by M. A. Church
Having a mate who constantly dealt with a goddess was one thing. When that goddess suddenly turned her attention to him, a person who was not a werecat in any fucking form or fashion… yeah. Being in the limelight was not something he appreciated, especially when he was much more comfortable in the shadows.
Birds chirped shrilly as he and his companion ambled along. One mockingbird in particular must’ve been feeling rather spunky—it kept divebombing the lion. Brave little shit. A swipe from those massive paws and that stupid bird wouldn’t be anything more than an explosion of feathers.
Birds and cats. Seth shook his head.
“So, um, what’s up? I mean, I’m guessing we’re taking this stroll for a reason? Right?”
The lion rumbled.
“Can I get that in English for, you know, us non-werecat types?”
Its long tail whipped past, barely missing his leg.
“No? O-kay.” Seth poured all the sarcasm he could muster into that one word.
The lion suddenly stopped. That tail lifted straight up and then twitched.
Shit. He’d seen Tyler in his werecat form piss on things enough to recognize that move. “Whoa, whoa! I’m not territory in need of marking, so what the hell, dude?” Maybe aggravating the overly large lion wasn’t his brightest move. While Seth was certain it wouldn’t hurt him, roaring at him because he pissed it off wasn’t his idea of a good time either. “Watch the sarcasm. I got it.”
Down went the tail and the lion moved on.
Seth kept his mouth shut the rest of the way. Obviously they were out there stomping around the woods for a reason, so he started paying closer attention to any landmarks they passed. Even though it seemed like they walked forever, his feet didn’t hurt, nor did he feel tired. The sun was out, but he wasn’t hot.
He felt the magic before he saw the place. Nearby was a dirt road that he and the lion followed to a little opening in the woods where boulders were grouped in a circle. The stones were a weathered gray with chips and cracks. Seth moved closer, placing his palm on the nearest boulder. Energy arched from the stone and through his body, leaving behind a tingling sensation. Surprised, Seth glanced at his hand.
Brier’s words replayed in his mind. It’s where we hold ceremonies. It’s a magical place where we interact with Bast. It’s an actual circle made of large, bulky boulders at least four feet across and eight feet high. Some of the boulders are worn smooth and flat across the top, while others come to a point, like a finger pointing toward the sky. The grass inside is always green, no matter the time of year.
“The Circle of Stone,” Seth breathed.
The lion wandered inside and flopped down on lush green grass—grass Brier said stayed that color year-round. Its ear twitched, as if someone was speaking to it, a someone Seth couldn’t hear.
These sacred stones were a tangible connection to the werecats’ goddess, and just standing there made Seth feel insignificant. So, should he enter? Why else had he been brought here? Unsure of what he was getting himself into but game nevertheless, he edged inside the circle. Immediately a wave of heat swept over him. Power raced through his body. He tingled from head to toe, and a sense of belonging and contentment spread through him.
“Holy shit!”
The lion glared at him. Straight-up glared at him.
Seth cringed. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Was Bast actually right here in the circle with him? Was that the energy he felt? And holy fucking shit, he just cussed in the presence of a deity. No way could that be good. “Sh—” He barely caught himself. No cussing, dumbass! “Um, Goddess Bast? Sorry. For the language, I mean.” Seth winced again. He really hoped she was there, or otherwise he looked like an idiot.
The lion snorted. Seth shot it a look. The lion rolled its eyes. Seth gaped. Did that overgrown kitty just roll its eyes at him? Huh. It did.
Remember.
Seth tore his gaze away from the lion. “Ah, okay. Remember what? Can you help me out here? Please?”
Remember this place when the time comes.
Seth nodded like a bobble-head doll. Holy shi… holy all that was holy! A goddess was speaking to him in his mind. “I can do that. Yup. Sure. Absolutely not a problem. Can I… um, can I ask why?”
You will know why. I need you to trust in me, no matter what. We all have a part to play, child. Remember he is the one and only, and remember this place. You must.
The power and desperation in that word shook him to the core.
Seth’s eyes flew open. He surged up and… and there was something that happened he needed to tell Tyler, but he couldn’t recall what. Fuck, it was right there, but it slipped away like water through his fingers.
