Shifter Mate Tri-Totem (Shifter World - Book Thirteen) (Series of 13 Short Stories)
Chapter Four: The Spiritual Cleric

Cael Hayes sat up in bed when he heard a noise. “I know you’re there.”

“Perceptive as ever, Nephew.”

Cael watched as Lucifer moved out of the shadows, a familiar smile on his face.

“What do you want?” Cael asked with a growl.

Lucifer chuckled. “What do I want?”

Cael moved to get out of bed and stopped when Lucifer moved to stand in front of him.

“I want you to deny the Goddesses anything they ask of you.”

Cael glared at the once Archangel, who now runs the most feared place in the history of humanity.

“I will not deny my aunts.”

Lucifer tilted his head back and laughed. “You have trusted those crazy women, even though they were against your birth.”

“And you were all for it. Yes, I know you have told me for thousands of years.” Cael said as he pushed past his uncle.

Lucifer snorted. “Boy, don’t you listen to…”

“Oh, I listen. I listen to everything, Uncle.” Cael said as he headed for the bathroom. “I even listened to my mother.” He said then turned to what the humans call the Prince of Darkness. “She told me everything. I was never left out. As I have told you a thousand times. The Goddesses have made up for it since the day I was born. Or did you forget how they stopped you from fulfilling their wish?”

Lucifer snorted. “So, they did. But remember that they were the ones who put the hit on you before you were even born.”

Cael shook his head as he walked into the bathroom. When he returned to his bedroom, his uncle was still there. He was looking at a gift Cael had received from a church, thanking him for saving a child.

“It’s funny how people still think the Devil can’t touch anything blessed.” Cael said as he watched his uncle hold the small statue in his hands.

Lucifer snorted. “Keeps them entertained.”

Cael nodded as he returned to his bed. “Now. If you will excuse me, I would like to go back to sleep.”

“Cael.” Lucifer said as he set the statue back in its place.

Cael shook his head. “No good, Uncle. I won’t disrespect our aunts. Now, if you will excuse…”

“Damn it, boy! Don’t you want to know what they will ask of you?”

Cael sat up. He was curious, but he knows his aunts will ask him when they are ready. “Probably something to do with you, and your Witch hunt.”

“It’s not a Witch hunt. If it was that simple, do you think it would have taken me over three thousand years?”

Cael smirked. He got his answer there. “You do know that I won’t side with you, right?”

Lucifer cursed Cael as he leaned over his bed. “One of these days, I will have your snotty little ass in one of my pits…”

“You know you can’t pull him down there.”

Lucifer moved back from his nephew and turned to his aunt. “Aunt Senshire,” he said with a growl.

Senshire grinned, “trying to pull our nephew into your games again, Lucifer?”

Lucifer smirked, “I don’t need his help. Except maybe to distract you.”

Senshire closed her eyes, then opened them again and glared at her nephew. “What have you done?”

“That is for me to know and for you to replace out.” Lucifer said, then vanished.

“What’s going on, Aunt Senshire?” Cael asked as he moved to sit on the edge of his bed.

Senshire turned and smiled at her nephew. She’s glad that her brother had ordered her to put a stop to this boy’s death. He has been a blessing and not the curse she and her sisters had feared he would be.

A Spiritual Cleric. Who’d have thought? Her brother, of course, and of course, he’d planned it all along, letting Raphael come down to Earth and fall in love with a human. Well, a White Witch, who also happened to be a healer. Not to mention the spirit her brother had sent into the child.

“What is going on that you need me?” Cael asked.

Senshire smiled. “I had come to ask for your help with one of my Fated Mate couples, but it looks like I will need more than that from you.”

Cael eyed his aunt. What could she need from him?

“Cael. You’re the only Spiritual Cleric in existence, so you are the only one who can perform this ceremony.”

Cael blinked at his aunt. “What do you want me to do?”

Senshire smiled. “Well, first you will perform this ceremony, then you will join them in their mission. And their friends will need you.”

Cael smiled. “The Fated Mates?”

Senshire nodded. “I cannot force you, dear Nephew. But I can beg.”

Cael chuckled. “What do you need, Aunt Senshire?”

~🐻~

Marry-Beth opened her eyes and stretched. She felt so incredible. A movement behind her had her turning her head; when she saw Bishop’s face, her heart skipped a beat. She’s a Fated Mate!

