by M. D. Grimm
“Where did you grow up?” Talon asked.
“Indiana.”
“Where in Indiana?” Talon asked, feeling like he was pulling teeth.
“Notre Dame. It’s my parents’ alma mater so my brother and I went. He was the jock and I was the nerd. My parents like him better.”
Orion hopped up and walked around the table before plopping into Dexter’s lap and hugging him close. Talon and his owl wanted to slice the idiots that couldn’t appreciate their kind and loyal son. Dexter closed his eyes and pressed his face into Orion’s shoulder, allowing the comfort. That was a step in the right direction, at least.
“I need to take a shower.” Dexter gently pushed Orion of his lap and disappeared into their bedroom to get his clothes before stepping into the bathroom.
Orion pouted and Talon knew why. Orion would much prefer showering with him. Talon sent him a warning look.
“Slow and steady, Orion.”
That only made him pout harder. He was still sullen as Dexter stepped into the living room, fully clothed and smelling nice and clean. It made Talon want to muss him up again.
Dexter smiled slightly at Orion’s look. “Hey, baby, this isn’t goodbye. We can’t stay holed up in here forever.”
He sat next to Orion and pulled him into his arms. It was the first time Dexter had made such a move and Talon felt warmed from the inside out. His owl puffed out his chest in pride, more determined than ever to claim him.
“You can take a shower with me when Dexter leaves,” Talon said.
Orion’s eyes widened. “You never let me do that.”
“I’m feeling generous. Don’t spoil it.”
Orion mimed zipping his lips shut and throwing away the key.
Dexter laughed softly at them. “Let’s plan something soon, okay? Whatever your schedules allow.”
“We’d like that.”
They walked Dexter to the door and Orion kissed him passionately before stepping back with a small smile. Talon kissed him as well and Dexter moaned before pushing away.
“Stop it, you two, or I’ll never leave.”
Orion opened his mouth, but Talon cut him off. “Drive safely and we’ll see you later.”
Dexter smiled and nodded before walking to his car. They waited until he’d driven out of sight before stepping back inside and shutting the front door. True to his word, Talon let Orion shower with him and pushed past his discomfort at the touching.
They reached campus in good time, and Talon knew something was going on in Orion’s mind since he was far too silent.
Before they parted, Orion said, “I love him.”
“I know.”
Orion looked at him intently. “And you?”
“I don’t fall as hard or as fast as you.” Talon stroked Orion’s hair a couple of times before sticking his hand into his pocket. “I like him very much.”
“What about your owl?”
“Pissed off I haven’t claimed him.”
“That’s something.”
“What about your owl?”
“Bouncing around like he’s on speed.”
Talon snorted. “Good luck today, little elf.”
“Te amo.”
Talon felt his entire person soften, and his owl hooted tenderly. He gently stroked his knuckles down Orion’s cheek.
“I love you too.”
IT WAS midafternoon, and Talon walked across campus and pulled out his phone to text Orion about venturing out as their owls that evening. He couldn’t remember if Orion was in an exam or not, so he didn’t use their telepathic communication. It was too distracting and intrusive, especially when Orion needed to concentrate.
He barely typed a single word when he heard his name called. He turned and glared, shoving the phone back in his pocket. Audrey hurried over to him, her curly hair made wilder by the moisture and wind. If she noticed his cold demeanor, she ignored it.
“We need to talk,” she said.
“I’m going to be late for an experiment.” Talon turned on his heel and strode away. She didn’t get the message and scurried after him.
“Talon—”
“You know I detest being late.”
“This is about the human.”
Talon stopped short and pinned her with another glare. His owl ruffled his feathers in irritation and clacked his beak. “His name is Dexter, and he’s none of your business.”
His route took him down a path between two buildings and she followed swiftly before jogging forward and stepping in front of him. Her wolf glowed in her eyes.
“Don’t dismiss me, Talon.” A faint growl colored her words.
Talon’s owl gave a shrieking bark in his head, and he knew his own eyes were glowing. His muscles slithered under his skin, though not in fear. No. In aggressive protection.
“Don’t threaten what’s mine, Audrey,” he said softly.
There wasn’t anyone around them in the cold, but he still kept his voice low.
“He threatens our very existence.”
“Don’t get on your fucking high horse,” he said, never once backing down. “Plenty of humans know about us and haven’t said a word. We have allies, Audrey. We also have Haven, where plenty of humans live side by side with shifters.”
“Times are different,” she said. “You haven’t had your head in the sand the last few years, so you know what I’m talking about.”
“The Knights are disbanded,” he said, though his heart jumped in his chest.
“But still active. We can’t take chances. We can’t let any more humans know about us. Who’s to say they aren’t a knight in disguise?”
“Dexter is not a fucking knight!” Of that he was dead certain.
“Doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t. He’s a fucking human. Can’t you see that? Why can’t you and Orion choose another bird shifter to fuck? Another owl? It would be the natural thing to do.”
Talon reared back, and his owl ruffled his feathers and shrieked in fury. Some of that sound escaped his control and pierced the air. Audrey growled and took a step toward him.
“What are you talking about?” Talon said, grinding out each word. “Natural, my ass. Plenty of shifters mate with humans.”
