Authors: Anjela Renee
Chapter 11
Cam awoke the next morning to find Richard had already left. She might have thought it was all an erotic dream if not for the bite mark on the back of her neck. It was a little sore, but she loved the reminder of the night they had together. She wished they had more time together so she could have told him the way she felt about him.
It turned out to be a warm day so Cam brought Zoe out on the front to swing on the porch swing. Cam held Zoe as she slowly swung back and forth. The breeze was just enough to feel good.
Cam looked up and saw Gretchen coming out to the porch to join her. Gretchen wore her hair in two braids and had on pink shorts and a white v-neck t-shirt and a pair of flip flops. She looked so beautiful even when she didn’t try. Gretchen sipped on an iced coffee, smiling at Zoe.
“She’s so big already,” Gretchen said swinging on the porch with Cam and Zoe.
“Fae children grow a little faster than human in the first two years then slow down. By the time they reach five they are the same as humans.”
“How fascinating. I’m so glad you moved in. I can’t imagine not seeing you two every day. It also gives me a chance to learn more about Fae.”
“Zoe is telepathic so if you hear her in your head that’s why”
“No shit?”
Zoe turned out to be quite a chatterbox constantly talking in Cam and Gretchen’s head.
Gretchen, why you don't have a baby?
Zoe asked.
“I will someday; I’m just not ready yet.”
Zoe seemed to accept that answer.
Mommy, I want to see Richard
.
“I'm sorry, Sweetheart, he can't right now. I'm hoping he'll come back soon.”
Zoe laughed.
I want him to be my daddy
.
“I'm sorry, Baby, but I don't think that will happen.”
He wants to be my daddy. I saw it in his head
. Zoe pouted.
“Zoe, it is rude to look in someone's head. But what exactly did you see?”
He imagines us as a family. He wants to live with us in our own house and lots of brothers and sisters. Oh, Mommy, he loves you. He says my Cam every time he’s in the room with you.
Cam struggled with her emotions after last night. She knew he felt things for her. Could Zoe be right; did he want to be a family?
Mommy, I’m hot. So hot out here.
“I have an idea; why don’t I fill up the pool and you can cool off?”
Yes, yes, yes.
Cam grabbed the pool from the shed and filled it up. The water was freezing cold but Zoe didn’t mind. She splashed Cam from inside the pool, giggling happily.
Gretchen changed into her bikini and sat nearby, sunning herself.
“Hey Gretchen, can you watch Zoe? I’m going to go get a popsicle.”
“Sure, no problem. Get me one, too.”
Cam nodded. “Wait here; I'll go get it.” Zoe smiled excitedly and Cam left her with Gretchen while she went inside. Cam opened the freezer and the cool air hit her face. It felt good and refreshing. She reached for a cherry Popsicle, Zoe's favorite, when she suddenly felt something sharp enter her arm and before she could fight back everything went black.
***
Zoe screamed and cried. She felt what happened to her mother and didn't know what to do.
Gretchen picked her up and kissed her on the head. “It's okay, Baby. I'm here.”
Someone took mommy, Aunt Gretch
. Zoe said telepathically.
Gretchen held Zoe. “Are you sure?”
Uh huh. Please, Auntie, Mommy's gone. The bad people took her.
Zoe began crying and Gretchen hugged and tried soothing her, telling her everything would be alright. “Adrian, Adrian, come quick,” Gretchen yelled out.
Moments later, Adrian emerged from the house half dressed. No shirt and only a pair of shorts on. “Cam is gone; someone took her.”
“What? How do you know? Where was she?”
“Long story short: Zoe can talk telepathically and she told me.”
“Oh, fuck.”
Chapter 12
Cam opened her eyes, slowly coming out of a drug induced sleep, and everything came into focus slowly. A tall, painfully thin Fae woman stood in front of her holding a knife and she knew immediately she was in the other realm. She could feel the magic in the air; she could hear the forest animals. The sounds in the Other Realm were completely different sounds than anything on the human Realm. Cam knew she was fucked. If she got caught, the Queen would toss her ass back in prison or maybe even handed over to Lachlan, for torture. She quickly realized she was tied to a chair and could barely move.