“Good morning, Mafilia.” Bishop said as his eyes opened.

Marry-Beth smiled. “Morning, Mafilio.”

Bishop grinned. That’s the first time she has called him Mafilio, and his heart sang. He moved closer to her, and she smiled as his lips claimed hers.

Allora stirred beside Marry-Beth and watched as her mate kissed the man she has been waiting for, for too long.

“How do waffles sound?” Bishop asked as he lifted his head from the kiss.

Marry-Beth smiled. “Sounds wonderful.”

“Am I invited?” Allora asked as she sat up on her elbow.

Bishop looked at Allora and smiled. “But of course.” He said, then leaned over Marry-Beth and kissed Allora’s cheek.

Marry-Beth smiled as she watched Allora’s cheeks turn a bright pink.

Bishop jumped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. He doesn’t remember the last time he’d woken with such joy in his soul.

“You like him.” Marry-Beth said with a chuckle as she turned to face her mate.

Allora looked at Marry-Beth. “I do.” She said with a smile. “He’s perfect for us.”

Marry-Beth smiled. “He is, isn’t he?”

Allora nodded as she leaned forward and kissed Marry-Beth. Both women moaned as they wrapped their arms around each other.

“Well, I guess breakfast is waiting.” Bishop said with a chuckle as he walked out of the bathroom to replace his mate and her girl in each other’s arms.

Marry-Beth and Allora giggled when he jumped into bed with them.

~🐻~

“I am starving.” Allora mumbled as she shoved another fork full of waffles into her mouth.

Marry-Beth chuckled. “After last night and this morning, so am I.”

Allora smiled at her mate as syrup dripped down from the corner of her mouth. Marry-Beth leaned forward and kissed the syrup away.

“Keep that up, and I’ll drag you two under the table.” Bishop grumbled as he placed his fork on his empty plate.

Marry-Beth and Allora giggled as they went back to eating.

“There you are.”

They looked up to replace Akan standing at their table.

“How did you replace us?” Bishop asked as he watched his mate’s brother.

Akan grinned as he tapped his nose. “I can always replace my sister, even with your smell all over her.”

Bishop snorted as he watched the smaller man.

“Let me see them.” Akan said as he held his hands out to his sister and her Fated Mate.

With a smirk, Bishop showed the man his markings.

Akan took hold of Bishop’s arms and read his sister’s name across his left wrist, then let him go and looked at his sister. “Congratulations, sister of mine.”

Marry-Beth smiled. “Thank you. You joining us?”

Akan shrugged. “I’ve already eaten, but I guess I can sit with you and your mates.”

Marry-Beth snorted. “Just sit down, jackass.”

Akan smirked as he pulled a chair from another table and sat at the end of the table. “So.” He said as he looked at each of them. “Are you all connected?”

Marry-Beth and Allora held up their arms.

“Just them.” Allora said with a smile.

“But there’s a connection between them.” Marry-Beth said as she pointed at her two mates.

“A connection, huh? I thought you don’t go for men.” Akan said as he looked at Allora.

Allora shrugged. “Never been attracted to one, that is, until Bishop.” She said as she looked over at the only man her heart and body has ever trembled for.

Bishop grinned. “The Goddesses are crazy.” He said with a chuckle.

The others laughed with him.

“So, what’re the plans for today?” Akan asked as he reached across the table and picked up his sister’s drink.

“Don’t really have any.” Marry-Beth said as she took her drink away from her brother before he could touch his lips to the glass.

They spent an hour chatting about when they’ll meet up with the rest of the Fated Mates, and how they will explain everything that has happened. When they were ready to go, Bishop paid the tab and told them to meet him outside.

“He’s nice.” Akan said as they stood outside, waiting for Bishop.

Marry-Beth and Allora nodded. “He is.” They said at the same time.

Akan smirked. “I’m glad to see it hasn’t changed you two.”

Allora grinned as she wrapped her arms around her mate.

“Where to next?” Bishop asked as he joined them.

“What do you want to do?” Allora asked as she looked at her mate’s Fated Mate.

“Well, I do need to show my mate off to my friends.” Bishop said with a grin.

“You mean mates.” Marry-Beth said as she pulled him to her. “You have two.”

Bishop grinned. “That I do, Mafilia.”

“Where can we replace them?” Allora asked.

