21. Frederick

Chapter 21

Frederick

L ife had settled into a very comfortable routine. We were still searching for Marco, but it appeared that he was starting to slip up. He had been seen in Timber Valley, and that was very unlike the man that we all had studied over and over. Things changed though when you met your fated one. And I had to wonder if she was the reason he started doing things that he hadn’t before?

We had learned quite a bit about Malorie over the past several weeks. She had apparently been playing the long game, and she was not innocent in any way. She had used her position at the bakery to collect information from enforcers as they came in to satisfy their need for sweets. Her collection of data and information about the council and its members had been retried from her personal computer, and when it was all brought to James and Elizabeth’s attention, neither of them took it well.

What had appeared to be simple, innocent, small talk was actually her gathering information in order to use it to her own monetary advantage. No, there was absolutely nothing nice or innocent about her. She had already shared some information on the dark web, and for that alone, she would be punished for her crimes against not just paranormals, but against the paranormal council.

Despite all of that, she had slipped up and had visited her parents late one night. That was how the council was tipped off as to where she and Marco were hiding out. When she came for a second visit, James had let Master Edison know, and we had all been recalled to follow her back to their hidey hole. They had been hiding out in an abandoned emergency cabin in the middle of the national forest that surrounded the lake. She had been careless with her return, and we finally were ready to approach and secure the couple. Both would pay for their crimes, and neither would be able to get out of their punishments. Because of Marco’s crimes, he would be put to death. Unfortunately for Malorie, that meant she would eventually face the same fate, as they truly were fated, and had claimed each other.

We had been told were to go, and were staged and waiting for the signal from Alpha Sergei. He and his dragons were in the sky while Atticus and his hellhounds were circling the cabin. Master Edison and us warlocks were also here, but we weren’t really needed for the initial rush. We were what I would consider backup as we were waiting just out of the loop that the hellhounds had created.

It had been confirmed that there were three beings inside the cabin, and everyone wondered just who the third might be. Had they kidnapped someone?

Tired of his games, the council had already dispatched Riccardo, so we all knew it wasn’t possible for him to be in the cabin with them. So who did that leave?

The sudden loud roar above us surprised me, but I had to assume that was the signal from Alpha Sergei. Something had set off the created dragon, and it was time for us to do what it was that we were here for. The next couple of minutes were pure chaos, and the sheer amount of magical power in the air and around us, was not only fascinating, but draining on the body and mind. And just as quickly as everything started, it all ended. The fire from the sky, the massive dome of magical energy, and the sense of urgency left the area in a blink.

I hadn’t been directly involved, and it might be wrong of me to voice such things, but I was all right with that. I was working to find a balance between my commitment to the council and Dominic and our unborn son. It was assignments such as this that caused me to question if remaining with the council was truly what I wanted in life.

I wasn’t directly in danger this time. And it wasn’t just me who was on the sidelines. This engagement was only ever going to be the dragons, the hellhounds, and Master Edison. All of his warlocks were here for support if needed, but yeah, we were the backup if needed. Thankfully, we weren’t, but what if we had? Sebastian had been hurt, although not gravely, not long ago by the very man we were after tonight.

I looked over at Benjamin and Sebastian wondering what we were supposed to do now. It had gone eerily quiet and dark in the area, and although it would be easy enough to light our surroundings with magic, I did not wish to be the one to completely undo everything that the council had been working for.

“There is someone coming,” Benjamin said. We all heard it, the shuffling of feet through the forest, and whoever was trapsing through the forest did not wish to be silent. A familiar face suddenly appeared in front of us, and I smiled at Atticus.

“Perfect. It’s good to know that my magical abilities still work,” he said. “Master Edison would like to see the three of you. I thought I had found your aura’s, and it’s good to know that I did. I’m working on learning the rest of the enforcer’s, so I can zero in on everyone if needed during an entanglement.”

I looked at my cousins before we all stood from where we were crouched down in the forest waiting. We followed Atticus back to where he had come, and I’m not sure exactly what it was that I was expecting, but the sight in front of me wasn’t it.

It just seemed so…diminutive. We had been searching for this man for months. He had injured Sebastian and Lukan, and had even killed one of Vincent’s vampires. But the man kneeling on the ground in front of Master Edison was not who I expected.

