Tiny Treasure (Eternal Flames Maddox Book 4) Read online

“Jett,” his twin, Finn, admonished him. Timmy wanted to laugh at the look on Finn’s face and the eye roll Jett gave his brother, but he held it in.

  “What? Think about it, with these guys all statues, now we can stick them all out front and make a garden around them. It would spruce up this dull council building. No insult intended, Day. The design you made for this place is great, but it needs some landscaping, and look, these amazing statues just dropped into our laps. And with them like this, I can do this to Illan and not have to worry about getting my ass set on fire,” Jett said as he poked Illan’s cheek again, then made silly faces at the Illan statue.

  “You’re such an ass, Jett,” Finn said, but Timmy could hear he was trying not to laugh.

  “I don’t know, I think Jett may be on to something here,” Angelo said and walked to Rune, standing so close it looked like he was about to kiss him.

  “I know you donated the sperm to create my son, and I even know that you left him because it was what was best for him, but he is not your son. He’s mine,” Angelo growled into Rune’s face.

  “Dad,” Manny said softly and went to Angelo, pulling him away and hugging him. “We talked about this. You and Papa will always be my fathers. Nothing will ever change that.”

  “I know, but he walks around all high and mighty, throwing it in my face that he’s your biological father. Sometimes I just want to smack him,” Angelo grumbled as he pulled away from Manny, turned back toward Rune, and gave him a little slap across the face.

  “Come on, my angel,” Morgan said lovingly and pulled Angelo away, wrapping his mate in his arms.

  “As much as we all know we can’t leave them like this and need to find a way to help them as fast as possible, I kind of want to do like Jett did,” Day said laughing as he walked over to Illan. “Too bad his hair is stone too because I would love to just muss it up.” Day placed his hand on Illan’s head and rubbed it back and forth.

  “Hey, that’s my mate you’re picking at there,” Avery argued and went to Illan. He looked up at his mate’s frozen face, then started to giggle. “But that would be funny if you could, Day. He does need to loosen up a bit.”

  “A bit? He’s strung so tight I’m surprised he hasn’t turned to stone all on his own. Like spontaneous combustion, but in this case spontaneous statue,” Jett replied, then began to laugh uncontrollably.

  “What’s so funny, baby?” Zev asked, moving closer to his mate.

  “You know that silly game we see videos of on YouTube? The lava game?” Jett said between peals of laughter. He hung an arm over Illan’s shoulder as he bent forward trying to control himself, but it wasn’t working. “You know the one where people are walking along and then someone yells, ‘The floor is made of lava’, and they all have to scramble to get off the floor in five seconds? Let’s play with these guys. They’ll all lose.” Jett lost it them and laughed so hard he had tears running down his cheeks.

  Everyone chuckled and so did Timmy. He couldn’t help it. This Jett guy was funny.

  “Oh, why don’t we move them out onto the farms around here? We can use them as scarecrows. The scowls Illan, Rune, and Dain are wearing are perfect to scare away anything,” Ollie added as he laughed.

  “Too bad we couldn’t move them into different positions. Oh, the dirty things we could do with them,” Twix laughed.

  “What the hell are you all doing?” a very deep voice rang out and Timmy instantly stopped laughing as his body shook, again, with fear. His gaze went to the doors where he saw a very large man, even bigger than Day, walking into the room, with a few more big men. Timmy felt himself starting to panic.

  “Wyn. It’s about time you guys showed,” Day said as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

  “Oh no. It’s okay, sweetie, you’re still safe,” Pas said as he hurried back to Timmy’s side and wrapped an arm over his shoulder, hugging him. But it was too late, he could feel his eyes changing. “Shit! Everyone look away!” Pas yelled.

  CHAPTER 4

  Everyone in the room quickly closed their eyes and turned away from Timmy. Pas continued to talk to him in hushed tones as he rubbed Timmy’s arms, trying to comfort and sooth him. After a few minutes, he could feel Timmy relax under his hands, and Pas blew out a relieved breath.

  “It’s okay. He’s calm now, you can all look again.”

