Chapter Four

Zadie Williams stared down at her resignation letter and sighed. She kept it in her desk for evenings like this one. She'd take it out, play the entire scenario in her mind where she threw it at her boss, then, because she had bills, she'd put it back in her desk underneath the bag of emergency chocolate.

She popped a piece of said chocolate in her mouth and got her backpack ready to go. Today's frustration inducing moments? Two parent teacher meetings. Two instances where her boss sided with the parents, making her look bad.

This political crap wasn't why she became an educator. Growing up, the only people she had been able to count on were her teachers. She wanted to help children as she had been helped.

She did not want to be blamed for little Jimmy Anderson's inability to read, when his parents did nothing at home to help. She could only do so much in the classroom, especially given the ever-growing child count. She couldn't give any one child the attention they deserved.

"I just wanted to make a difference," she whispered to herself.

Seconds later she heard what she thought was the sound of a desk getting moved.

"These things are so little," a male voice mused.

She grabbed her backpack, slung it on backwards so she could reach into the front pocket to grab her phone and pepper spray.

She followed the sounds of objects being moved until she came up to Ms. O'Malley's classroom. From the two open doors further down the hall, this was not the man's first stop.

She peeked into the room and saw a tall dark-haired man in a barn jacket eyeing the bookcase. "What ages are these for?" he pulled one out and skimmed the contents. He snort laughed and nodded. "They'll like the baby penguins." He shoved the book in his small pouch like bag.

How in the hell had that fit?

When he picked up another book and made the animal sounds for the characters on the cover Zadie melted, which made her hesitate in calling the police. This man was obviously looking for things for a child. "Can I help you?" she asked, keeping her pepper spray in hand and behind her back.

The man turned and she felt her mouth go dry. He was stunning. Slightly curly hair, strong nose, and a trimmed beard that was giving lumberjack vibes. But, it was his eyes that drew her in. They were welcoming and kind.

Those dark blue eyes went wide. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know anyone would still be here. I hope I didn't frighten you." He stared at her eyes unblinking. "I never thought I'd find you in a school."

Crazy talk versus hotness.

She decided a few more questions would help. "Did you put that book in your bag?"

He nodded.

"That's stealing. I should call the police."

He held up both hands, keeping them visible to her. "I swear it's for a good cause. I also left money on the principal's desk."

"Good cause?"

He nodded. "The group I'm a part of, rescued twenty kids that were raised in captivity. They are nowhere near ready to come to school, so we thought it best to bring the school to them." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "You have to believe me. I would never hurt you, never you."

She decided to ignore that weird statement and stayed by the doorway. She looked past him to the books on the bookshelf. "What are their ages?"

"Fifteen, ten, five and infants."

"Exactly five years apart? Where the hell were they, in a cult?"

He nodded slowly. "Something like that."

"You military?"

"I am."

She took in his wide stance, how he stood up straight and fought back a sigh. As her foster mother would have said. ‘Good lord child, they don't make em like that no mo.'

"Good lord," she whispered to herself.

"I know you have no reason to trust me, but I could really use your help." He pointed around the room. "I have already ordered things like clothes, toys and diapers. That was easy. But workbooks? And, are those tablets?"

Zadie smothered a chuckle. "They are."

"I thought this was a school for small children." He brought up his phone and looked. "That's what elementary means right?"

"Kids get tablets early on now."

His eyes went wide, and he looked panicked. "I didn't get those."

"I'm sure you can order them." Sighing, she realized she felt like she could trust him. She stashed her pepper spray and phone in her bag and pulled it on to free up her hands.

"The infants and five-year-olds can get by with educational toys for a bit. For the ten- and fifteen-year-olds, I'm afraid the tablets will be your best bet."

The man scrubbed his hands over his face. "I'm not cut out for this. Kids learn so differently now." He eyed her. "Could you help me order some things?" He pulled out a black credit card. "I have this."

Zadie nearly choked on her next breath. She had only heard of cards like that. He went to hand it to her, and she stepped back.

He grinned. "That was my reaction too. It isn't mine. The one funding everything didn't think twice about giving it to me. I might still break out in hives from the stress."

She laughed and his expression softened.

"I guess I could help for a bit. But, maybe not at the scene of the crime huh?"

He stared for a second then nodded. "Of course. I was told human women like coffee and chocolate. Would you feel comfortable at the coffee shop downtown?"

Human?

She shook her head. "I don't go there anymore. They fired my favorite barista."

