Chapter 97
Sunday 27th September, 2020.
Harper
I was mid-leap, suspended in the air, my paws ready to pounce on the man holding my birth mother captive when I heard my mate’s voice. Holly. She was right. She said we did not know where the captives were yet. Holden could have put them anywhere. Maybe he had numerous hiding places like that huge dark chamber under the Queen’s closet. My birth mother, my real great-grandmother, my cousin Asriel and the real Toby were all still unaccounted for. We did not even know the exact moment they were switched with their imposters so we could retrace their steps. My Dad was heading for Holden’s throat and so was I but he was ahead of me. I had all of one split-second to make this decision. I used my magic to knock Holden out of the way.
My Dad and I both ended up pouncing on an empty throne. I sent Holden, still disguised as the Queen, flying sideways across the room. The crowd parted as he hurtled towards the wall. The fake Queen hit the wall with a resounding thud. I heard a crack and hoped that was not his neck. The fake Queen slid down from the wall and slumped on the floor, still clothed in the splendour of Fae royalty. The crowd gathered around the imposter, just watching as blonde hair was replaced by dark tresses. Frail limbs grew developed muscles. Holden was significantly larger than the Queen. I heard the sound of tearing fabric as the Queen’s undergarments and slips ripped to fit the large werewolf. Holden lay there, knocked out, but alive. I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked at Holly. She grinned at me, beaming.
Good job, Baby. You’re my little Charlie’s Angel, I said.
Who is Lord Charlie? Is he at court? She responded.
I forgot she did not know any references. My Dad stirred beside me, immediately zeroing on Holden’s form. He lunged towards him, hell-bent on ripping his throat out. I leapt in front of him and he snarled at me.
This man destroyed the future we could have had as a family and you want to protect him! Roared my Dad, anger radiating from his wolf.
No! I want to know where my Mom is! I want his knowledge before we kill him! I said quickly, trying to stop my Dad.
My Dad was panting. His wolf was agitated. I sensed his human side was trying to reason with his wolf now.
Let’s go get Mom! I said soothingly.
Dad sat on his hind legs. He gave a fraction of a nod. I pressed my forehead against his in our wolf forms.
I promise you’ll have your justice, I vowed.
Dad bumped his head against mine gently, affectionately. Years of suffering without his mate had took such a toll on him but it was almost over.
Star
Harper and my Dad tied Holden, his half-brother and Mrs Plastique up with chains enchanted by me and Harper and all of the most magically skilled Fae at court. Holden was still slumped over. They were all tied together, their back facing one another. Mrs Plastique was still disguised as Toby and her fiancé was masquerading as Asriel.
“Where is Hesper?” Said Dad, now in human form, struggling to keep his voice even.
His eyes were black. The Quads were standing around me protectively. Eli had finally shifted back and we were holding hands our fingers interlaced. Noah held my other hand. Zaya was in front of me, looking ready to pounce on our three masterminds and Jonah was behind me, rubbing my shoulders.
“Who?” Said Mrs Plastique in Toby’s voice. “Star! It’s me! It’s Toby! They switched us back! Angie’s Mom and her fiancé already escaped!”
My stomach tightened a little. Could that be true? I staggered forwards a little but bumped right into Zaya who would not allow me any closer.
“How do we know for sure that it’s not really Toby and Asriel?” I asked.
Harper rolled his eyes.
“Really? Come on, Movie Star,” he said exasperatedly.
Holly was right behind him. She produced the flower which still had a few petals.
“Mrs Plastique is disguised as Toby,” she said, holding a petal gently.
The petal remained intact, signifying the statement was true.
“This is not the real Prince Asriel,” said Holly, holding another petal.
The petal gleamed and did not fall.
“Also, the obvious, Movie Star,” said Harper. “Did none of you notice something?”
Everyone looked at him quizzically.
“My Baby noticed,” said Harper proudly and Holly blushed.
“Tell them,” said Harper to Holly.
“Rein and Erin are awfully quiet,” said Holly.
I gasped. How could I have been so stupid. Rein and Erin were not talking.
“Those enchantments are difficult to prolong,” growled Asriel’s imposter, his eyes darkening.
“Rein and Erin are not enchanted earrings,” said Dad. “They’re enchanted imps, sealed into jewellery because they were uncontrollable and creating havoc in the castle. Your Mom sealed them away mercifully because the real Queen wanted them destroyed.”
“Wow,” said Harper. “So Erin and Rein don’t like Mom and Great-grandmother?”
“No, they like your Mom and they kinda like being earrings,” said Dad simply.
“No one likes your Great-grandmother except your Mom,” he muttered.
Harper left that alone.
“Bring me some silver knives,” ordered Dad to a guard nearby who promptly left the room to fetch them.
“You kids go play,” said Dad dismissively to the rest of us.
“I’m staying,” said Harper.
“I’ll go,” said Holly, kissing Harper on his cheek and all but running from the room.
I followed her. Eli let go of my hand and Noah took it instead.
“Go ahead,” said Eli with a smile.
“Zaya?” I asked.
“I’m staying,” said Zaya without looking back at me. He was glaring at the three imposters.
I frowned but left with Noah and Jonah.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“Don’t worry, Luna, they’ll find your Mom and everyone else,” said Noah, kissing my forehead.
I was anxious to meet my Mom. I was scared it was a hoax and someone would come tell me she was dead after all.
“Hey, hey, shh,” cooed Jonah, cupping my cheeks and wiping the tears I did not realise were falling.
