Jaded [The Moonlight Breed 9] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove)

by Gabrielle Evans

  “I don’t like the sound of that.” Easing away from his side, Zuriel put more distance between them as he inched toward the other side of the sofa. “Did you change your mind already? I have to say, you lasted longer than I thought you would.”

  Spiro could already see the fake smile and aloof façade slipping back into place, and he didn’t like it. Instead of chastising his mate, however, he simply took both of Zuriel’s hands and brought them to his lips. “You can’t get rid of me if you tried. This is important, though, so I need you to listen, okay?”

  Appearing a bit more relaxed, Zuriel nodded once and offered him a half smile. “Sorry. Knee-jerk reaction.”

  “It’s okay. You’ll trust me one day.” It wasn’t reasonable to expect years of suffering to disappear overnight, and he understood that Zuriel’s trust would need to be earned. Though he wasn’t looking forward to the discussion they were about to have, it was important that he not hide anything from his mate or lie to him, even if it was a lie by omission.

  “Okay, what’s going on? You look like you just swallowed a tack.”

  “It’s a bit complicated, but I’ll try to explain the best I can. You know that I’m a Lunician.” He paused at Zuriel’s frown and sighed. “A Moonlighter?”

  “Oh, yes, okay, I knew you were a white shifter. Your lion is very impressive.”

  “Thank you.” He wasn’t looking for compliments, though. “What you might not know, and I haven’t told anyone else, is that I’m not only a shifter. My mother is a lioness, but my father was an elf.” The man was no father to him, but his death did put a kink in Spiro’s plans.

  Zuriel tilted his head to the side and pursed his lips briefly. “You’re right. I wouldn’t have guessed if you hadn’t told me.” His sarcasm wasn’t lost on Spiro. “I mean, the pointy ears kind of give you away, big guy.” He shrugged casually. “It’s not a big deal to me what you are or aren’t.”

  He hadn’t thought it would be. Zuriel didn’t have a judgmental bone in his body. “Zuri, what do you know about elven traditions?”

  Zuriel’s lips turned down at the corners, and he shook his head slowly. “Nothing really, but I don’t think I like where this is going.” He fumbled his fingers together nervously and wrinkled his nose. “Why are you asking me this stuff? What does it have to do with me?”

  Upsetting his mate wasn’t part of the plan, so Spiro decided to give it to the guy straight. “My father wasn’t just anyone. He was the ruler of our people.”

  “Like a king? So, you’re a freakin’ prince? Oh, wow. I’m mated to a flippin’ prince!” His enthusiasm was adorable, but Spiro couldn’t conjure the same level of happiness about the situation.

  “When our king dies, it is tradition for the first born son to take his throne, much like in any other culture. However, the Yaaraerae, the Ancient Ones, took it a step further in their doctrines, incorporating it into part of our magic.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Unfortunately, it was nothing good. “It means that I have until the next full moon to complete the rite and ascend the throne.”

  “I gather that’s not what you want.” Moving back to his side, Zuriel curled against him and began rubbing soothing circles over Spiro’s chest. “What is this rite?”

  “It’s a ritual of sorts. If I don’t complete it before the next full moon, well, I’ll die.” He winched at the harshness of that statement, but there really was no way to ease into that kind of news. “Then the next born will have to complete the rite, and he will take his place as the head of our race.”

  “You’ll die?” Zuriel yelped. “Why are you still here? Where does your family live? Spiro, it’s only four days until the full moon!” Both of his smaller hands pressed against Spiro’s chest and began pushing at him. “You have to go.”

  “Calm down, lirimaer.” Cradling Zuriel’s face, he kissed his lips and rubbed their noses together. “I have no intention of dying. You were right. I never wanted to be king, but I want to die even less, especially now.” He pressed their mouths together again, teasing the seam of Zuriel’s lips with his tongue. “I want you to come with me.”

  “Okay.” His acquiescence was a little too easy, though, and he sounded distracted.

