophia looked closely at what her aunt was referring to. Julian said, “I have magnified the corner images and sent them to everyone’s email. Xenia, yours, too.”

“How did you get my email address?” she asked as a ding sounded over the phone.

Nik answered, “He’s Julian. Just go with it.”

Sophia studied the new version of the photo and said, “You’re right, Auntie. It looks exactly like the artifact. But we still don’t know what it means or where they are.”

“Hold tight, little dove. I came across something in one of my father’s journals that I’d never seen before. I’ve already scanned it in; I was waiting on an email address. Julian, I’ll respond to the one you just sent, and if you would please, forward it on.”

Within a minute everyone had the document she was referring to. “My father never mentioned anything about this particular expedition. After reading his notes, I think he was close to finding what he thought was Antony and Cleopatra’s burial site. Sophia, I might know where your parents are.”

Nik prayed Xenia wasn’t giving Sophia false hope. When they all calmed down, Xenia confirmed his suspicions. “Hold on everyone. I know the general area where my father was searching. The documents are dated 2035. That was twelve years ago. This same area has been used by rebels in recent years. It’s a dangerous location. Probably one of the most dangerous in the country.”

He interrupted her, “So what you’re saying is this may not be where Sam and Monica are.”

Sophia stood and walked over to the window. Nik followed her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned her head back and said, “Something Xenia said stirred a memory... a map…” Nik didn’t speak. He let her mind focus on what it was trying to recall.

Julian spoke up and told Xenia, “Thank you for this information. There is another matter we need to see to at the moment. If you don’t mind, we’ll call you back.”

“Of course, I’ll be waiting.” The phone disconnected and the room was silent.

Nik said to the others, “I’m taking Sophia outside for a minute where she can concentrate.” He led her out the front door onto the huge porch. They sat in one of the cushioned love seats, and he held her hands in his. “I want you to meditate.”

“I don’t know how.”

“I’m going to give you a crash course. Now, get comfortable and close your eyes.” Sophia leaned back, and he placed her hands in her lap. “I want you to pretend your mind is a filing cabinet. Separate the noises you hear and put them in the bottom drawer. Take your pain and put it in the middle drawer. Focus only on the memory from your past. I’m going to be quiet so you don’t have to shove me somewhere.”

Nik closed his own eyes and called his shifter to the front of his mind.
Can you sense her?

Of course. But she doesn’t need help. Sophia’s mind is strong. Sharp.

Nik was still trying to wrap his head around the fact he could communicate with the being inside. He’d always thought they were one and the same. He didn’t mind it, though. Especially since it could speak to Sophia’s shifter. Now that they were fully mated, they would be able to sense one another as well. He attempted something he’d never tried before; Nik concentrated on Sophia’s mind. He did as he instructed her to do and focused only on his mate. At first there was no connection. Then it was as if someone cracked a door to a theater. Nik was seeing snippets of something… a memory…

“Nik!” Sophia fussed. “I had it until you joined the party. How did you do that anyway?”

“You could feel me?”

“Of course. But you could have tiptoed instead of stomping around inside my head. Warn a girl next time.”

“I wasn’t sure it would work. I wasn’t trying to invade your privacy, more like offering a boost of power.”

Sophia grinned at him. “Gorgeous, I’m not mad. I already told you, there is nothing I have to hide from you. Are we not partners now?”

“Yes, but…”

“No buts. You just surprised me is all. If you tell me you’re going to join me in my thoughts, I’ll try to open the door for you, if that’s even possible.”

Nikolas couldn’t keep his hands to himself any longer. He pulled Sophia into his lap. She circled her arms around his neck and leaned in for a kiss. His dick thought it was play time and got hard. Sophia broke the kiss. “As much as I’d love to get naked with you right now, I need to look at a map.”

“You remembered something, didn’t you?” Nik kissed her nose and pushed her to her feet. He stood and grabbed hold of her biceps. He needed to touch her constantly. That was something he’d have to work on. Or not.

