A Lion for Christmas Read online

  Crispin hoped his mate would realize that he wouldn’t be able to do the same. He was going to have to move to the Shifter Stratum, and take his place at Crispin’s side, as the King’s Consort. He could worry about that later when they got his mate out.

  Crispin looked at the men he considered friends after the last few weeks and nodded. “The Guards go in, and Trent, you and I will shift. Then you three will follow. Stay behind us until we see what we are facing,” Crispin said.

  “Agreed,” Blake nodded and looked at his mate.

  He was the only one human, and the only one whom would stay behind. There was a command post set up across the street, just as they had said. Ian would go there. He was not happy about it either. Ian felt like he could handle himself, so he was pissed at his mate and best friend for insisting he remain behind.

  “I will be waiting across the street with my dick in my hand. Maybe I will bake some freakin cookies or something. You know, since I am so delicate and all,” Ian said dryly and then looked at his mate.

  Blake laughed and shook his head, “Whatever, keep the communicator handy in case we need a medical unit. Mom already has the room ready, but I want to be on the safe side.”

  Ian rolled his eyes and then walked to his mate, and kissed him before following the Guards out. They set up across the street with back up. There were more Guards and Shifters waiting in case they needed them.

  Since all this began, they had to shut down the transport, between Stratums. Only those who had specific permission were allowed to go back and forth between the Stratums. Blake’s sister, Sasha, was the Royal who controlled the transport coins, so without her approval there was no getting anywhere. All of the Kings of the different Stratums were here, on the Palace grounds, even the Troll who was smelly and slept in dirt.

  Finally, they were ready, Crispin stood in the front, as they looked at the doorway they were about to enter. His mate waited beyond the door, there was no getting around it; he was going to kill anyone in his way.

  “Blake,” Crispin said briskly as he waited for the King of the Wizards to step forward.

  Blake held out his hands. Power sparked in the air around him. Suddenly balls of energy appeared in the palms of his hands. He nodded and looked intently at the door.

  “Now,” Blake yelled and he threw the energy at the magically sealed door. It exploded in a splintering mess. Crispin didn’t even blink, he just waited for the dust to clear, and he watched as the first of the Wizard Guards made it through the door. With a deep breath, he felt the air around him crackle as he pulled in his own magic and then he felt the shift take over.

  Crispin was old, and well-practiced, it only took a few seconds for him to turn into a large lion. He felt the brush of Trent as he shifted beside him, but Crispin couldn’t wait. He leapt through the door and into hell.

  Later none of them would realize how far they actually traveled. Dion had set up a nice worm tunnel with magic to transport his Rebels to and from places in the Stratum. Blake would even make the comment about the nice bit of magic, Dion had used.

  Crispin jumped through the final doorway, and he saw the battle already raging. Guards were fighting Shifters, Wizards, Trolls, and other magical creatures. They were outnumbered. However, they did have several things on their side. No matter how many people got in their way. There were four Royal magical people in the hallway. More power than any of them had seen before. They were no match for Blake, Logan, Ryker, and Crispin as they plowed their way through the battles.

  Blake and Logan helping the guards, Trent and Crispin intent on finding Chase, and Ryker was taking on three men by himself.

  When Crispin entered the hallway, he could feel the bond become stronger. Chase was somewhere around there. He followed his connection. Chase had been quiet since he spoke to him earlier, only a few feeling here and there to know they were still working him over. Those men would die tonight for hurting his mate.

  Rebels poured out in front of them, ready to take the battle to the next level. They of course, were not as simple as the front line Dion had put together. These were much more powerful creatures. He saw several Shifters he knew and roared as he ripped through the men. Crispin paused to rip out one of the Hyena’s throats as he ran. Then he grimaced when he felt claws digging into his side. A Cougar was there, trying to attack him. Right, as if he could take the King of the Shifters down. With a swipe of his paw, Crispin tore down the front of him, ripping through him, and throwing the body to the side.