“He doesn’t look like much of a threat at the moment, does he?” Sebastian asked.

I looked over at him and shook my head.

“You wanted to see us Master?” Benjamin asked.

“I did, yes. We are going to need to act fast because unfortunately Malorie did not make it through the engagement.” Master Edison let out a drawn-out sigh. “She and their unborn child unfortunately perished when we entered the cabin.” Master Edison looked at Marco with disgust. “She was only days pregnant, but that didn’t change the fact that she was.” Master Edison narrowed his eyes. “Never before would I have thought that a man, because he does not deserve the title of one of my warlocks, would murder his own One and child. I do not know how long he will survive, but we need to act fast to get any information from him that we can.”

My chest suddenly felt a pain that I couldn’t understand. Malorie wasn’t a good person, but the baby she was obviously carrying was completely innocent in all of this.

“What do you need from us? Benjamin asked.

“Go with Atticus and the rest of the his pack to transport the prisoner to the cells below the council. They will take things from there, but please accompany them for extra support if needed.”

“Will do.” Benjamin responded. Sebastian and I nodded in agreement, and once Atticus grabbed Marco and pulled him from his knees, we followed him to the side of the building, where the rest of his pack were standing and waiting. There was another body there, and I knew I’d seen him somewhere before. It took a moment to realize I had seen him in Dominic’s memories. He was someone from their coven, and I had to wonder if he was a prisoner or was here willingly.

My mind started racing and I could not believe what Master Edison had just shared with us. I was in complete agreement with him; there was no way this piece of shit deserved the title, and the powers that had been gifted to him. How did one murder their own One and unborn child? Why? I absolutely could not come to terms with that, and I didn’t know if it was because my own One was currently pregnant or if it was simply because I happen to be a good person—unlike the piece of trash currently being escorted between Warwick and Atticus.

I shared a look with Benjamin and Sebastian, and I could tell from looks alone that they too were feeling much the same that I was. How was it possible? What kind of evilness did you truly have to be in order to do such a thing?

When the hellhounds and Marco disappeared, Benjamin, Sebastian, and I used our magic to teleport ourselves back to the mountain as well. The pack was waiting outside the entrance, and once Augustus opened the door, we all filed in out of the cold.

Everest was on night duty tonight and sitting at the desk and it normally would have been comical to see the wolf shifter’s face, but there was nothing funny about our entire situation.

We walked through the council building, and when we entered the hallway that was rarely used, I wondered just how many paranormals would be marched down this corridor in my time with the council? Would we eventually deal with all of the negative apples out there? Would we ever live in peaceful harmony? I didn’t know, but sadly I was certain that was most likely never going to truly happen.

Once we reached the end of the hallway, Atticus stopped and waited. He typed in a code on the keypad, and then bent down to scan his retina. Only then did the doors in front of us open. Inside was a glowing red box.

Atticus and Warwick marched Marco into the elevator and once they turned around, Damien, Dante, and Augustus filed in with them. Only then did true panic show on Marco’s face.

Sebastian raised his hand and wiggled his fingers at the prisoner. “Goodbye,” he said in a mocking way. “Just remember, you deserve everything that you are about to experience and more. I hope you truly suffer for what you’ve done.”

“Don’t worry, he will,” Atticus said.

The door is closed, and after a moment my cousins and I looked at each other. After that, it seemed as if all energy drained from the three of us. There was no worry about Marco escaping, because once he was in the elevator, there was no way out unless you were personally given permission by Master Edison.

“How?” Was all that I asked.

“I’m not sure,” Benjamin responded. “I’ve seen some pretty fucked up things in my lifetime, but what he did was more than any I had ever seen.”

“I know this is what we signed up for, to rid the world of people like him, but this one is hitting me hard,” I told them. I rubbed the center of my chest where the ache had grown slightly.

Benjamin looked at me and when he placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze, I felt the love and acceptance that was normal for my family. I knew that that I was incredibly fortunately to have grown up with the family I did.

“I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that Dominic is currently pregnant. Trust me, it’s hitting me as well.” Benjamin smiled. “We haven’t shared it yet, but Eli caught during his last heat. We’re going to be daddies again, and yeah, I can’t imagine hurting him. Pregnant or not, I would never do anything to hurt him.”