And why the hell did he think he’d heard a lion roar as he woke up?
Chapter Eighteen – Brier
BY THE time the sun peeked over the horizon, Brier was awake and up. Hell, he’d been up half the night—in more ways than one. He glared at his morning wood. He needed to piss but wasn’t sure he could while his prick was standing at attention.
His bladder encouraged him to try, so he crawled out of bed. It took forever, but he finally managed to soften enough. Once he was done, he flopped back onto the bed. His thoughts returned to last night, and his stupid cock perked right back up again.
Having Seth and Tyler’s hands on him had been a dream come true, but it left him wanting more. It’d been an eye-opening experience too, since Seth was the first man Brier actually wanted to top him. He’d tried bottoming in the past, but the experience had been meh. But when Seth touched him on the ass last night, Brier wasn’t so far gone that he hadn’t noticed. He’d wanted it. It turned him on even more. Glancing down, he smirked. His cock was certainly on board.
Fuck. Dolf needed to hurry the hell up and tell him something. Resisting the urge to mate Seth and Tyler wasn’t going to last. He yearned for them. His cat was pushing hard too. He needed them more than he needed his next….
Was that bacon he smelled?
He sniffed. Hell yeah, it was. He rolled out of bed, yanked on a pair of night pants, and practically ran out of the master bedroom. He slid to a stop right before entering the kitchen. Along with the bacon, the fragrant scent of coffee slapped him in the face.
Tyler stood by the stove, wearing pajama bottoms that dipped lower than Brier’s peace of mind could handle. Long russet hair trailed down a toned back. Sun caressed Tyler’s skin, turning it a warm gold. Had he ever seen anything so gorgeous?
“Ty—” Brier cleared his throat. He sounded as if he’d swallowed gravel. “Tyler?”
“Oh hey! Good morning. Hope you don’t mind me cooking breakfast. I woke up hungry, and, well, I heard you moving around and thought that maybe you’d like, you know… some breakfast.” Tyler blushed when Brier didn’t speak. “Brier? Was that okay? You did say make ourselves at home.”
Addled, Brier shook his head. How long had he been gawking like an idiot, staring at Tyler’s naked chest? His pretty nipples? That cute bellybutton? “No. I mean, yes. I meant no, I don’t mind you cooking anything you want, and yes, I most certainly did say to make yourself at home. I just…. By all that is holy, you look good standing in my kitchen.”
Tyler winked, even though a blush climbed his chest. “Well, then, have a seat. It should be ready shortly.” He turned back to the stove.
Brier zeroed in on Tyler’s ass.
“I scrambled the eggs. Hope that’s okay,” Tyler tossed over his shoulder.
“I’m easy to please,” Brier said. He caught a sudden whiff of something vanillay with hints of buttercream, soft musk, and sugar cookie. Huh. He’d noticed that scent when he’d first met Tyler.
“That’s nice to hear.” Seth leaned down and kissed Brier on the neck.
Brier jerked. He’d been staring at Tyler so hard, he hadn’t heard Seth join them. So much for his keen sense of hearing. Seeing Tyler half-dressed flustered him.
“Good morning.” Brier grinned at Seth. “Seems like Tyler’s treating us to breakfast
.”
“Good morning. I thought I smelled bacon.” Seth strolled toward Tyler.
Brier gulped. Seth was wearing only pajama bottoms too. Were these two trying to kill him? Maybe test his endurance?
Seth slid Tyler’s hair out of the way and kissed his naked shoulder. “Morning, babe.”
That damn vanilla scent spiked again.
Tyler turned in Seth’s arms and embraced him. “Morning. Have a seat. It’s about ready.” Tyler sniffed, then grinned at Brier, a knowing look in his eyes.
Brier’s ears were suddenly hot. Had Tyler smelled his desire?
“Seems someone likes what he sees,” Tyler snickered. “And I’m not talking about the food either.”
Heat moved up Brier’s face. Guess that answered that.
“Yeah?” Seth sat next to Brier. “Why do you say that?”
“Because….” Tyler pointed the spatula at Brier. “I can smell how much he liked seeing us kiss.”