“I did. When I was sixteen, I confronted my mother about moving to New Atlanta with JoJo. She was looking at a map of Egypt. I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but she had certain areas circled.”

“And you think these areas have to do with where your parents are now?”

“I think if they don’t, it’s a pretty big coincidence, and I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Neither do I. Let’s go look at a map.” He held the door open for his mate and asked Julian to pull up the map that corresponded to the area Xenia had referred to.

Sophia studied the map while Nik explained what was going on.

“Why would Monica have been studying a map of Egypt? Tessa asked.

“Because, before she met Samuel, she was an archaeologist,” Zeke replied.

Sophia stopped looking at the map. “How did I not know that?”

Zeke sighed. “This isn’t my story to tell. When we find your parents, you need to ask them how they met.”

Sophia stared at Zeke, but she was looking through him. Nik had a feeling when she found out what it was her uncle wouldn’t tell her, it wasn’t going to be pretty. “Sophia, the map?” He redirected her thoughts.

“Julian, is there possibly an older map? The one my mother was looking at wasn’t as modernized.”

“Let me see what I can find.” Julian tapped away and within a couple of minutes asked, “You mean like this one?”

Sophia stepped behind his chair and exclaimed, “That’s it! That’s exactly what my mother was looking at. She had this area here, and this one here, circled,” she said pointing at the screen.

Julian circled the areas on the map and saved it. “I’m emailing this to Xenia to see if it matches her father’s documentations.”

Nik didn’t like the sound of the area they were discussing being overrun with rebels. He knew there was no way Sophia would stay behind when it came time to search. “If that is the area we conclude your parents are being kept, I want to do a little recon before we all go traipsing over the sand and get shot at.”

“I totally agree. While you males can fend for yourselves, Tessa and I aren’t equipped with that thick skin. Personally, I don’t want to get shot. Being thrown in prison was bad enough,” Sophia said.

Tessa nodded and said, “I like a good adventure as much as the next girl, but Sophia’s right. We need to know what we’re dealing with. We need to play this one by the book, so to speak. We can’t go in fangs out, claws bared. We need to get our hands on some guns.”

Gregor pulled Tessa to him and wrapped his arms around her. Nik knew what his cousin was feeling. The need to protect his mate was so strong. Gregor said, “I hate to ask this since he’s already in debt to his father, but could Keene get the guns from Brock?”

Julian stood from his chair and stretched. “Instead of Keene owing his father, why don’t we just purchase the weapons? It’s not like we don’t have the money.”

Nik agreed with his baby brother. “If it comes down to needing guns. The rebels might have moved on. We won’t know until we scout the area.”

“Zeke, what do you say about a little recon mission?” Julian asked. “I don’t think Gregor and Nik will leave their females in our capable hands.”

Nik laughed at his brother, but he was right. He loved Julian, and Zeke was Sophia’s uncle, but there was no way he would trust her safety to anyone else right now.

“I say let’s get ready.”

While the two males were preparing for their trip, Xenia called and confirmed the circled areas on the map were indeed notated in her father’s documents. “There’s something else. I didn’t think about it until now, but when my parents were killed, I was given access to a safety deposit box. The only item in the box was a slip of paper. On the paper were all sorts of numbers. Some looked like coordinates, but others were only random numbers.”

“Did you ever look up the coordinates?” Nik asked.

“I did. They led to a location in the States. I was so distraught when I lost my father, I didn’t pursue the information.”

“Do you think those numbers are somehow connected to the location on the map?” Sophia asked.

“No, I don’t think so, but I thought I’d mention them anyway.”

“Why don’t you send us the numbers, and we’ll see what we come up with on our end,” Tessa suggested. “We have some pretty powerful computer programs at our disposal.”

“Is there any way to encrypt a photo? I don’t want this getting into the wrong hands if it turns out to be something major.”

