Clayton's Jade (Runes Stone Series) Read online

  The group agreed and started to cut through the Gaborchend like butter by the time it was done there were heads, intestines and blood covering the ground. He could smell the Tasmanian devil and it was very close to Kaylee. However, in front of them they had a bigger problem, a bear shifter. It wasn’t a cute cuddly one either. Then something happened that he had never seen before it replicated right there in front of them. Shit this was going to hurt there was no way around that fact.

  “I will take the main one everyone else take the replicas. I hope if I kill the main one the rest of them will disappear, but we can’t count on it.” The bear didn’t have weapons just teeth and claws which were more dangerous. It was going to be a whole new way of fighting. He wondered what the part cat transformation could do to help him. The bear came at him. He ran to the back side of the tree beside him and watched the bear come towards him. He needed to buy a few seconds to come up with a plan.

  His claws and teeth were dangerous. How can I get around them? I am not climbing any of these trees the bear could take down a tree without thinking about it. I can only run for so long so that is out. I can jump higher and farther now that I have changed. Then he could see what he had to do. With a deep breath he grasped his sword and ran at the bear and jumped onto its back before it could see what he had planned. With all of his strength he drove his sword into the vertebrae of the bear’s neck and twisted until he heard a popping sucking type of noise.

  Then like he hoped would happen the rest of the bears disappeared. Now he could see Kaylee, and that didn’t make it any better. The Tasmanian devil was vicious kept going after Kaylee. It was snapping at her and had drool coming down the sides of his mouth. He could see that Kaylee had taken a few hits on her back and front legs. How she was still fighting he didn’t know.

  This thing had hurt his mate and was still trying to do so. He couldn’t just strike it with his sword he might hit Kaylee. “Vie grab Kaylee and take her to the house.” Then in a blink of an eye Kaylee was gone. He strode over to the Tasmanian devil and brought the sword down severing the head from the body. Even though he was muscle bound in human form he was tiny in animal form but mean in both.

  Most of the animals had scattered when he had killed the bear. He would decide what to do with the ones that were caught in the net tomorrow. There would be a lot to discuss tomorrow. Right now though it was time to get back to the house and see to the wounded.

  Brad looked out over the assembled group of people and was impressed by the amount of shifters that had shown up from his group. He headed out to the water knowing that it was time for them to change. They were not really expecting any trouble here but it was better to error on the side of caution. After the shift he looked out over the small part of his ocean and saw some strange animals for this area. In fact this water was warm for some of them and freezing for others. He saw Bridget and again was amazed in her shifter form. It was too bad that they could not communicate with different species while in their shifted forms. He began to wonder if that was something that Odin or Dagda could help with. It would be nice to able to talk to other while in this form. Even mind to mind would be nice.

  Then he saw something that didn’t belong in these waters and were not part of his group. It was a good thing that he had shifted with everyone last night so that he would know the difference but how did he get the others attention to the problem. All of the smaller shifters could go to shallow water, the bigger animals were the concern.

  There were two different types of sharks out there and neither one of them looked nice. Of course in his seal form the only good shark was a dead shark that might be because he was a source of food for sharks. From what he could tell there were eight sharks in the area. This was not going to be a good fight. Bridget along with three others could not come in closer to shore where it was safe. He got up on one of the rocks and started barking to get their attention then, using his flipper he pointed toward the sharks circling in the water. He knew this area well looking around he tried to find an advantage point.

  If he could get them in the area with the tall rocks, then use the same power that he had used when he tried to help Clayton to push the rocks together and trap them in that pool of water. Just as he was trying to figure out how to get them in that area one of the sharks bit Tim. Barking to get his attention then pointed him I the direction that he wanted to go in. When Tim saw him he took off in the direction that was being pointed out. Brad saw all but one shark go in after Tim. He decided that seven sharks were better than none. Looking at the gap between the rocks he summoned the power to move the rocks.

  As pushed the power at the rocks to make them move he felt the ocean moving also. This was not exactly what he wanted but if it worked for the end result that’s all that mattered. He saw the rocks start to come together. The way the ocean was moving in that area kept the sharks from getting out. His main concern was the other animals in the area and he wanted Tim to be ok. As he was moving the rocks he saw Vie pop up and grab Tim and then pop back out. At least he was one of the sea creatures that could be out of the water for long periods of time.

  Knowing Tim was out of Danger he slapped the rock together with too much force. The wave that resulted from the force slammed into Bridget. He watched as she was tossed around by the water and finally crash into a different rock. The impact was hard enough to knock her out. The next thing he saw was the other big shifter gather around her to protect her from the one remaining shark.

  This shark seemed to be very aggressive. The shark head butted one of the shifters, not realizing it was a killer whale. The killer whale turned and went after it. The shark was not afraid of it and turned then charged back at the whale. The shark was at the top of the water and the killer whale took air then flopped down on top of the shark, knocking it out for the count. Now they just had to keep an eye on Bridget until she could shift back. He went out with rest of the shifters protecting her. He hated that he was not a fighting animal but he now had some special talents.