“Why am I here?” Cam asked, still drowsy and disoriented.
The woman laughed and it wasn’t the ‘I'm laughing with you laugh’ but more like ‘a crazy nut job laugh’. “Bad luck, really. I need to get Richard's attention. He likes you, so guess what? Go on, guess,” she said, poking Cam with a knife.
“I'm the lucky bait and Richard is your big fish.” Cam felt a sharp pain as the woman slapped her hard across the face.
“Bingo! I can smell him on you. Did he fuck you last night? Was he good?”
“None of your business, bitch!” Cam felt a sting as the woman hit her across the face again.
“That was so much fun!” The woman laughed with glee.
The woman closed her eyes and opened them, calmer now. “Now, I must not be rude. I am Alexa. I had the bad luck of being seduced by Richard a few years ago. I know he can be hard to resist. He ruined me. Thanks to him, I became pregnant with a bastard half breed, my arranged marriage was canceled, and I am no longer a candidate for a good match. My family is so embarrassed, they hid me out here. I am an outcast. He will come for you, and when he does he will pay, slowly and painfully.”
Cam listened with wide eyes. She was skeptical; nothing Alexa told her sounded like her Richard. Could Richard be the love ‘em and leave ‘em type?
“He isn't like that. He would never leave a pregnant woman. Did he know you were pregnant?”
Cam knew Alexa had to be bat shit crazy, but she couldn't help but defend him.
“No. He left the morning after our encounter and never gave me a way to contact him. It has taken me five years to track him down. He’s a good fuck, no doubt about that, but he isn't a good man. He is a Werecat, not Fae and not man.”
Cam didn't bother with a response. Alexa stalked out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
Cam ached from being tied up so long. She thought this must be the most uncomfortable chair on the planet. She could hear noises and voices but no one came to check on her. She tried loosening the rope even a little, but it was no use
—
the bitch knew how to tie a good knot.
The door cracked open, but instead of Alexa, the Queen bitch, a little boy stood there. He came inside and carefully shut the door behind him. He looked about five years old and looked just like Richard. His hazel eyes looked back up at Cam and she could see what Richard must have looked like as a little boy. Her heart melted instantly. She wanted to scoop him up and take him away to Richard.
“Hi. I'm Lyle. Will you play with me? Nobody ever plays with me.”
Cam wanted to cry. She could see a sad and lonely little boy. She had no doubt that Alexa wasn't mother of the year. She wondered if the woman had any maternal instincts at all.
“Where is your mommy?” Cam asked.
“A walk. She does that a lot—goes for a walk alone and takes a long time to come back. Mommy never brings me with her anywhere. I'm supposed to leave her alone and go with nanny.”
Cam thought this little boy was neglected by Alexa and perhaps she could get him to help her get free. “Do you like games, Lyle?”
“Yes, I do. Are we going to play a game?” he asked, hopeful.
“I would love to play, but I'm tied up. Your mommy forgot to untie me before she left. Hey. I have an idea: you untie me then we can play. Why don’t you pick out a game for us to play?” Lyle smiled and ran off in another room and then a few minutes later came back with a small board game and a couple books.
“What’s your name, lady?” Lyle asked.
“I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself. That was rude. I am Cam.”
He nodded his understanding. “I brought books, too.”
“I see that. Do you like to read books?”
“I can’t read yet, but I look at the pictures and pretend to read.”
Cam heard a muffled voice calling for Lyle—no doubt the nanny.
“I have to go. Nanny gets mad when she can't find me. I don't want to get hit.” Lyle shoved the game and books onto a nearby bookshelf and ran out of the room.
Cam wanted to cry for the sad, abused little boy. Right then, she had made a decision when she escaped and she would. She was going to take Lyle with her. He was Richard’s son and she would raise him herself if that was what it took. No child should be treated like this.
Chapter 13
Richard tied his boat up to the dock. The gators watched him but they seemed a little less hostile than before. They must have liked the chicken he fed them the night before. As soon as he entered the house, he was met by a very pissed off looking Blake.
“Hey, Blake, how are you? Hope you don't mind: I took the boat for a ride; just needed to get out of the house.”
“Your grandmother went to the other realm to speak with Lachlan, and she wouldn’t let me come with. I came back for you.”