  Everyone looked to them, their eyes full of concern, and a few sympathetic, but not one of them, not even Wyndingo, looked angry or aggressive. “See, Timmy. It’s okay. No one is mad at you, just concerned.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” Timmy said so softly Pas almost couldn’t hear him.

  “We know you don’t mean to, sweetie. It’s okay. We’ll figure this out,” Pas promised.

  “Pascal is right, little one. Everything is going to be okay. We’ll find a way to help them. We just need you to stay as calm as possible, and if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed or scared, just let us know and we’ll all turn away, okay?” Wyn said calmly, and Timmy nodded. Pas smiled at how gentle the big buy was being with Timmy.

  “So, what’s going on here? What the hell were you guys doing?” Wyn asked turning back to the group.

  “With them being frozen like this and unable to do anything, we were just having a little fun with them,” Day replied.

  “You know, with my mate not being able to talk back, now would be a good time for me to tell him I broke his Blu-Ray,” Jagger said with a chuckle. “Then when he finds out I can honestly say, I told you, but I guess you weren’t listening.”

  “Oh, who has a permanent marker? I think Ezra would look good with a little soul patch here under his lip, and how do you think Illan would look with a goatee?” Jett said as he rubbed his hands together manically and laughed.

  “Hey, I have this hot pink boa and a peacock feather hat. I think my Dad may look good in it. How about that Pop? Feel like taking a walk on the Twixy side of life?” Twix started laughing as he hung on Destrain’s shoulder.

  “Hey, Frankie, go get that bowling ball out of your car. If we line them up just right, we can play bowling the councilmen. Knock them all down and you win a prize,” Marco said laughing.

  “You’re all getting ridiculous now,” Ethan huffed, but Pas could see he was trying hard not to laugh.

  “Oh, come on little Ethan, you know you want to smile,” Jett teased as he walked over to Ethan and placed his fingers at the corners of Ethan’s mouth, raising them. “And I know there is a little devilish side in there that just wants to give the old man a poke.”

  Ethan did bust up laughing then, leaning forward and holding his stomach. “Giving pops a poke in the ribs without him fighting back would be priceless,” he said between gulps of air.

  “Okay, it wasn’t that funny. But what about flicking that tiny little cleft in the tip of his nose?” Jett said and wiggled his eyebrows, causing Ethan to burst out laughing again.

  “Not that I am not amused by all of this, but do you really think this is the time to be playing? This is serious. The whole council has been turned into stone, as well as three of the most powerful magics we have. And Kerrick being the leader of the elves has now pledged his and his people’s allegiance to us, as well as Ezra the vampire Re. This can have long reaching effects of biblical proportions,” Wyn said.

  “Every party needs a pooper, that’s why we invited you, party pooper,” Ollie grumbled under his breath as he crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. Pas was a little confused as to why his brother was now standing in the farthest corner of the room, away from everyone.

  “And let’s not forget poor York,” Dallas huffed, but Pas could see the big dragon was also trying to hold in a smile.

  “I sometimes wondered if you had a heart of stone, Illan, and now we know,” Frankie said with a chuckle.

  “Hey! My mate does not have a heart of stone. He is the most wonderful, caring, sweetest man I know, next to my other mate. You all just don’t know him,” Avery defended his mate and wrapped his arm
s around Illan’s still form.

  “I hate to be the one to break up your good time, and the one chance you may get to poke fun at these guys, but I think Wyndingo is right. I think we need to figure this out, and fast, before Fallon finds out. We need to return them to their natural form.” Manny said and walked over to Rune, placing a hand on his arm.

  Suddenly the area around Manny’s hand began to change color and spread up his arm. Everyone stood silently, transfixed by what was happening. Rune’s granite color changed back to green across his face, as his clothing softened. Rune’s eyes changed back and he blinked, then he took in a deep breath. “Holy shit!” Manny yelled as he jumped back, placing his hand on his chest. Frankie immediately went to him and wrapped his mate in his arms.

  “What the hell?” Rune whispered as he held up his hands in front of his face and stared at them as he turned them over and back, wiggling his fingers.

  “I think the first thing I would be checking on if I came back from stone would be my dick. I love when it’s hard and can pound nails, but this is overboard, even for me,” Zev said.