  Leaning away, Spiro bit down on the inside of his cheek to stop his laughter when Zuriel tried to follow him. His sweet lips were slightly parted, his eyes were closed, and his fingers looped tightly around both of Spiro’s wrists. Perhaps a kiss wasn’t the best idea when discussing important issues.

  “Zuriel?”

  “Yes?”

  Spiro did chuckle that time. “Zuri, focus.”

  Shaking himself out of his lusty haze, Zuriel smiled sheepishly and blushed clear to the tips of his ears. “Sorry. I’m really not that big of a slut.”

  It was a more telling statement than Zuriel probably realized, but it was a truth Spiro had suspected all along. “I know you’re not, but I need you to listen.” He almost kissed his mate again but stopped at the last second and rolled his eyes at himself. There was no helping it, though. He always wanted to kiss those lush lips. “I have to go home.”

  “I know.” His fingers tightened around Spiro’s wrists again, and he stared up at him with big, pleading blue eyes. “Will you come back?”

  “Yes, lirimaer, I will come back. I don’t have to live in my family’s home to govern my people.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  Spiro didn’t have a definitive timeline, and therein lay the problem. “I’m not sure. That’s why I want you to come with me.” He understood how much he was asking of his mate, and he would understand if Zuriel said no.

  “Where exactly are we going?”

  “Silmataurea. It’s a little island off the coast of Greenland, and it’s also the home of my people. It’s very private, hidden by magic so that no one can harm us. I think you’d like it there.” The temperatures were ideal for an artic fox shifter like Zuriel, but Spiro had his doubts that a little snow could persuade his stubborn mate.

  If he could guarantee his trip home would be a short one, he would make the journey on his own and not put Zuriel in the position to choose. However, it could be weeks, even months before he’d be able to return to Wyoming, and the thought of being separated from his mate for that length of time made him more than a little anxious.

  “I don’t know what to say. What about Zavion? What about my friends?” Crossing his arms over his chest, he tucked his hands close to his sides as though he was trying to prevent something inside him from breaking free. “This is my home now. It’s the only home I’ve ever had.”

  “It’s not forever, sweetheart.” An idea was brewing, but it was a long shot, and he doubted anyone would actually agree to it. “What if we asked your friends to come with us?” There was more than enough room in his family’s palace to house those who chose to make the journey. Like Zuriel, however, they all had lives in America, lives that were comfortable and familiar.

  “You really want me to come with you?”

  “You’re my mate, Zuriel. I always want you with me. However, I’ll understand if you want to stay.” He’d go insane with worry while he was away, but he couldn’t just kidnap the man and force him on a plane.

  “What if I hate it there?”

  “Then you don’t have to stay.” Hope blossomed, but Spiro squashed it quickly before he got ahead of himself. Zuriel may be considering it, but he hadn’t answered in the affirmative yet. “Give me a week, just one week. If you don’t like it there, I’ll get you on the first flight home.”

  “And the others could come if they wanted?”

  “Your friends and family are welcome to visit anytime they want for as long as they’d like.” Hell, he’d try to convince Stavion to move the entire coven there if he thought that would appease his mate.

  “Okay,” Zuriel said slowly, dragging the word out while he squinted in concentration. “When do we have to leave?”

  “Tomorrow morning
, I’m afraid. I know I haven’t given you much time to think about it, but as you pointed out, the full moon is in four days.” Not only was it an ungodly long trip, but because he and Zuriel would both be forced to shift during the full moon, he’d have to complete the rite before then, leaving him with only two days rather than four.

  “Can I talk to the others before I make my decision?”

  “I think that’s a good idea. I actually have my meeting with Cicero in ten minutes, but I’ll find you later, okay?” Pinching Zuriel’s chin lightly between his thumb and the knuckle of his index finger, he tilted his mate’s head up and indulged in a slow, lingering kiss. “Don’t stress, lirimaer. If you decide to stay, I’ll understand.”

  “Okay,” Zuriel whispered, but he sounded a million miles away. “I’ll see you tonight then.”

  “Tonight.”