“Go where exactly?”
“To the other realm.”
“You want me to turn myself in?
“Not exactly. I found out who accused you and I think together we should find the woman and make her retract her accusation.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“Liana trusts me. I care for her and want to prove myself. Besides what other options do you have?”
Richard thought about what Blake said and he was right: he didn’t have many options. Blake’s plan was a bit better than just turning himself in and hoping for the best.
“I know you probably don't like me much and I'm okay with that, but I'm going to go find her with or without you. I just thought you might want to help.”
“I can't say I trust you, but I can’t have you taking all the credit.”
Blake didn’t crack a smile but he looked a little less hostile. It was a start. If he ever hoped to win his grandmother, he had to learn to lighten up.
“You know she’ll never be with you. She still loves my grandfather; always has.”
“She loves me. I know it. I’m not talking about this with you. Come on.”
Blake and Richard took another boat ride. He was really getting sick of riding around in the swamp. It was another area nowhere near his old hideout. They walked a few more miles until the forest was much drier.
“There, see it?” Blake pointed to a very old looking tree. It was thick and had a twisted looking trunk with branches sticking out in an odd way. Richard noticed a strange disturbance right in the trunk area similar to Adrian’s Fae portal thingy. “I see something. What is it?”
“It’s the transportation portal. We go in and come out in the Other Realm.”
“Is it safe?”
“Stop acting like a woman. Let’s go.” Blake took hold of Richard’s arm and walked through the portal.”
Richard felt disoriented after entering the Other Realm. It was a unique experience to say the least. They entered into a forest and it wasn't what Richard was expecting. He could immediately sense a shift in the air. He didn't know how to explain it because he had never experienced it before.
“What is that? The air is different,” Richard asked as they walked.
“It's the magic. We all have some in one form or another—even you. Our land is infused with it and as a Fae you can sense it. You may even discover some hidden Fae traits; the magic may bring it out.”
“But I'm only a little bit Fae—like sprinkles on a cupcake little.”
“Even a mongrel with only a small amount can be affected,” Blake said as he walked.
As they walked further, Richard noticed the colors began changing. The grass was now a light shade of red as were the leaves on the trees and all the flowers. “Why is everything red?”
“We are now in the forest of the fire pixie. Be careful. They are not that aggressive, but if you piss them off there is nothing I can do to save you.”
Richard walked closely behind Blake. He opened his mind in a way that he never tried before and all of a sudden he could see small little houses in the trees. They looked like little bird houses. He was tempted to take a peek inside. He walked toward one and got onto his tippy toes to take a peek when Blake slammed him down onto the ground, pinning him.
“You fucking idiot,” he snarled. “I said don’t piss off the fire pixies. They don't like to be bothered. You peek your eye in that house and every pixie in this whole area will be throwing fire at your junk.”
“What? Why my junk?”
“Not really sure. They like to target the genitals and then the face.”
“That's fucked up. I'm sorry. I didn't know.” Blake let him up and brushed the red dirt from his jacket.
“Just stay near me and don't go messing with the Fae even if they approach you.” Blake continued walking and this time Richard followed, a little less curious about the tiny houses. He was more concerned with protecting the family jewels.
Blake and Richard stopped when they heard the sound of horses in the far distance. “Quick! I need to restrain you; those are palace soldiers.”
“What? Why?”
Blake quickly snapped a pair of handcuffs on Richard and slowly walked with him, his knife out and pointed at his throat.
“What the hell?”
“Hold there,” the approaching soldiers yelled as they came upon them.”
“I am Blake, bounty hunter,” Blake replied.
“He is human?” the soldier asked.
“Werecat Fae hybrid. I am heading to the prison to turn him in for the bounty.”
“Very good.”
“Here is the warrant,” Blake said, handing over the warrant.
The solider looked it over, smiled, and handed it back. “I will relay the message that you are on the way. Good travel, Blake.”
“Thank you. Safe travels to you, too.”
Blake waited until the soldiers were very far in the distance before he finally released Richard. “Sorry. Had to do it.”
“You could have warned me.”
“I did.”
“Before you cuffed me,” Richard replied, exasperated.