They carried me back to my room. We were all a mess, especially Noah and Jonah as they had both actually faced the ghoul. We hopped in the shower. My mind was far away as I helped them wash all the grime off. They left me alone to finish showering which hurt my feelings a tad. I really needed comfort right now and I would have thought with four mates I would never feel lonely. I took my time in the shower. I must have spent an hour in there. Half of the time was spent staring into space. I sighed. I put on a huge fuzzy robe and wrapped my wet curls up in a towel to help dry them off. I stepped out of my room and my jaw dropped at the sight before me.
Noah
I threw my clothes on as quickly as I could. My room at the castle was just across the hallway from Star’s. I knocked on Jonah’s door. He opened it. His hair was damp but he was fully dressed.
“What if she’s already back in her room?” He asked.
“Then we’ll use one of our rooms instead,” I said simply.
We ran back across the hall to Star’s room with our arms filled with supplies.
“I’m so excited!” Said Jonah.
Star was not in her room.
“Should we lock her in the bathroom?” Asked Jonah.
“No!” I growled. “That’s not romantic!”
“It’s just to buy time,” said Jonah defensively.
“This won’t take long!” I reassured him.
“What would you do without me?” I said more to myself than him.
“This was my idea!” Said Jonah indignantly.
What?!
“No way! I came up with this!” I said.
I was sure I was the one who had brought it up. Jonah rolled his eyes.
“I taught you everything you know about girls,” said Jonah.
“Oh!” I exclaimed. “I guess that’s why I know nothing about them,” I retorted.
We began to wrestle but then we heard Star shutting off the shower so we scrambled back to get more supplies, moving at werewolf speed. She did not come out right away. I was relieved. She was drying off in there. We had some more time.
Star
I trudged out of my bathroom and right into a romance novel.
“What is this?” I giggled.
Noah and Jonah were standing there in tuxedos at either side of the bed. They each held a bouquet of roses and the bed was strewn with rose petals. The overhead lights were off but the room was lit by candles. It smelled really good in here. It was probably the candles. There was champagne on ice in the corner and three lone-stem glasses. I was the only thing out of place, sopping wet with my towel heaped on top my head and my huge fuzzy robe.
“Um, let me go change” I said, heading back to the bathroom.
I realised my clothes were in my room obviously, right where the romantic date was. Jonah and Noah came after me and pulled me back into the room.
“You don’t need to change, Star,” murmured Noah, pulling me to the bed to sit down.
He pulled the towel off of my wet ringlets and began drying my hair with it. Jonah handed me a glass of champagne and sat on my other side. My cheeks flushed. I had forgotten Jonah and Noah were into helping me get ready.
“Noah has some kinky thing for you to wear,” said Jonah. “But he lost his nerve and left it in his room.”
“I wanna see it,” I said.
I actually did. Noah blushed.
“Ok,” he mumbled and raced out of the room.
“Should we lock him out?” Suggested Jonah.
“No!” I laughed.
“Eli locked me out!” He said indignantly.
“That was Eli! Noah didn’t do anything,” I chuckled.
My cheeks were burning. I was not used to this kind of stuff. No one had ever really gotten me flowers or anything except my twin brother.
“Thank you,” I said softly to Jonah.
“Thank you,” he said, kissing my forehead. “For forgiving me,” he said, gazing at me.
His eyes were mesmerising.
“I haven’t forgiven you,” I said seriously.
His face fell. I burst into laughter.
“I’m kidding,” I said.
“I deserve that,” he chuckled.
He gathered some rose petals from the heap on the bed and threw them at my face.
“You’re ruining the romance,” I said, throwing more petals at him in retaliation.
We got into a petal fight and I was winning but Jonah played dirty. He pinned me to the bed and grasped both of my wrists.
“Hey!” I exclaimed.
We were nose to nose.
“Hey,” he said as if he were now greeting me.
We laughed. Jonah pressed his lips to mine and a fire ignited within me. He released my wrists to cup my face instead and I wrapped my arms around him. He deepened the k**s, slipping his tongue into my mouth. I felt something large and hard pressing against my tummy. His member was straining against his pants. I was just in a robe and it was coming undone so the bulge pressed against my exposed torso. I shivered. He reached down, never breaking our k**s, and felt how wet I was between my thighs. He broke apart from my lips and trailed k****s down my neck as he inserted a finger in me. I cried out at the intrusion, instinctively clamping my legs together but Jonah parted them gently, rubbing my inner thighs soothingly. I was panting and so was he.
Noah walked in casually as though nothing of interest was happening. He had a hanger and the outfit was encased by an opaque piece of white plastic.
“Hmm,” I said.
Noah had something in his hand. Jonah and I got up to look. I quickly tied my robe around me. He had brought the highest heels I had ever seen.
“I’ll break my neck in those,” I pointed out though the design was gorgeous.
“Please, it’s for Jonah’s foot fetish!” Said Noah, frowning and making puppy-dog eyes at me.
“I do not have a foot fetish,” growled Jonah.
I was beginning to believe that he did in fact have a foot fetish. Noah began to unzip the bag to reveal the lingerie.
“No! I uh, I’ll be right back!” I said, feeling giddy.
I grabbed the shoes and the hanger and ran away from them. I shut the bathroom door behind me. If he unzipped the lingerie in front of me I would have lost my nerve. I took a deep breath. I unzipped the bag and gasped. I was not sure how to put this on. I should have let Noah help me. It was very pretty and lacy and a rosy nude shade that complimented my olive skin. It matched the break-your-neck-and/or-ankles shoes. Jonah and Noah would be the death of me.