Nope. He was not mortified that Tyler had caught on. Not at all. These were his mates, dammit. Of course he should be affected when his mates showed affection. “What can I say? The two of you together are hot as hell.”
Tyler turned to the stove. “It’s kind of citrusy. Brier’s scent, that is.”
Brier groaned. Hadn’t Tyler said his sense of smell wasn’t as good as Brier’s?
Seth inhaled deeply. “Damn. All I notice is bacon. Citrusy, huh?” He nudged Brier. “And what about you? What does Tyler smell like when aroused?”
There was that damn hint of vanilla again. “In his werecat form, there’s this barely there tang of a feline shifter, but it’s faded. Kind of generic. And that’s all there is. No personal marker, which we all have.”
“You mean, purebred werecats,” Seth said.
“Well, yes. All werecats in shifted form have a personal scent, except… Tyler doesn’t, since he’s a hybrid. But as a human, he does. It’s vanillay, with hints of buttercream, soft musk, and sugar cookie, but I only notice it then.”
“Maybe that’s because he’s your mate.” Seth scratched his head. “That makes as much sense as anything.”
“Nothing about me makes a whole lot of sense. But if Brier picks up something from me, I’m happy with that.” Tyler fidgeted. “Unless Bast suddenly appears in Brier’s kitchen, we’ll probably never know.”
Seth tensed.
Brier caught the sudden tightness in Seth’s shoulders, even though it was barely noticeable. What was that about?
“Anyway, food’s ready. I found your plates, Brier, so I set everything up buffet-style. Everyone, dig in.”
AFTER BREAKFAST, they cleaned the kitchen. With nothing to do and the whole day stretching out in front of them, Brier asked if they liked fishing. Seeing the grins on both their faces, he hunted up his spare poles and led them down to the pond.
The morning passed quickly. Brier wasn’t surprised at all to find out both were accomplished fishermen. By lunch they’d caught a mess of fish for dinner. Seth cleaned them while Tyler disposed of the remains.
After storing their catch in the refrigerator for dinner, Brier whipped up something for lunch. Once that was finished, they spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the woods near Brier’s house. He showed them all the trails he used the most.
They returned as evening fell, and Brier fried the fish while Tyler made coleslaw. Once the French fries were ready, they all gathered at the kitchen table to eat.
“Mmm, this is good,” Tyler said, biting into the fish.
“Nothing like fresh fish,” Brier added.
“Fresh, fried fish.” Seth arched a brow. “I’ve seen Tyler, in his werecat form, rip into fish that was still flopping on the bank.”
Brier chuckled. “Hey, don’t knock it until you try it.” He winked at Tyler. “Am I right?”
Tyler made yummy sounds.
“That’s a bit too fresh for me.” Seth shuddered. “I prefer my food to be not still kicking.”
Tyler chuckled. “Not only does he not want it kicking, he wants it charred to a crisp.”
Grinning, Brier fell silent as he watched Tyler and Seth pick on each other. Did he feel a little left out? Maybe some, but it honestly didn’t bother him like he was afraid it would. Seth and Tyler had an established relationship, but instead of worrying him, he was glad of its existence.
The idea of Tyler out there in the world, alone, terrified Brier. Tyler wasn’t helpless—Brier knew that. He’d probably withstood more before he became of age than most werecats did. He was a survivor, but the hard lessons hadn’t destroyed the innate innocence that surrounded him. Tyler had the gracefulness and sexiness werecats were known for, plus he was sweet. Thoughtful. A little sassy, but that added to his charm.
Seth, with his boy-next-door looks, portrayed himself as easygoing. Likable, even. But there was an edge to him, something that said what you saw was all smoke and mirrors—the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. Brier noticed it that first time he met Seth, although Dolf and Tal hadn’t seemed too concerned.
After dinner, they ended up on the couch watching a movie. Brier was in the middle with his arm around Seth and Tyler leaned against him.
Returning to his bedroom that night alone was more painful than Brier imagined.
BRIER SPENT the next few days getting to know Tyler and Seth. They touched and kissed, but nothing more. The nights were another matter. He was starting to hate his lonely bed.