  When they were able to shift back they got her back to shore. She still had not woken up since she had been hit. The water was at about his waist when he had to lift her to get over some of the rocks. Once they were standing on the beach he saw Dagda and walked over to him. Can you get Vie we need a lift to Kaylee’s house. Vie showed up and took them and some of the others that were injured back to the house.

  When they got back to the house the wounded were laying all over the house. The animals were harder to deal with at least until they shifted back to their human form. They were applying pressure on the cuts until they shifted back. He found Kaylee by the door to her lab. He picked her up and held her close. “I was so afraid something was going to happen to you before I could get to you.”

  He didn’t want to let go of her afraid she would disappear if he did. Her whole body started to vibrate and she turned her head and licked his nose then cuddled into his chest. He sat on the floor just holding her like that until they both shifted back. “You know this was more comfortable when I was in cat form. I am sorry I bit you. It shouldn’t have had any effect on you though. I wonder why I did that. My cat liked you in that form.”

  “I know that it shouldn’t have. I think it has something to do with the stone we found.” He pulled out the stone from his pocket and held it out to her. “I have a confession to make those markings on the stone, they are yours and mine.” He didn’t know if she was going to be angry at him for keeping that from her, but he couldn’t tell her until she had made her choice.

  “I could tell you knew something about it and that’s ok. Vie said I would have to choose. I have made a choice and it’s you” Her hands reached up and pulled his head towards hers and kissed him.

  As much as he wanted to take her to the bedroom he couldn’t. The house was full of people that were injured. Thinking about it now, he reached down and grabbed her hand there were 3 deep gashes where the claws of the Tasmanian got her. Then he lifted up her shirt and
saw the really bad ones on her back. Two separate rows going from her shoulder blades to her hips. It didn’t look that bad in her cat form. “You need to have these looked at. They are too deep.”

  As he went to get up Dagda and Vie showed up with several of the sea shifters in tow. Some of them were injured. Brad was holding a lovely girl. She looked to be of Indian heritage. She had long black hair with a light brown complexion. The girl hung limply in Brads arms.

  We headed to the front room with Vie and saw that she had people that were ok helping the ones that had been hurt bad trying to get them get past the danger point. Vie looked at the girl and touched her trying to figure out what was wrong with her. “She is fine physically, the problem is she is fighting something mentally. This she has to do on her own. You can’t help her but you can be there when she wakes up. There is a major problem with the change tomorrow if she doesn’t wake up. I do believe that Dagda will be able to help you with that. I know that she has to be in water before she can shift. Dagda may have to construct a safe tank for her to be in and you can be with her if it makes you feel better. That is of course if Dagda will help.” With that said Brad sat down on the floor holding the girl in his arms and waited for his response.

  “I believe that I can make a temporary one that will work for the night. Give me the day to figure it out. You will have a tank tonight.” Dagda said as he placed a hand on Brads shoulder.

  “Thank you.” He said softly to Dagda as he pulled Bridget in closer to his body. He then noticed Kaylee had some injuries. “How bad are you hurt?”

  “It’s not as bad as it looks. I will heal.” It hurt like hell though. Every time she took a step pain shot up from the wounds and almost knocked her to her knees. She just wanted a shower as much as that was going to hurt she needed it and then go to bed with Clayton holding her as she fell asleep.

  Vie looked like she was on her last leg. She was maybe going to be able to help one or two more people. She had gashes, laceration’s, and bites covering her skin in different areas. Every person she helped added to the array of wounds that she was displaying on her body. For someone so little she could withstand a lot of damage to her body. “You are going to have to catch her when she is done with the last person. You better get over by her to be there when she goes down.”

  “I believe that would be my job this time.” A deep voice sounded from behind her. “You all did a great job out there today. I am proud of you all.” When Vie collapsed Odin snapped his fingers and she was gone. “She is at Valhalla with my wife. Clayton you are the first of the hybrid berserkers in my army. More will follow. When the mate stone for a couple is found the bite will bond the two together. When everyone has recovered from tonight we will have a ceremony. Right now you have enough on your mind and a full house.” Then he was gone.

  “Ceremony?” she was confused. “Mate. Bonded. Umm Clayton you had better start explaining.”

  The dead stare coming from her eyes was enough to make him pause before he messed things up really bad. Damn Odin and his big mouth! “Ouch!” He hated that Odin could burn him whenever he wanted. “I did sort of tell you before he showed up. The markings on the stone were ours. It means we’re mates and then you bit me and the bond was completed I guess. I didn’t know about that part until Odin said something. It also means that we need to find the other couples stones before the giants do. If they do not have the stones in their possession they cannot complete the bond.”

  “What about this so called ceremony?” She hadn’t agreed to anything yet and she hated it when people assumed things.