  * * * *

  “Wow,” Oscar breathed when Zuriel finished telling his friends about his earlier discussion with Spiro. “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, I say this calls for dancing.” Jumping up from the kitchen table, Nikola motioned for everyone else to stand as well, and pushed the table up against the wall.

  “I second that.” Mihail scurried over to the small radio situated in the corner near the refrigerator, and loud music instantly began blaring from the speakers. “Dancing makes everything better.”

  Zuriel didn’t necessarily agree, but he was tired of thinking about it. A ten minute break to clear his mind might be just what he needed. While Beyonce sang about being a diva, he and his friends twisted, twirled, and gyrated around the kitchen, laughing loudly as they bumped their hips and shoulders together.

  The impromptu party didn’t exactly have the desired effect, however. Instead of clearing his mind, it only affirmed how much he loved his life in Haven. Spiro was the only royal he’d ever met, and he hadn’t even known the guy was a prince until a couple of hours ago. Somehow, he doubted dance parties in the palace kitchen would be approved forms of entertainment where he was going.

  Plus, he’d be mated to a king, a ruler of an entire race, and he had no idea what that meant for him. He was just beginning to figure out who he was, and he didn’t want to lose himself to a title. Frankly, the idea that he would cease to be Zuriel and become simply “the king’s consort” held very little appeal.

  “What the bloody hell is all that noise?” Cian Murphy stomped into the kitchen dressed in nothing but a pair of loose-fitting jeans with his hair sticking out in odd angles all over his head. “How is a man supposed to get any rest around here?”

  “Oops,” Zavion mumbled. “I forgot Cian has night patrol this week.”

  Jacobi on the other hand, appeared to hold very little sympathy for the Enforcer. “We’re thinking. Go away.”

  “You’re thinking?” Demitrius appeared behind Cian, looking just as disheveled and, if possible, more irritated. “How can you think with that…that…”

  “I believe ‘music’ is the term you’re looking for,” Zuriel quipped.

  “You call that music?”

  “Zuriel has a problem,” Nikola tried to reason. “We’re trying to help him come up with a solution.”

  Both Enforcers went into full protection mode, storming into the kitchen, killing the music, and grabbing their mates to keep them close. “What problem?” Demitrius demanded. “What happened?”

  “That delectable doctor is his mate,” Jacobi began.

  “And Spiro is a prince,” Mihail added.

  “His dad died, and now he has to go home to be king.” Nikola hopped up on the counter and swung his feet so that they tapped rhythmically against the cabinets below. “I’m sure you see the problem.”

  Demitrius and Cian just looked confused. “I’m sorry. What?”

  Oscar chuckled and patted his mate on the chest. “Spiro has to go home to some island because his father passed away, and he wants Zuriel to go with him. My brother is having trouble making a decision.”

  “What’s the problem? They’re mates. Of course he should go.”

  Oh, if it was only that easy. Yes, he felt the draw to be with Spiro. There were so many things about the man that made his heart race and his stomach flutter. Though he might be a little gruff on the surface, Spiro constantly put other people’s needs above his own, and he never made Zuriel feel like his ideas or opinions were without merit.

  He didn’t smile often, but when he did, it was the most gorgeous thing Zuriel had ever seen. It transformed his face and warmed the green of his eyes. He had dimples, and yes, his hair was just as silky soft as Zuriel had imagined it would be.

  Spiro listened, and he never pushed. He was always there to help, but never to take over, and Zuriel appreciated how much confidence his mate had in him. It was nice to feel important for once, instead of just another stray the coven had taken under their wing.

  “He said we don’t have to stay forever, but he doesn’t know when we’ll be back.”

  “So, what has you scared?” Cian asked as he settled into one of the kitchen chairs and pulled Zavion into his lap.

  “Well, I know we’re mates, but I barely know him when you think about it. What about you guys?” Spiro had said that his friends could visit, but he hadn’t sounded hopeful that they’d make the trip. Zuriel tended to agree. “I’ll be alone there.”