  After that, Crispin refused to stop, he passed door after door, pausing to kill when he had to. Trent remained at his side, doing the same; both knew that when the time came, they would have to fight to get to Chase. Therefore, they were saving their strength for that. No matter who was with them, Chase and Trent were faster and would be the first to find Chase.

  Trent howled and Crispin said in response through their connection. ‘I can feel him, two doors down on the left.’ They could see two large men standing guard on a door and they were not moving to help their comrades. That had to be where they were holding Chase.

  ‘I can scent five people in the room with him, and Chase is hurt,’ Trent growled.

  ‘I know,’ Crispin thought grimly and then ducked when he heard Blake yell behind him. A ball of energy flew by them, and flung the two men in front of them away. Crispin was going to have to buy him a beer for that.

  Trent followed him to the door and Crispin pushed his whole body mass against it until the door burst open. There were four men at the ready. Two were Wizards, and two were Shifters, one panther, and one wolf. They were evenly matched, Crispin thought and attacked quickly.

  The panther feinted to the right, and then turned quickly catching Crispin in the side; however, he was not fast enough, and Crispin turned his head, grabbed the panther by the leg and shook his head. One of the Wizards tried to use a spell, but Crispin could feel the power begin and he kicked the Wizard with his hind legs kicking the man off balance. He could hear a scuffle behind him and assumed Trent was fighting the same as he was.

  The panther rounded on him, and he leapt quickly, luckily, he landed on the panther’s back and bit down on the back of the Shifters neck. The panther hissed. Crispin knew who they were; both were assholes he had imprisoned for stealing. Crispin had no problems killing one of his subjects to protect his mate.

  ‘Submit,’ Crispin ordered. The Panther shook his head and bucked, he managed to get free from Crispin, but not for long. Hoping he could take two of them out with one well-planned hit. Jumping once again on the back of the Panther, Crispin grabbed the Shifter by the neck and flung him towards the Wizard who had gotten up again.

  He could see Trent holding his own with the other two, and a good thing too because Crispin's eyes were drawn to the man in the center of the room. Battered and bruised, Chase stood with chains around his wrists, fighting the last man in the room. He held him by the neck with the chain under the man's chin, choking him from behind. Wow, Crispin fell in love a little right then. His mate was a fighter. That would come in handy in the future. Shifters tended to argue a bit. They liked to fight and make up. It was like courting to them.

  Logan and Blake finally made it to the room and with a quick succession of blasts; everyone in the room who was not a friend was dead.

  Crispin shifted in the blink of an eye and caught Chase as he stumbled when the man he was choking fell in front of him.

  “Dude, it took you fuckin’ long enough,” Chase gasped. He was hurt, Crispin could hear a wheeze in his chest, and there were at least a few completely broken ribs.

  “Sorry bud, next time you are kidnapped and tortured leave a damn map. I was a little confused on what was going on,” Blake drawled and took one side of his friend as Crispin took the other.

  “Deal, can we go home now. I kinda need Bria.” Chase coughed and Crispin grimaced when he saw a small amount of blood come from his mate’s mouth.

  “Logan, call Ma,” Blake said. Hi
s brother nodded and ran from the room.

  The battle still raged on as they exited the room. Crispin noticed that a barrier had gone up just past the doorway they entered. Dion knew they rescued Chase, and he would be pissed.

  Crispin didn’t care, as long as his mate was out of there and safe, he was good.

  “Let’s blow this popcorn stand,” Chase murmured.

  Chapter Two

  Two months, it had been two months since the rescue, and Crispin was slowly going out of his mind. His mate was polite and nice making comments to him, as he would to a stranger. However, he refused up until now, to discuss mating.

  Crispin was at a loss with what to do. All he knew was he wanted and needed his mate. The day he rescued his mate would stay in his thoughts for a long time to come.