“Right now, they’re probably asleep. We can meet up with them at the club tonight. Then we can dance.” He said as he placed his arm over his mate’s shoulder and headed down the sidewalk, Allora, on the other side of Marry-Beth.

“So then what do we do until then?” Akan asked as he caught up with them.

Bishop chuckled. “I could think of plenty of things to do, but none of them would involve you.” He said as he winked at the girls.

Marry-Beth and Allora giggled.

Akan gagged. “Get a room.”

“We have one.” Marry-Beth said.

They continued down the sidewalk, talking back and forth, making Akan more and more uncomfortable being with them. The girls laughed at the faces he made and talked even dirtier to Bishop.

“Let’s duck in here.” Bishop said when they came to a shop with a beautiful dress in the window.

“You seriously want to go shopping?” Marry-Beth asked, shocked.

Bishop grinned. “Not really.”

“Then why are we going in here?” Allora asked as he dragged them into the store.

Bishop chuckled. “Because I have two beautiful women, and I’d like to watch them try on clothes.”

Akan gagged as he stopped before entering the store. “I’ll wait out here.”

~🐻~

“Crap.” Cael said with a grunt as he looked around the hotel room where he should have found the newest Fated Mates couple. He’d just missed them.

Maybe they went out for breakfast. Cael thought as he left the room.

He vanished and reappeared outside the closest café. He pushed the double doors open and scanned through all the tables. They weren’t here either.

“Table for one?” A dark-haired woman asked as she held up a menu.

Cael shook his head. “I was supposed to meet my friends here, but I guess I missed them. Did you see a couple come in here with a woman…?”

“Oh, you mean the tall drink of water with the lesbians?”

Cael grumbled. “That’s a bit rude.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders. “I say it as I see it.”

Cael shook his head. “It’s people like you who make things uncomfortable for others.” He said, then turned and walked out the door.

He could hear the woman cursing him and smirked. He’d hit a spot there.

Cael looked around and sniffed the air. Thank Grandfather, they’re Shifters. He thought with a chuckle, Shifters are easier to track than humans.

He followed his nose and spotted Akan Andrews standing outside a shop, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else but there.

He needs to hurry and convince them what his aunt said needs to be done, then replace the rest of the Fated Mates.

“Akan.” Cael said with a smile as he stopped in front of the Shifter.

Akan stared at the stranger. “How do you know my name?”

Cael smiled. “My name is Cael Hayes. I’ve been sent by the Goddesses to help your sister and her mates.”

Akan blinked then burst into laughter. “Yeah, sure, okay.” He said, still laughing as he opened the door and led the man into the store.

It wasn’t hard to replace Marry-Beth and Allora. They already had a crowd surrounding the changing area, watching them as they tried on clothes.

“I think Bishop is regretting this.” Akan said with a snicker.

Cael nodded. He could sense the large man’s anxiety over others, looking at his mates with lust.

“Bishop King.” Cael said as he stopped behind the chair Bishop was sitting in.

Bishop turned to the stranger, then looked at Akan. “Who is he?”

Akan shrugged. “He said he’s looking for you and your mates.”

Bishop stood, towering over both men.

Cael looked up into Bishop’s face and smiled. “If you would like, I can distract the crowd.”

Bishop stared at him. “You can, can you?”

Cael nodded once, then snapped his fingers. A commotion on the other side of the store attracted the audience. The crowd walked across the store to see what was going on.

“Nosy busybodies.” Akan said with a snort.

“What’s going on?” Marry-Beth asked as she and Allora walked out of the stall with their original clothes on.

“This man says that the Goddesses sent him to help the three of you.” Akan said as he pointed at Cael.

“The Goddesses?” Allora asked, fear in her eyes. Are they separating me from my mate?

Cael smiled at Allora. “No sweet child. Senshire asked me to help you, not separate you.”

Allora blinked. How did he know what she was thinking? “Are you a Wizard or Warlock?”

Cael snorted. “Neither.”

“How did you replace us?” Marry-Beth asked.

Cael pointed to his nose. “I followed your scent.”

“See Sis, I told you, you stink.” Akan said with a snort.

Allora tossed a small ball at Akan and chuckled when it bounced off his head.

“Now, this isn’t the place for us to hold this conversation.” Cael said, then lifted his arms and clapped.

The clap was so loud, the lights in the store flickered, and the five of them disappeared.