  Rune dropped his hands and gave Zev a strange look, reached down and grabbed his package, then let out a sigh of relief.

  “Dude, really? I was just messing with you.” Zev laughed.

  Rune narrowed his eyes at Zev, then looked around at the rest of them assembled before his gaze landed on Timmy. Rune’s features softened and he walked over to Timmy, hugging him. “It’s okay, my friend. I’m okay, and the others will be, too. I know you didn’t mean it. And now that we know my amazing son can reverse this, we can bring them all back, including your mate.”

  A beautiful smile spread across Timmy’s face and in that moment Pas wished the little cutie wasn’t wearing those sunglasses Ollie had given him, because Pas was sure Timmy’s eyes were sparkling with happiness.

  “Okay, so now that we know Manny has the Midas touch, maybe we should get to bringing them all back,” Wyn suggested.

  “You may want to wait a few minutes,” Rune replied.

  “Why is that?” Day asked.

  Rune turned and looked at Jett, giving him an evil smirk. “I think a ten-minute head start should help Jett get out of town before Illan comes back.”

  “Why would I want to do that?” Jett asked.

  Rune looked to Angelo and said, “And I do not walk around throwing things in your face.” Angelo’s eyes opened wide as his jaw dropped. “Whether you like it or not, I am Manny’s biological father. But, I also know that it is you and Morgan who have been there for him for many years. You both saved our son, and I will be forever grateful,” Rune said sincerely.

  “How did you know what Ang said?” Zev asked.

  Rune turned to face the rest of them. “I could hear every word you were saying. I saw everything you did. Well, what was in my line of sight, and I felt every touch,” Rune said and looked back over his shoulder at Angelo as he placed his hand on his cheek and rubbed it. Angelo gave him a bright smile and shrugged one shoulder.

  “So, even turned to stone, you could hear everything, see everything, and feel everything?” Timmy asked softly.

  “Yes, my friend. Even though I couldn’t move or respond, I was aware of everything.”

  Timmy’s eyes filled with hope and he ran and grabbed Manny’s hand as he began pulling him toward the back door. “Come, we need to change my mate.”

  Manny tripped over his feet as Timmy pulled him and reached out, grabbing onto Illan’s arm for balance. Suddenly his skin began to pink as his clothes softened. Manny and Timmy froze as they stared at Illan.

  After two minutes, Illan was back in the flesh. He rolled his neck and stretched, then his hard gaze fell on Jett, and Pas could hear Timmy gulp. Illan stared at Jett, not saying a word, then finally he looked around at the rest of them and grumbled in a low deadly voice, “Can we bring the rest back now?”

  Manny moved around the room touching each of the council members and Dain, Kerrick, and Timmy’s king. Slowly, they all came back to life, stretching and groaning. Then Destrain and Ezra broke out laughing.

  “Crap, I think I broke them,” Timmy said in a small voice.

  Destrain looked at Timmy, smiling, and said, “you didn’t break us, young one. I am just laughing at all the hijinks you all got up to when we were frozen. Take a walk on the Twixie side. Oh son, I don’t know that I can pull off that look of yours as well as you do. I don’t think I have the gams for those skirts you like.”

  Everyone burst out laughing from Destrain’s words. Suddenly, Pas noticed Ollie was gone. And he also noticed that Illan was not laughing, or smiling for that matter, and Pas calmed down quickly, scared that the dragon king and leader of the council would punish Timmy.

  “So, um…what are you going to do now? I mean…about…Timmy?” Pas asked nervously.

  The room went quiet as everyone looked to the council. They all looked at one another, then to Illan, who was no longer a frozen statue, but still stood as if he were. His face showed no emotion and his eyes remained blank.

  “We can’t punish him, Illan. Timmy had no control over what he was doing. You heard, just like the rest of us, that he didn’t mean it and he was sorry,” Destrain said.

  Illan’s eyes shifted to look at Destrain, but he remained silent. Justice moved to stand by his side and Avery on his other, each touching him gently. “Illan, are you okay, my love?” Justice asked.

  Illan’s gaze then shifted to Justice’s, then Avery’s. He stared at Avery for a moment, then gave him a sad smile and kissed the top of his head. “Thank you, mate,” he whispered into Avery’s hair. Avery placed a hand on Illan’s chest and looked into his eyes as if he were looking for something.