  When they arrived back to the Palace that fateful day, Crispin was shocked at his mate’s state of being. He could see the signs of torture, but when he stood in the room, listening to what the sick fucks had done to him, it made him sick. It also became hard to listen to and to watch, with his mate bruised on every single part of his body. And the other marks, which were apparently from electrical torture, just pissed him off.

  Chase laughed it off, ‘he survived’, was his response.

  When Crispin growled, Chase had looked at him in surprise, “I know you.”

  “Of course you do, I am your mate,” Crispin announced confused, as Blake covered his mouth with his hand.

  “Oh really? Well, dude, I look and feel like shit, so the whole mating thing is on hold.” Chase groaned when Bria pushed on his ribs. “Ma Bria, really?”

  “Hush,” The woman said, looked at Crispin, and smiled gently.

  “Will he be alright?” Crispin asked.

  “I will be fine, Ma Bria, just likes to mess around. I think you can all, maybe turn around. I know, I think the doc here is gonna make me drop trou,” Chase laughed.

  Crispin growled again and looked around the room. Blake, Logan, Trent, and Ian laughed and shook their heads.

  “Dude, get used to it, he drops trou all the time,” Blake said.

  “Fuck you,” Chase said. Bria scoffed and shooed them out of the room.

  Crispin shook his head as if he could shake the memory away.

  He knew Chase felt more comfortable around Blake and Logan. They had grown-up together. So, when he would see his mate with the other men, he tried not to let it bother him, but it was hard.

  Blake and Chase talked a lot. Crispin would watch them walking in the garden in deep discussions. He knew his mate worked through some of the shit that came along with his capture. However, Crispin wanted to be the one who Chase leaned on. He wanted to be the one to soothe his mate. It was frustrating to Crispin.

  They had one conversation since the rescue; it consisted of Chase acknowledging that he felt the mating pull. But he was not ready to commit.

  “How about dinner?” Crispin had asked.

  “Listen, I know you are my mate. I just have to work through some stuff.” Chase had responded.

  “That is what I am here for!” Crispin ground out and Chase frowned.

  “Good kitty, no marking you territory.” Chase had said and walked off.

  It had been one of the shortest fuckin’ conversations Crispin ever remembered having.

  After that, Crispin did the only thing he could. He backed off and stalked his mate.

  Chase was beginning to get pissed about it, too. Crispin could feel the irritation coming from his mate as he followed him on his daily run. He refused to allow his mate out of his sight if Chase was alone for even a second.

  Dion and the Rebels were still out there, and they were planning. In the last few weeks, more and more attacks happened. Dion had found out the Kings of the Stratums were all here.

  “How the hell did they let this happen?” Dion yelled and threw his papers against the wall.

  He’d had the perfect opportunity. Blake’s Second was going to be the reason he was going to become King. Blake was going to bend to his will. He would have done anything he wanted when Dion got his cooperation. And it all slipped through their fingers. Dion was waiting on the report of what the hell was going on.

  “Worm,” Dion yelled for his stupid assistant. Or maybe he was a Weasel, who cared. He was ‘Worm’ to Dion right now.

  “Yes Sir,” the small man said hesitantly as he walked into the room.

  Dion glared at the man and said, “Where are my reports, what happened?”

  “Well, sir, we have a bit of a situation. Apparently, the Guards and the Wizards have found our doorways. Plus, we have lost a few of our men who ran,” Worm said slowly.

  “What do you mean they found our doorways, I thought you assured me that they found the men through one of the idiots following them. Are you telling me they have figured out my system?” Dion screamed.

  He had no idea why Blake and the other Kings were insisting on fighting here. It didn’t make sense until now; they thought they were going to beat him. If they had him stuck here, as soon as his followers all chickened out, then they would have him right where they wanted him.

  “I need more Transport Coins,” Dion ground out.

  “Sir they have shut them all off, and our man inside the Palace is no longer talking to us,” Worm whined.

  “Then we get the Head of the Transport. Who is it?” Dion yelled. He was slipping from reality and he didn’t even realize it.