His head tilted. "You wouldn't be talking about Izzy, would you?"

"No way! Do you know Izzy? Is she okay? After the building had the fire, I heard her asshole boss fired her." Zadie rushed forward. In truth she had missed the crazy barista something fierce in the mornings.

The man was now smiling wide. "She's great! She's uh, married to one of my good friends and more than one business owner has asked for her help in setting up coffee machines."

"Married! Oh, good for her." She thought about it. "He's patient right?"

"Oron is the epitome of goodwill and patience," he assured her, then wiped at his brow. "Is it hot in here?"

She shook her head. For once, she was actually comfortable. "I feel fine."

When his hand covered his eyes for a moment, she saw that they were shaking. "Hey, are you all right?"

He nodded, then said, "I'm not sure."

"Can I call someone for you?"

He patted down his jeans and pulled out a phone, then stared at it. "I really, really don't want to freak you out, but my vision is blurry."

"Shit! Let me call an ambulance."

"No! Don't call the paramedics. I don't know if a Vanguard is working today," he pleaded.

"Is this a military thing?"

He nodded, then groaned. "That wasn't a good idea," he said, grabbing his head with both hands as if to steady it.

She stepped forward and draped his arm around her shoulders. "Do you have a car?"

"No, I walked."

"Well, I do. Can I at least take you somewhere?"

"My friend Meryn would call you an idiot and say something about not being taken to a secondary location."

"You're really not helping your cause."

He took her hand and placed it on his very firm chest. "As long as my heart beats, I protect those that cannot protect themselves. I swear on my life that I would rather slit my own throat than harm you."

Who needed dry underwear?

"I think you are a fantasy my overworked brain conjured to compensate for a shitty day."

He gave her a loopy smile. "I'm a fantasy?"

"You sure as hell look like one."

"It's the beard, isn't it? I knew it was a good idea."

She led him through the halls to her car. Once the passenger door was open, he literally slid down and toppled inside. She shut the car door.

"A dry spell has you doing stupid shit," she chided herself.

She looked through the car window and saw his pained expression and the sweat on his brow.

"Well, maybe he'll be kind enough to kill me after some great sex."

"I won't kill you, but if you would like to have sex, you may have to wait until my vision isn't…" He peeled an eye open. "Tripled."

"Shit!" she ran around the back of the car and got in the driver seat. "Where do I take you?"

He handed her his phone. "Call…" He paused. "Meryn."

She eyed him. "Your friend?"

He nodded. "My closest friend that I have outside my unit. She adopted a set of twins as her brothers, I am close to them as well. She's mated to my Unit Commander and is surprisingly efficient in times like this."

Zadie exhaled and felt irate at herself for feeling jealous of a woman she didn't know over a man she didn't know. But hearing she was mated…

"Mated?"

"Married."

"Right."

She picked up the phone and dialed.

"Yello."

"Hm, hello."

"This isn't Kincaid."

"Is that his name?"

"Okay, on a scale from one to fucked, how are we?"

Zadie couldn't help but smile. "The dumb bitch you're talking to has the man she caught stealing school supplies in her car like a statistic waiting to happen, because he's hot and about to pass out."

The woman laughed. "Never let them take you to a secondary location."

Zadie shook her head. "He said, you'd say that. Not to worry, I'm driving so, technically I'm taking myself to the secondary location. I just need to know where that is, so he can get some help."

"Am I on speaker?"

"Yup."

"Kincaid, buddy, how you doin?"

Kincaid smiled weakly. "Burning up, can't think, can't see. She's needs to come with me, tell the guys."

"I will hun. Hell yeah, she seems cool."

"I'm my own damn self and can go where I want. Now, where am I dropping your superhero?"

"Amelia! You were right, he does look like Cavill!" The woman yelled.

"Focus! Where am I going?"

"Hmm, go to maps and just tap the button that says portal, directions should load."

Zadie tapped the button and exhaled in relief when she saw they were about a half hour away.

"ETA?" Meryn asked.

"Thirty minutes."

All of a sudden, she felt her car shake. "Is that a damn earthquake?"

"Sorry," Kincaid whispered.

"Miss? What is your name?" a deep and smooth voice asked.

"My name is Zadie Williams."

"Ms.Williams, I don't want to alarm you, but you may want to get here sooner rather than later," he advised.

When the car pitched to one side she started it, put it in drive and floored it. "Be there in fifteen."

"Make and model of your car?"