“And that’s exactly why our world is going to shit. That’s exactly why the Knights have managed to slaughter us wholesale. We’re weak. You get that? Mating with humans has made us weak. Mating outside our species has made us weak. We aren’t pure anymore, but mongrels to be hunted down.”
Talon stared in horror at the woman before him, one he had thought was a friend.
“I don’t know who you are anymore,” he whispered.
“I’m finally seeing the truth,” Audrey said and shoved her hair out of her face. “Wolves with wolves, birds with birds, and cats with cats. That’s the only way we survive. That’s the only way we grow stronger. It’s her punishment for soiling ourselves.”
“The Phoenix,” he said. “You’re talking about Phoenix? She loves all of us. We’re all her children! Why would you accuse her of such a thing?”
“Because it’s true! Just open your eyes, Talon. Look at the world around us. Look at the savagery and desolation of shifters. Look at what we allowed to happen to us!”
“We’re fighting back, Audrey. The Knights are disbanded and being hunted down. We’ve made alliances with the Agency and—”
She tossed her head and growled again, her skin slithering. “We don’t need their help. Abominations, all of them. Human and yet not. They think they know what’s best for us. Treat us like children and inferiors.”
“No, they don’t. My own master shifter has allied with them. More Knights are being tracked down and eliminated. We are making great strides in eliminating the murderers. And none of this has anything to do with my and Orion’s relationships with Dexter.”
“Of course it does!” She threw her hands in the air. “It’s part of the whole problem. Or are you so blind to your lust you can’t see that? It’s disgusting how
Orion moons over that waste of life.”
Talon lashed out with a shriek from his owl and shoved her back a step, struggling against a shift. She snarled and swiped at his face. He blocked her punch and shoved her back again.
“You stay away from him. From us. Or I swear to God and Phoenix and whatever other deity is out there I will shred you and peck out your eyes. We’re done, Audrey. Take your damning zealotry elsewhere.”
“You can’t stop what’s coming. You can’t stop the truth. My pack sees the right of things, and if you pursue the fucking human, don’t expect us to lie down and take it. He risks all of us. He damns all of us.”
He nearly lost it then. But she spun around and stalked away. He turned and closed his eyes, struggling against his owl. He clenched his fists and took precious minutes to calm himself and comprehend her vicious words. His mother had warned him about a new movement in the shifter community, led by a few wolf packs that touted a return to “pure” ways, to the “natural order” of things. Audrey and her pack seemed to be followers of the fanatic movement. Great. Perfect.
That was the group she’d wanted him to join. That was the poison she wanted to make him swallow. It was all in front of his face and yet he’d refused to see. He couldn’t keep this from Orion any longer. They had choices to make.
He ran a gloved hand through his hair before texting Orion.
We need to talk ASAP. This was a conversation that had to be face-to-face.
Then he jogged the rest of the way to the lab, five minutes late.
ORION STARED at Talon in disbelief from the couch in their apartment. Talon sat on the table in front of him. “She said what?”
“You heard me.”
Orion’s owl squeaked in distress and fear, bouncing around in confusion. He rubbed his chest and shook his head, trying to calm the other half of his spirit.
“How could we have missed that in her? We’ve dated other humans, and she’s never said a word.”
“Either she wasn’t fully indoctrinated into their fanatical thinking, or she knows we’re both serious about Dexter. She saw the way you were with him at your birthday party, and how long I was alone with him in the bathroom.”
“But he….” Orion panted in panic. “He’s sweet and kind, and he’d never do anything to harm us. She doesn’t even know him.”
“He’s human. That’s all she cares about.”
“So our choices for a third mate are limited to bird shifters? Because we’re bird shifters? That’s not fair. That’s not right!”
“No, it’s not.” Talon moved over to sit next to Orion and gripped his hand. “Don’t start hyperventilating. Take deep, even breaths, my little elf. That’s it, deep breaths.”
“She threatened our mate.” Orion’s eyes glowed, and despite the cheerful disposition of his owl, they were both in tandem in wanting to scratch her eyes out.
“And I nearly shifted and went after her,” Talon said.
The shock of that froze him. “On campus?”
“Yes. Then she would have shifted, and suddenly a wolf and a great horned owl would have been fighting for all the world to see. I can’t say I would have won either.” He sighed and shook his head. “We need to decide on a course of action.”
“What do you mean?”
“Keep Dexter or let him go.”
Orion reared back as if Talon had slapped him and scrambled to his feet. His elf owl screeched at the betrayal. “How can you say that? We’re not letting him go!”
Talon stood and narrowed his eyes. “Calm down, Orion Teodoro Matias. We need to have a rational conversation about the risks involved in pursuing Dexter.”
Orion bared his teeth and ranted in Spanish, insults and crude suggestions Talon wouldn’t understand, but Orion felt better for having spewed them.
“Puta de mierda,” he said, finally ending his rant. He sucked in air and looked at Talon, who simply stood there, watching warily.
A long moment of silence passed before Talon spoke. “Are we going to talk like civilized adults now?”
Orion felt slightly ashamed at his outburst but didn’t show it. He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded.