Sebastian and I shared a quick glance before we both patted Benjamin on the back. Together, we all turned around and walked down the hallway and back out into the main foyer. From there we entered the hallway that would take us to the cafeteria.

It was the middle of the night, and when I reached out to Dominic through our bond, he was fast asleep in our bed. I had no doubt that Eli was as well, as was Drew. All of our Ones were safe and secure in their beds at home. But we hadn’t yet been released, and I had no idea when that was going to happen, so I had to be content with knowing he was safe at home.

“Congratulations,” I said to Benjamin. He looked over at me and smiled.

“Thank you. Eli has always wanted more children, but I was able to talk him into waiting until the twins were two before trying for a third. I don’t know how everything will work, with them being so rambunctious, but we’re lucky that we have help from my fathers.”

“I don’t know,” Sebastian said. “I can see Drew possibly wanting one or two more, but having two at the same time?” Sebastian looked at Benjamin. “I don’t know how you do it. I love the little guys, but every time we’ve been around them, they’re always so full of energy. How does Eli manage to spend all day chasing after them?”

Benjamin chuckled. “Luckily, he is just as full of energy. He absolutely adores the boys and although they are a lot of work, I couldn’t tell him no when he wanted a third.”

We made it to the cafeteria and the three of us walked directly to the back wall where the drink station was. Sebastian and I opted for coffee while Benjamin poured a mug of hot water for tea.

“What about you?” Benjamin asked. “Are you and Dominic going to have more than one?”

“Yes. I’m not sure that we will end up with as many as everyone else in our family seems to have, but Dominic very much wants to have at least two. He’s the only child of only children, and it had a big impact on him growing up. He didn’t know if he would be able to have children at all because of his age, and then to find out that he can, he very much wants to have at least two.” I shrugged and shook my head. “I don’t care how many we have. If he wants to have seven, I will be more than happy to help him with that.” It was so fun. Before Dominic, I enjoyed sex. With Dominic? I loved it. Craved it even. He brought out a side of me that I didn’t know I had, but I certainly wasn’t complaining.

Benjamin and Sebastian both chuckled as we moved away from the drink station and went to sit at a nearby table. We were the only ones in the cafeteria, but like the council, it never completely closed. It wasn’t full-service in the middle of the night, but you could get drinks around the clock, and there were always prepackaged sandwiches, bags of chips, desserts, and snacks available in the middle of the night.

“Do you think that they will get the information they need?” Sebastian asked.

Benjamin was quiet for a moment before he nodded slowly. “I have no doubt. Marco undoubtably murdered Malorie and their child because he knew in the end that would cause the end of him. I don’t think he was anticipating just how the hellhounds would go about getting information from him. They’re good at their jobs, but there’s no way I would want to be in the room with them while they were doing what they’re doing.”

I fully agreed with that. We sat there for a little longer before the others returned from the park off the mountain. After we were all quickly briefed, we were sent home. When I arrived, I couldn’t quite bring myself to crawl into bed with Dominic right away. Instead, I sat in a chair beside the bed and watched the beautiful man who is carrying our son sleeping. He was my entire world. Like Benjamin and Sebastian, there wasn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for him. I couldn’t imagine hurting him the way Marco so thoughtlessly did Malorie and their child.

I don’t know how long I sat there staring, but I must have done something to wake Dominic because he rolled over onto his side and then opened his eyes and looked directly at me. A sleepy smiled filled his face, and I felt a sense of love and warmth suddenly surround me.

“Did you get him?” He asked.

I stared at my love for a moment before nodding subtly. “Yeah. We got him,” I said. My voice was thick with emotion and barely audible, but Dominic had heard me.

Dominic picked up on the fact that something wasn’t quite right, and being the perfect One that he was, he pushed up onto his elbow and looked at me. “Come to bed. Let me hold you and you can feel our baby kick. He’s been very active tonight. I think he’s missing his Papa being next to him.” That had me smiling and was exactly what I needed. I was naked as I stood, my clothes gone with magic, and when I crawled into bed with Dominic, the pain in my chest finally subsided.

As I curled up behind him and placed my hand on his baby bump, I felt a gentle kick against it and sighed. Our son knew I was there and was saying hello. I sighed, kissed Dominic’s shoulder, and closed my eyes. This definitely was what I needed.