"A hooptie, white, Toyota Camry."

"If you see the Sheriff, keep driving, he's your escort in."

Zadie felt a small wave of relief. If the Sheriff could vouch for him, he couldn't be too bad.

"See you in fifteen."

"See you in fifteen," the man replied."

*****

Five minutes later the county's Sheriff's car pulled out in front of her and hit the lights. Free to floor it, they actually made it in eleven minutes.

When she stopped, she hopped out of the car and went to Kincaid's side. He had stopped mumbling just a few minutes ago. "Please be okay!" she pleaded to him. She rubbed her chest, the anxiety and panic swirled around her heart.

She heard car doors slam.

"Why isn't the damn thing lit?"

"Liam, find out."

She looked up to see another handsome man jogging toward her. He took in her expression and smiled. "Sounds like you've had one hell of a night."

"He stopped mumbling," she advised.

His face froze, then he was opening the door and pulling Kincaid out. "Come on, my friend. Just a bit more." He looked back to her. "Follow me."

She grabbed the bag he had with him and her backpack. She shoved the small pouch in and zipped up her bag. She slammed her car door then ran after him.

She watched as another man, paced back and forth on the phone. He exhaled. "Finally! Incoming."

Before her very eyes, golden light arched between the white marble pillars that had looked out of place just moments ago.

"Come on, honey," the Sheriff said, his head nodding toward the light.

"If you're not supposed to go to a secondary location, what happens at the tertiary one?" she whispered.

The one the Sheriff called Liam, looped his arm through hers. "You get to go to Hogwarts and Narnia of course."

She watched as Cam walked through the light carrying Kincaid. She didn't have any time to second guess what she was doing, because the charming Liam had already pulled her through.

*****

Stepping through, she couldn't get what she knew to be real to line up with what she was seeing.

"Where are we?"

Liam patted her hand. "This is éire Danu. The home of the fae. Technically, we're in a parallel dimension the queen created to keep her people safe. éire Danu is one of four paranormal pillar cities in the US. The shifters live in Lycaonia, the vampires in Noctem Falls, and witches, like our Kincaid are from Storm Keep."

"I went crazy, didn't I? Little Jimmy's asinine parents put me over the edge." She kept looking around, taking in the cobble streets and gray overcast sky.

"If you're crazy, you're in great company," Liam said, walking her over to where a group of men were standing around a barely upright Kincaid.

"He should be in bed!" she exclaimed.

"They're helping, I promise. The tall red-haired man is an older witch named Kendrick Ashwood and from what I've heard he's been mentoring Kincaid. The small woman next to the dark-haired man is Meryn McKenzie and her mate Aiden McKenzie. Aiden is kinda our boss. The two red-haired smaller men are Nigel and Neil Morninglory. They're also students of Kendrick and good friends of Kincaid." Liam pointed to the others going over their names.

Under their feet the ground literally rolled, pitching everyone forward. Aiden scooped up his mate before she hit the ground. Nigel and Neil picked themselves up and took positions ten feet away on either side of Kincaid. They each raised their right hands, and a shimmering dome of faint green light encapsulated him. The ground steadied and was stable once more.

Liam helped her to stand. "Did I mention they are earth witches? They should keep the ground steady until Kendrick can figure out what's wrong with our boy."

Kendrick looked around and spotted her. He waved her over.

She looked to Liam.

Smiling gently, Liam escorted her over. Right now, he was like a damn lifeline.

"You. What was he like before…" he waved to Kincaid, who had resumed his muttering and was now walking in tight circles spewing nonsense.

"He said he was hot and that his vision was blurry, then it tripled," she answered.

"There has to be something you're missing," Kendrick said, his voice sharp. "What else?" he demanded.

Zadie didn't know what else to say, that was all she knew. Instinctively she stepped away from Kendrick toward Kincaid.

Moments later a bolt of fire hit Kendrick square in the chest.

Everyone turned to stare at Kincaid, who was snarling. "Mine!"

Kendrick winced a bit and wiped at his shirt. "My apologies Zadie. I didn't mean to frighten you. But, I think Kincaid just gave us the missing piece of the puzzle." He looked around. "Zoe, can you and Carson take positions like Nigel and Neil, but from the other cardinal points?"

The woman with a hair like living flames nodded and quickly got into position. She and the one she assumed was Carson lifted their right hands and the barrier now shimmered with red sparks over the misty green.