  “Well, I’ll miss you,” Zavion said quietly. “I can’t imagine not being close to Cian, though. You may be confused right now, but fate chooses our mates, Zuri. You can’t run from it, and I think you’ll regret it if you don’t go.”

  “Spiro said you guys could visit whenever you want.” It wasn’t a question, but he hoped someone would step up and offer to come with him. Having a familiar face around while Spiro was off tending to his responsibilities would make the transition much easier.

  “We can’t leave right now,” Demitrius said at once, holding Oscar tucked against his side. “Security is stretched thin as it is, and I can’t put the coven in that position.”

  “Same for us,” Cian added as he placed a soft kiss on Zavion’s neck. “I can’t be without Zavion, and I can’t leave the coven when it’s needin’ me.”

  It was disappointing, but Zuriel had expected as much. Cicero seemed happier lately, but he still wasn’t talking, and Zuriel figured it was probably best if he didn’t leave the comfort of the community. Everyone else appeared happy right where they were, and he was seriously starting to feel left out in the cold. He didn’t blame his friends, though. If not for his growing attachment to Spiro, he wouldn’t even be contemplating the extended trip.

  To his surprise, it was Mihail who stepped forward and took his hand. “I’ll come with you. I do like this place, but it will be waiting when we return. There’s nothing holding me here.” He bumped their shoulders together and grinned. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to travel.”

  “Well, I’m in, too,” Nikola announced, hurrying to Zuriel’s other side. “Home isn’t a place. It’s the people you care about. Who knows?” He chuckled quietly and wiggled his eyebrows. “Maybe I’ll find my mate on this island of yours.”

  “Water, water everywhere,” Jacobi said with a dramatic sigh, “and nary a drop to drink. This place is crawling with men, and not a one of them available. It’s atrocious.” Then he sidled up to Zuriel and leaned close to kiss his cheek. “I’ll come with you, my scrumptious cupcake, but you’ll have to promise me a harem of muscled men to keep me entertained.”

  “I’m pretty sure they have men where we’re going.” He was over the moon, and there just weren’t words to express how much his friends’ support meant to him. “Thank you, all of you.”

  “There’s only one thing left to do.” Huffing dramatically, Jacobi trudged out of the kitchen, looking very much like he was walking to his execution.

  “What is left to do?” Whatever it was, if it made Jacobi that unhappy, Zuriel didn’t think he wanted any part of it.

  Nik
ola snickered and patted him on the shoulder. “We have to pack. Have you seen Jacobi’s closet?”

  “Oh, right.” He hadn’t even thought that far ahead yet. “Crap, and we’re leaving in the morning.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” Sliding out of Cian’s lap, Zavion pulled Zuriel to him and hugged him tight. “I’ll take care of your packing.”

  “Where are you going?” Mihail called before Zuriel could disappear through the back door.

  He couldn’t have pried the smile off his face with a crowbar. “I’m going to find my mate and tell him the good news.” And if everything went as planned, he’d be having a little preflight celebration.

  Chapter Five

  “We discussed last week that I’m going to have to leave the country for a little while.”

  “Right.”

  “I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I can arrange for you to talk to someone else while I’m gone.” Spiro already knew what the response to that would be, but he felt morally obligated to offer.

  “No, I don’t think I’d trust anyone else.”

  Swallowing back his sigh, Spiro leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and linking his fingers together. “Ro, your friends are worried about you. No one has heard you speak a word since you arrived in Haven, and that was six months ago.”

  Cicero ducked his head and fidgeted nervously on the sofa. “I know,” he mumbled. “I don’t want them to worry about me, but I hate this. They’ll think. They’ll think. They’ll think I’m a freak.”

  “If you won’t talk to your friends, at least speak to Dr. Woods. He would probably have more answers than I do.”

  Spiro had treated many people with different disorders over the years, including various types of tics that ranged from almost nonexistent to extremely severe. In Cicero’s case, he was exhibiting signs of palilalia—a neurotic disorder that presented itself in the repetition of certain words or phrases during speech. The strange part, however, was that the symptoms hadn’t begun until after his escape from The Hive.