  “I don’t know. I am in the dark on that as much as you are.” He had to admit that confused him to. “However, if it means being tied even closer to you than I already am, then I am all for it.” For now everything was as good as it was going to get.

  Kaylee was still messed up, but not near as bad as some of them. Just getting some rest would for the most part heal her. Taking Clayton’s hand she pulled him towards the bedroom to rest. She just wanted him next to her. He made her feel safe, and with all these people in her home, she needed to feel safe so that she could sleep. “I just want to go to sleep and deal with everything else tomorrow. We all just need to rest and heal for right now.”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day. I just want to fall asleep holding you.” When they got into the bedroom he pulled back the covers and stripped down and got into bed, she did the same thing. Lying on her side she curled up to him with her back facing him. His arms immediately went around her. It didn’t take long for her to go out.

  Each time Clayton moved she moved with him, a couple of time she even woke up when she didn’t feel him near her. It was like she needed him more than she realized and that scared her more than anything she had ever faced before. She didn’t want to have to depend on anyone else. Now by the looks of it she was going to have to. Snuggling back into him she fell back to sleep.

  CHAPTER 10

  The Tasmanian had lost his battle and his life at the same time. He was pissed off and wanted revenge and the girl yet there was nothing he could do about it now. Suddenly he felt his body being pulled toward something. He just went with it. As he went he saw things that if his skin had still been attached it would have been crawling. Some beings were in cages with nails poking straight up from the floor. Other people had black spirits going through their bodies constantly and could see that it felt horrible by the looks on their faces.

  Then he was in a castle that had been constructed of ice with layers of frost on the floors. Sitting in a throne was a woman if you could really call her that. The right side of her body was that of a beautiful lady in her twenties. The left side was bone and moldering flesh with liquids seeping out in different areas.

  He stopped at the foot of her throne where he was given solid form again. He wondered if this was a good or a bad thing. He decided to hold his tongue and wait to see what she wanted from him. “So it seems the berserker got you at your weakest moment and killed you. I bet you would like a second chance to set the record straight so to speak.” She held no real emotion in her voice. Her voice was both sensual and gritty at the same time.

  “Yes, I would like a second chance to even the score and get the girl.” Not only would she have to watch him kill her lover, but after it was all said and done she would do exactly what he told her to do.

  “Then I have a deal for you. I will give you your second chance with an enhancement of my own. I will even help you in the killing of him. You will lead him into a trap of my making, and then you will continue in this war for my side. As it is with every deal there is a price to be made to seal the deal. Should you choose to make this deal your cost is my pleasure for it has been a long time since I have had a man.” So he had to sleep with this and he would not be able to kill the berserker. He was going to make that bitch pay for this.

  “Deal.”

  ***

  Brad had fallen asleep next to Bridget without intending to. He woke up with a jerk he must have been more tired than he had thought or it was stress he wasn’t sure anymore. The past few days he had been on overload. He could tell it was late in the afternoon just by the way the light was hitting the room. After being stuck in there a few days you notice certain things that most people wouldn’t. Bridget was still asleep if you could call it that. No one could wake her up.

  Knowing that they had to shift in a few hours he went in search of Dagda. He didn’t want to leave her but needed to. He found Dagda in the back yard behind the garage. The next thing that came to mind was how did you ask a wizard if he forgot about a tank without offending him? The last thing he wanted to do was piss off a wizard.

  CHAPTER 11

  “Go back to your whale the tank will be ready when you have need of it.” Ok. Weird, but he could deal with that and he did not have to ask anything. “By the way you did not have to ask. I could hear you.” Then he tapped the temple of his head. With a big swallow, Brad turned and went back int
o the house.

  He stopped in the kitchen to grab something to eat then headed back to the bedroom and Bridget. He was done eating by the time he reached the bedroom. She was still in the same position that he had left her in. He wished she would wake up before he had to put her into the tank. He had a feeling that it was going to have a long night ahead of him. Tim was still here so he would be able to help him with her.

  When she woke up in the morning, she realized she had slept for twenty four hours. She had even slept threw her shifter form that had never happened before. She guessed that her cat had been exhausted too and that’s why she had slept through the night. I guess my body had more to heal than I thought. Where was Clayton though? Getting up she took a shower and got dressed. Every time she moved her muscles would scream at her. Sometimes it was like a sharp needle being stuck into her body, at other times it felt like the muscle was stretched to the point of sit your ass back down pain. Her whole body felt like it was black and blue from being beat by a baseball bat, at least that was the best analogy she could come up with.

  When she got out to the front room she saw that some people were still sleeping and that was ok with her. Going into the kitchen to get that all important cup of coffee, she realized that it was already made and Clayton was out on the patio drinking a cup of it with Mark and Gavin. She poured a cup and headed out to talk with them and see what was going on, what the plans were for the day. Clayton saw her at the sliding glass door and got up to open it for her, that and give her the all-important morning kiss that made both of their days. He slowly lifted his head and asked “How are you feeling this morning?”