Another impossibly tall man stepped next to Kendrick. "It's either air or water," he licked his lips as if tasting the air. "I taste ozone, so I'm leaning toward air."

Kendrick was grinning from ear to ear. "Three! Thane! Three all on his own. No wonder I couldn't bring a power online for him, it had already begun to gear up to protect his mate."

Thane chuckled. "You know if it were anyone else, I'd be terrified at the abuse of power, but Kincaid might need some of Aiden's antacids."

"You all aren't fucking funny," the burly man next to the smaller woman said grumpily.

Zadie put her hands on her hips. "Are you going to help him or stand there with idiotic grins on your faces. He's still in pain you pompous assholes!"

The two men stared down at her in shock, mouths literally hanging open.

The woman behind Kendrick, along with Meryn began to chortle.

Wiping her eyes, the woman pat Kendricks forearm. "She told you honey." She waved in her direction. "I'm Anne, I'm mated to this particular pompous asshole."

Kendrick's frown turned into a pout. "I am not pompous."

This time more than the women laughed.

Out of the corner of her eye, within the barrier Kincaid dropped to his knees. That was when she realized that the barrier was in place to keep them safe, not to help him.

Before anyone could tell her not to, she entered the circle. Immediately the heated air dried her lips and eyes. Slowly, she made her way to the beautiful man who had smiled so warmly at her. The ground erupted next to her sending out a spray of rock. She felt pain as they pierced her skin.

Finally, she made her way to him. Carefully she wrapped her arms around him. "Hey, remember me?"

The heat seemed to diminish slightly, so she kept talking.

"I'm going to be real honest here, I'm scared out of my mind, but I can't bring myself to leave you. I feel like I waited my whole life to hear you make those ridiculous animals sounds for the books you were picking out for the children. I don't know what is going on, but the thought of you in pain makes me nauseous." She rubbed his back and the ground quieted.

His arms came up to hold her and she had to fight back a moan. She had never felt so complete. So, loved. So, safe. He rested his face in the crook of her neck.

"You shouldn't be here," he rasped. A golden light engulfed her, and her cuts were healed.

"You're here. Where else would I be? You kinda promised me coffee, chocolate and sex, so…"

A faint chuckle erupted from him. "The others? Did I hurt anyone?"

"The two assholes were congratulating each other over whatever you're doing, they're fine. The red-heads and a guy named Carson created a barrier thing to keep whatever you're doing in here with you."

Kincaid weakly looked up. "Assholes?" his gaze went to outside the circle. "Kendrick and Thane?"

She shrugged. "I guess."

"Gods above, please tell me I didn't attack them."

"Okay."

He sat back a bit as the dry air around them swirled. If he had been pale before he was the color of milk now. "Which one?"

"The red-head."

"He's going to crucify me."

"I don't think so, if anything he sounded proud."

"Why did I attack him?"

"He was being mean to me, so I kinda stepped toward you and you got snarly."

Kincaid's eyes glowed a sapphire blue. "He was mean?"

A warmth filled her heart. His anger at her discomfort was shockingly a turn on. "Down Cujo, you already hit him with fire."

He blinked and the glow was gone. "I did?" he sounded surprised.

She tapped his chest. "Boom, right there."

"I wonder if I could do it again, but on purpose," he mused.

The air around them swirled faster as the temperature dropped.

"Kincaid, I'm trying really hard here," she whispered.

His expression immediately changed to contrite as he looked down at her. "I'm so sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this. I was going to take you on a human date, then maybe come back another time for dinner. Break everything to you gently when you realized I could be trusted." He cupped her cheek. "I would take on all your fear if I could."

The breeze around them was gentle now.

"Baptism by fire, right?"

When the wind dissipated completely, the barrier came down, revealing the same people that she had been standing with.

Kendrick looked frustrated and Thane amused.

Zoe, Nigel and Neil ran over.

One of the twins pulled Kincaid to his feet and into a bear hug. "Holy shit man! Three elemental powers. Three!"

Zoe was bouncing up and down, clapping her hands. "Neil, be careful, he might be hurting." She beamed at Kincaid. "You regulated your levels on your own too. Kendrick couldn't get to you."

At the mention of his name, Kendrick strode over. "For some reason I couldn't get past the barrier." He scowled at the twins.

They shrugged and Nigel answered. "Wasn't us. We think it was Kincaid. Once this pretty lady went inside, our barrier felt like it was pushing against something. I think he created a barrier of his own."

Kendrick turned and looked at Kincaid, his eyes softening. "How do you feel?"