“Dexter is in danger if we continue to pursue him,” Talon said bluntly. “You know that. I know that. Audrey threatened him, and she has a pack to back her up. If we let go of him now, most likely Audrey will stand down, thinking she’s won.”
Orion’s eyes burned, and he couldn’t hold back the tears.
Talon considered him carefully, the length of the room between them. “But if we both decide we want him, we have to tell him everything. He needs to be prepared. We have to tell our families about him and fold him into our parliament, granting him their protection. We’ll also have to warn our families about Audrey’s pack.”
“Do you really think they’d attack him?” Orion asked in a small voice.
“I honestly don’t know, and we can’t take any chances. Listen to me. If we let him go, he will most likely be safe. If we keep him and tell him about us, we could still lose him if he doesn’t accept us. Then he’s made even more vulnerable because he knows our secret and is out in the world without any shifter connection.”
“A loose end.”
“Yes.”
Orion squeezed his eyes shut and whined pitifully, his owl drooping with sorrow. It was only a moment before Talon hugged him close. He clutched at his mate, burrowing into him, breathing in his scent.
Talon said softly, “I don’t want to let him go either. I like him a lot. Tell me what you want to do, and I will stand beside you one hundred percent. If you want to keep him, then we damn well will keep him and cherish him. He’s already halfway ours, and I’m willing to risk everything to make that complete.”
Orion cried and sniffled, using Talon as an anchor for his emotions. When he finally found his voice, he pulled back and met Talon’s gaze.
“We should talk to our families. Get their thoughts. Ask them if they’d even protect our human.”
Talon nodded and wiped away Orion’s tears with his thumbs. “Excellent idea.”
Chapter Nine
DEXTER RECEIVED a few texts from Orion Saturday afternoon and then nothing on Sunday. He didn’t let himself get too concerned or disappointed. He’d half expected them to invite him over Saturday night as well. But it was finals, after all, and Orion taught a class. He also knew Talon had vital experiments to conduct, so Dexter enjoyed his Sunday by sleeping late and then cleaning his place. He should invite them over. Would they like his home? He wanted to celebrate Christmas with them. Would they accept? It was probably too soon in their relationship to suggest it but he’d regret not asking them.
He looked around, wondering if they’d find it nice. His hope was a living thing in his chest, warming the love that continued to grow for Talon and Orion. He owed them everything, and he promised himself he was going to enjoy the ride and not look for the negatives.
Enjoy them. And if it didn’t work out? Well, he’d still survive and be stronger because now he had proof he could be desired.
Dexter blew out a breath and got ready for work. He had to come in slightly early, around six in the evening, and texted both of his boyfriends—the thought still made his heart jump—that he wouldn’t mind meeting up for a break if they could manage it. It was an amazing sensation to be able to do that.
After clocking in he went about his normal routine. Neither Talon nor Orion texted him back after an hour, and he felt the first hint of worry. He struggled to shake it off. He debated sending another text. Would that be too naggy? But Orion was the texting king, and yet why the radio silence? After all their pretty words Saturday morning, he had to believe they were sincere.
What was the point of all this if they weren’t?
“Dexter.”
He turned to see Audrey stepping over to him. He dropped the trash bag in his pail before deftly slipping a new one in the can.
“Hi, Audrey. Got exams this late?”
“No, just visiting a few friends.”
He nodded, wondering why she was talking to him. He thought she’d decided to dislike him at Orion’s birthday party. She stuffed her hands in her coat pockets and looked hesitant, as if worried about something.
“Something I can do for you?” he asked as politely as he could. He really did have other buildings he had to get to. And the temperature continued to drop painfully.
“Well, it’s just… I feel I should warn you.”
He blinked. “About what?”
“Talon and Orion.”
“Wh-what about them?” He fought the urge the run. Very far away. He wanted to run and hide and not hear what she had to say. He wanted the fantasy; he needed it.
“They’re, well, just not good for the long-term. I’ve known them since we were all undergrads, and I’ve seen them with a lot of guys. Some barely last six months before they drop them like a game of hot potato. They’re rather fickle with anyone but themselves. They try all sorts of guys to spice up their sex life, and, well, I guess you’re the flavor of the month.”
Dexter stared at her, suddenly very cold and weak.
“They get itchy around this time of year, too, with the stress of finals and the holidays.” She paused, expression strained. “I’m sorry, Dexter. You seem like a nice guy, and I just wanted to warn you before you got in too deep. I mean, you could stay with them and ride it out, but my advice would be to drop them now and move on. It’s not worth wasting time on two selfish players.”
He turned away and gripped his cart to stay standing. His legs were trembling, and a cold sweat broke out on his body. Tears burned his eyes, and he knew a panic attack wasn’t far away. He staggered over to a bench and sat before pushing his head between his legs. He wouldn’t get sick. He would not get sick.
Her words jumbled with Stacey’s warnings nearly a week before when they had dinner together. How could he really be so blind? So delusional? If Audrey had known them so long, then it would make sense she would know how they operated.
Audrey was gone by the time he lifted his head. He blindly looked around, wondering if he’d find shards of his heart on the floor by his feet. So much for hope.