  “I don’t know sir,” Worm whispered frowning, thinking Dion should know he was from here.

  “Find out, and then bring them to me. We need to try a different course of action. If Blake will not give up the throne, then he will have it taken from him. Double the attacks on the Palace, and make sure they are actually killing someone. No more warning, if anyone in the magical community is not with us, they are against us, there is no being neutral,” Dion said slowly thinking for a minute. His mind was going a mile a minute and he needed to think, he needed a plan.

  The only one of the Stratums Dion had not been able to recruit from was the Fae; they were a bit more slippery. Maybe it was time to force their hand.

  His mate paused, and looked over his shoulder and then shook his head before running back to where he was standing. “Dude, I need some space.”

  “You have it,” Crispin frowned. “I have not spoken or bothered you in weeks. In fact, I think I have been more than patient. You are the one who refuses to admit to the mating call. We both know it is riding us hard. I can feel it when we are close, like now. Your heart is beating fast, not from exertion, but from desire.”

  Chase shook his head and laughed, “Wow, now that is an awesome pick up line. However, you are going to have to do better than that. Did you ever stop to think that maybe I was not accepting the mating because, one, I know your reputation, trust me it has followed you. And two, although you are following me, we’ve had one discussion about the mating we both feel. If I remember correctly, your exact words were, ‘we are mates so let’s get a move on it’. Hmmm, not the most romantic thing I have ever heard.”

  Crispin frowned. “Hey, wait a minute, I offered to take you to dinner.”

  “Not to sound indelicate or anything, but you are a man-whore. I have a nice life here, why would I go off and leave my position as the Second in Command of the Wizard Stratum for the chance to be mated to a serial horn cat?” Chase drawled. “Although, I find you extremely attractive and all, I think maybe we should take this a step at a time.”

  Chase patted Crispin on the shoulder and then ran off again, while the King of the Jungle, or Shifter Stratum, was standing there with his mouth open.

  “I need help,” Crispin said to the only human he knew and his new Stratum member. “He said I am a man whore.”

  Trent laughed, lifted the glass of beer to his lips, and tried to hide the amusement when the lion growled at him.

  “You are,” Ian said simply and shrugged his shoulders. “We have all heard about your conquests.”
/>   Crispin frowned deeper and then looked around the small room they were meeting in. They were still on the Palace grounds. Ryker had taken pity on the men who arrived from the Stratums, and offered to make a Bar for them to hang out in. The room was dark, and held a full bar on one side, and tables on the other. The walls above the tables held televisions. They could watch their sporting events from all the Stratums on them. Crispin was watching as his Shifters were trouncing the Trolls in a game of Human football.

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Crispin argued.

  “Ha, everyone knows it. Man, you are going to have to do some serious ass kissing if you want Chase to even give you the time of day,” Trent laughed.

  “I have tried to show him,” Crispin said frustrated.

  “Right, by following him around?” Ian smirked.

  “Okay, fine. Maybe I have had my fair share of lovers, but when Shifters mate, they mate for life. That is it. Nothing else. There is no one else for me. Only him,” Crispin ground out.

  “You have to prove it,” Trent said simply and took another drink of his beer.

  Ian tapped his fingers on the table and then smiled, “A Christmas Ball!”

  “What?” Crispin frowned.

  “We are bringing Christmas to the Wizard Stratum. A formal ball, presents, and everything else that goes along with the holiday. Blake told me that each Stratum celebrates its own type of Christmas. I say, we celebrate them all at once, in one formal ball.” Ian laughed and then said, “We can have Bria, head it up, she loves that stuff. I unfortunately have no skills when it comes to parties, However, I do know what should be there and how to dress,” Ian said.

  “You know, Logan has been asking about family. Maybe we can convince them to bring over your parents Ian. Your mom is an awesome party planner. They have been dying to come here. It would be the perfect excuse.” Trent shrugged.