Zadie had a moment of revelation. The man had been so prickly because he cared and had been worried.

Kincaid went to one knee. "Please, forgive me."

Zadie stared. "What kind of round table shit is this?"

Meryn walked up grinning. "Please, be my friend," she begged. "I offer sarcasm, hacker skills, shenanigans and a squire that can cook us snacks."

Zadie scowled at Kendrick who once again was looking at her like she had three heads then back to Meryn. "Friendship request approved contingent on the quality of coffee you have."

Meryn threw her hands in the air. "Yes! We got coffee on lock. My Coffee-Godddess Izzy can make us anything you want."

"Izzy! Izzy is here?" she looked down at Kincaid who was still kneeling waiting to hear what Kendrick said.

She snapped her fingers in the tall witch's face. "You gonna leave him on the ground? He's exhausted."

Kendrick smiled slowly, as he shook his head looking at her carefully. "My dear, I believe you and I will be the best of friends…eventually."

"Do me a favor and hold your breath."

Next to her Meryn erupted into a fit of giggles.

Chuckling Kendrick reached down and pulled Kincaid up to stand before him. "Kincaid Bayberry, there is nothing to forgive. Please continue to honor your vow of fealty and use your new powers to protect our people."

"Witch stuff can wait," a blond man said, pushing his way forward.

Moments later Kincaid was snatched up to be passed around a small group of three men and a gorgeous cocoa-skinned woman.

"Ari, let the poor guy breathe," the woman said laughing.

"No way. He's lucky it isn't worse for scaring us half to death." Ari shook his finger at Kincaid. "I told you to call if for a second you thought there was trouble."

Kincaid pointed to Meryn. "I did call."

"Me! You were supposed to call me," Ari protested.

"Cut him some slack Ari. If my ass was on the line, I'd probably call Meryn too," the dark-haired one admitted.

"Gage, you are becoming a favorite," Meryn cooed.

He winked at her as Zoe walked up and ducked under his waiting arm.

"Cas, are you okay?" the last of the small group asked a woman too beautiful to be real.

Did she have pink eyes?

Cas looked at Kincaid then smiled tenderly at the man holding her. "I am more than okay, Priest. His aura was glowing." She wiped at her eyes. "It was like pure molten gold. The sparks of white looked like diamonds, the red like rubies and the green like emeralds. Then the gems softened, melted into sparks of lightning, coals of fire and supple leaves. It has to be one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen."

Zadie stepped closer to Kincaid as he rubbed a hand over his chest. "What was gold again?" he asked.

Cas looked right at her. "Love. Pure love."

Zadie looked around, everyone was smiling at her. "Me?"

Cas sighed happily. "I think I witnessed your mating bond snapping into place. Gods, I wish I could paint."

"Kincaid," Zadie whispered, feeling like she was disconnecting from her senses.

"Yes?"

"I think I have hit my limit for today. If someone else says anything that sounds remotely life shattering, I will start pepper spraying everyone," she admitted.

"How do you always make friends with the violent ones?" Aiden protested.

"Birds of a feather or something," Meryn guessed.

"Hi Zadie, my name is Brie. I used to be the Deputy Sheriff in Monroe. I haven't been here that long, so I know exactly what you're feeling. I had Ari's mother with me when I was going through this. She ran me a bath, gave me wine and chocolate. What would help you?"

"Soft stuff. Blankets, coffee and maybe some dinner?"

She felt an arm loop through hers and expected it to be Kincaid. Instead, two green eyes were looking up at her. "I have a taser," Meryn admitted shyly.

For some reason that one statement made her feel like this was really, real and she was going to be okay.

Brie looped her arm on the other side. "And I have a gun."

They started walking.

She looked back to see Kincaid watching them with the happiest expression on his face. She realized he was simply happy because she was being taken care of.

"Oh, that's not fair," she protested softly.

The women turned around and nodded. "His hot status got updated today," Meryn said.

"Hot status?"

Meryn leaned in. "I have a database." She pointed to the men. "Of all the warriors. We have judges and everything."

"Need a new judge?"

"Always."

"Us too?" Zoe asked, pointing to her and Cas that joined them on either side of Meryn and Brie.

"The more the merrier…kinda literally," Meryn wagged her eyebrows making them all laugh.

They walked slowly leaving the men to follow behind them.

For now, this was exactly what she needed.

She peeked behind her at Kincaid. Later, she'd get what she wanted.