  Finally, Illan cleared his throat and raised his head, looking around at all of them again. “I don’t think Timmy should be punished in any way. I think he is a scared young man who needs us. Maybe, with a little guidance and some help from King Suneth, he can learn how to control his powers. Timmy will be able to grow into them. I know you didn’t mean it, and there was no malice behind what happened, young one, so please don’t be afraid of any of us. I think we should let Manny go down to bring York back, then you and your mate need to find a quiet place to talk and get to know each other. In the meantime, I think this council meeting is over and it’s getting late. I, for one, am ready to go home,” Illan announced, then stepped away from Justice and Avery and went to the dais and grabbed his bag. Without another word, Illan walked to the back door and left.

  Justice and Avery watched him go, then turned angry faces on the rest of them. “You think it’s easy being in charge of a whole race, or now being the leader of all paranormals? Illan may grumble and grunt, but everything he does is to try to make sure the rest of us are safe. I…I can’t even say anything else. Good night,” Justice admonished. Avery placed his hand in Justice’s and the two left through the same door Illan had.

  “Fuck. I went too far, again,” Jett mumbled.

  “It wasn’t just you, Jett. Ethan, Rhys, and I will go see Dad tomorrow and talk to him. It will be okay. So how about Manny takes you to fix York, Timmy, and the rest of us will stay here and wait for you?”

  Timmy’s eyes were full of sadness and it damn near broke Pas’ heart. Timmy looked to the back door nervously, then back to Day, and nodded.

  “Come on, Timmy, let’s go get your mate. Pascal can come with us if you’d like?” Manny offered as he took Timmy’s hand.

  Timmy looked up at Manny hopeful. “Yes, please. I think I need my new friend with me.”

  “You have a whole room and more, full of new friends, Timmy,” Rune called out.

  Timmy stopped at the door Manny was holding open and looked at everyone standing around. He gave them all a bright smile and nodded, then left with Manny, Pas, and Frankie.

  CHAPTER 5

  York was beyond frustrated. He had listened to Timmy talk for days and wanted nothing more than to take the man in his arms and comfort him until
the tears stopped. However, he couldn't move a muscle. Somehow, he was going to get free from this stone prison and when he did, York was going to knock the shit out of Dallas for making his mate cry more than he already had been.

  The sound of hastened footsteps had York’s mind going on the alert. Was the council under attack? Had Fallon found a way to get to Timmy? Fuck, I have to break free from this fucking brick cell.

  "Hurry, Manny. Please!" Timmy's panicked tone had York ready to scream

  Manny ran into the room and before York could finally get a good look at the tiny man, Timmy jumped on the lift and the sound of it raising was all York could hear, until Timmy whispered, "It's going to be okay, York. Manny is going to fix you like he did the council."

  If York could have raised his brow, he would have done just that. What the hell happened to the council?

  As if Timmy heard his unasked question, Timmy softly said, "I did it again, York. I was already scared and doing my best to keep calm, but then Suneth walked into the room and I kind of freaked out. I guess I made a noise and everyone looked in my direction and I──I kind of froze everyone. The guards came at me, or at least I thought they were, and I panicked that I was about to die and then they turned to stone, too. Pascal and Ollie were great. Ollie even gave me these sunglasses. He thinks that it might help for me to not change anyone into stone, but we don't know for sure."

  "Timmy! Timmy! Where the heck are you?" Manny yelled from down the hall.

  "I'm back here! Please, come help my mate," Timmy practically begged.

  Yes, please come and get me out of this stone prison, so I can hold my Timmy and make him mine.

  York watched as Manny walked into the room and then felt a light touch on his arm. His skin started to loosen, and after a few moments he was able to turn his head and get his first really good look at his little mate.

  York was in awe of his mate’s pure beauty. It wasn't just that his mate was sexy, and maybe it wasn't a manly thing to think, but with Timmy's long beautiful grey hair that went past the man's knees, and his rounded middle that had York salivating to grab onto as he thrust into his mate hard and fast, about brought York to his knees.