Julian walked into the room and took over. “Xenia, this is Julian. I am going to email a program to you. Open it and install it on your laptop. When it’s loaded, you will be able to send the photo to us.”

Nik was the keeper of the archives for the Clan. It didn’t take a genius to add names to a list. Julian was a different story. Nik was continually amazed at how intelligent his brother was. He had seen firsthand some of the things Julian had created, but to see him in action outside of the lab was always a joy to watch.

Julian and Zeke were ready to go. The Stone Society jet was fueled and waiting for them at the airport. The flight to Luxor would get them close to where they needed to start. Julian and Zeke would scout the area and return as soon as possible. When Julian suggested he go ahead and search for Sam and Monica, Sophia emphatically said no. She needed to help search. Nik agreed, however reluctantly.

After the two men were on their way to the airport, the others opened up the email Xenia sent and studied the coordinates. There were several sets of numbers included. Sophia plugged the coordinates in the system while the others began deciphering the random digits.

“Holy shit. Holy fricking shit!” Sophia exclaimed.

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and came to her computer. “These coordinates? They’re to my parents’ place in New York. Why would Xenia’s father have those in a safety deposit box?”

“Maybe he wanted her to find her biological family in the event something happened to him,” Gregor offered.

“But why Dad? Why not JoJo or Caroline?”

“Well, your grandparents did give her up for adoption. And besides, Jonas is a little far out there sometimes,” Tessa added.

“I thought the purpose of separating the siblings was for safety. Only Dad and Zeke knew about the others until you and I came along. I think there’s more to it than that.”

Nik kissed his mate on top of the head. “Don’t worry about that now. Let’s concentrate on these other numbers.”

By the time Julian and Zeke had landed and checked into a hotel, Nik and the others were no closer to deciphering the numbers. They were tired of staring at a computer screen, so they decided to break for supper. “Do you think it’s safe to go to a restaurant? I need to get out of here for a while.” Sophia asked.

Nik couldn’t imagine being stuck in a hole for weeks on end. Even though the villa was large, she still had to feel a little claustrophobic. “I think we can manage that. Between Gregor and I, nothing will happen to you.”

The two couples showered and changed into more appropriate attire and headed downtown. They found a rooftop bistro where they could take in the crisp, fresh air while they ate. Nik kept an eye on Sophia’s mood and heart rate. She was relaxed as she and Tessa swapped stories of being trained by Jonas. He and Gregor remained alert to their surroundings so the women could enjoy their evening out.

Once they finished their dessert, Nik stood and held his hand out to his mate. “May I have this dance?” Soft music floated across the air. Sophia grinned and placed her hand in his. He pulled her close and nuzzled her ear. “How many kids do you want?” he whispered.

“Fifteen,” she replied without hesitation.

Nik pulled back and studied her face. When she laughed, he relaxed and pulled her close again. “I already owe you one spanking, woman. I do believe that calls for another.”

Sophia continued to giggle. It was a sound he would never tire of hearing. “What is the first one for?”

“For running off to Egypt without me. For not telling me we’re mates. For making me wait so long to sink my cock into your sweet…”

“Ahem,” Tessa cleared her throat, smiling. “We can hear you.”

Nik grinned and spun Sophia around, causing her to laugh louder. Gregor and Tessa joined them, and the two couples danced until the moon called to his spirit. He knew Gregor also felt it when his cousin closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky. Nikolas could not wait to get back to the States where he could spread his wings and soar.

Once back at the villa, the women went inside while Nik and Gregor lingered on the porch. Gregor clapped him on the shoulder and asked, “How is she?”

“Surprisingly, she’s good. We talked at length about her ordeal last night, and she seems to be handling it really well. She’s a tough one.”

“It must run in their blood. Tessa’s the same way. She almost died, and now she doesn’t even mention it. The only thing that bothers her is she misses Tamian. She thought she saw him in Greece, and I almost wish she had. She pretends she’s okay, but I can see the longing in her face when she glances at their picture.”