Tyler found he had a knack for cooking. Teaching Tyler how to use the gadgets left them all laughing, but damn if he wasn’t a quick study. Seth, on the other hand, could burn water. While he might be a disaster in the kitchen, under the hood of a vehicle, Seth excelled.
Tyler enjoyed action-packed movies, while Seth preferred comedies. Neither of them cared for sappy romances. Reading wasn’t high on either one of their lists, but Brier figured they were too busy surviving life to have time to read.
It hurt Brier’s heart to see Seth and Tyler excited over all the things Brier considered conveniences—like fast-food, TV, and a comfortable bed. He wanted to spoil them and did every chance he got. In fact, he planned to do so tonight again. Since it was a little cool outside, Brier started a fire. They were sitting around it, roasting marshmallows.
“So, you never told me what Bast looks like,” Brier said, blowing the flames from his treat.
“I’d forgotten about that.”
“I haven’t.” Brier popped the marshmallow in his mouth. “So? Can you tell me? Please?”
Tyler ate his and leaned back in his chair. “Bast has a humanoid form, but her face isn’t. She has a short muzzle with whiskers and a broad nose. And catlike ears too. Plus, she has these sharp cheekbones, slanted eerie blue eyes lined with kohl, and slitted pupils. Black claws extend from her fingers.”
“She’s a mix of humanity and werecat,” Brier breathed.
“Oh yeah. She also has rings on every finger, a jeweled torque around her throat, and wears gem-encrusted cuff bracelets on her wrists, biceps, and ankles.”
“Makes sense, you know? She’s a goddess. I’d be more surprised if she wasn’t drowning in gold and gems,” Seth said.
“Around her hips is this blue wrap thingy. You ever paid attention to those Egyptian hieroglyphs? The ones with the people having braids? Her hair looks like that.” Tyler exhaled softly. “The power she puts off is unbelievable. I mean, you can practically taste it. But there’s this peacefulness to her too. Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe her, but her appeal isn’t sexual. She’s perfection in a tranquil form.”
“Do you have any idea how lucky you are? To actually meet our goddess is an honor. I envy you.” Brier took Tyler’s hand.
Tyler grimaced. “Don’t.”
“No, seriously, Tyler. Of all of us, she shows you her true self. That makes you very special. Does responsibility come with such a privilege? Yes. And of course there will be some who won’t believe you. You’re the one she—” Brier’s eyes widened. “T
he one she trusts to see her. The only one she trusts to do her will. Holy shit, I get it now. You’re the—”
Tyler sighed. “Yeah. The one and only. Only I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to do.”
Brier was out of his chair kneeling next to Tyler’s. “You will. I have faith you will know exactly what needs to be done when the time comes. Whatever it is.”
Seth knelt on the other side of Tyler. “And we’ll support you, no matter what. We have trust in her too.”
“I know. I know!” Tyler scrubbed his hands across his face. “I’m just stressed. I—”
“Then let’s shift. That always relaxes me,” Brier said. He stood. “What do you think?”
“I don’t shift to relax. Usually it’s because I needed to escape.”
“Are you telling me you’ve never played in your cat form?”
“Um, no.”
“Then it’s time.” Brier held out his hand. “Let’s go play.”
Chapter Nineteen – Tyler
TYLER DIDN’T have the first clue how to play as a cat, but he was game.
“I’m just going to sit over here, out of the way.” Seth moved farther from the fire pit.
Brier stripped and threw his clothes on the chair, so Tyler did the same. He’d never paid attention to another werecat shifting—usually he and Seth were being threatened and had other things to worry about. So, this time he did. Although it sounded as painful as his shift, he noticed right away that Brier’s was much smoother.
Brier paced back and forth, rubbing against Tyler’s legs. Tyler couldn’t help it. He had to pet the magnificent cat in front of him. Brier arched into Tyler’s hand. “So soft.”
“Meer!” Brier demanded, purring loudly.
“I’m working on it,” Tyler mumbled. Besides the fact that his shift wouldn’t be as graceful, he was also busy admiring Brier’s lovely sable brown color. When Brier head-butted him, Tyler decided he’d wasted enough time and called the cat within him.
Yup, it hurt just as much as ever.
After he was finished, he rose shakily to his feet. “Meow.”
