Wisdom's Allegiance (The Shifter Chronicles 13)

by M. D. Grimm

  “I thought the same thing,” Dexter said, wanting to push forward, to push away the last few minutes. “The snow makes everything look like a winter wonderland.”

  Orion grinned and nodded.

  They discarded their trash before stepping out into the brisk chill. Dexter tugged his jacket closer and caught the sour expression on Talon’s face.

  “I miss New Mexico.”

  Orion snorted and patted Talon’s arm. At Dexter’s questioning look, he said, “We were both born there. We like the heat. But UC Boulder had the programs we wanted. And, well, we wanted to spread our wings.”

  Talon snorted, and Dexter got the sense they were sharing an inside joke.

  “The snow isn’t that bad,” Orion said to Talon.

  Talon grunted and slipped on his gloves, still looking irritated.

  Dexter stuck his hands in his pockets. Orion walked between them as they set off down one of the paths.

  “We grew up together,” Orion said, gesturing to Talon. “Funny thing is we didn’t like each other. At all. Not at first.”

  “Our families have been friends for generations,” Talon said, walking straight and firm, causing Dexter to imagine a pole up his ass. He mentally scolded himself, although he couldn’t argue the stiff posture looked good on Talon. “And there’s much intermarrying between us. There was no way I could rid myself of this pest.”

  Orion scoffed. “Please, I couldn’t get away from your stuffy ass, always with a book under your arm.”

  “And I couldn’t get away from your annoying yipping and yapping.”

  Dexter caught the amused glint in their eyes as they looked at each other. He felt like an intruder. Then Orion turned back to him and looped an arm around his, pushing into his space. He smelled nice.

  “In high school we realized it was sexual tension, not hatred, that had us annoyed and snarky with each other.”

  “I’ll always have fond memories of that locker room,” Talon said.

  Orion laughed. “Me too. There I was, innocently showering—”

  “Nothing you’ve ever done is innocent,” Talon said. “You were putting on a show just to make me uncomfortable. It had the opposite effect.”

  “Then you were kissing me.”

  “Then I was fucking you.”

  Dexter choked.

  “And we lived happily ever after.” Orion met Dexter’s eyes. “Well, almost. There are still bumps in our relationship, and, well, we need someone. We want someone else.”

  Dexter’s palms went damp in his gloves as he stared between Talon and Orion. “I don’t understand.”

  “We want a third,” Orion said gently. He petted Dexter’s arm with his other hand, eyes wide and honest. “Will you, at least, consider being our third?”

  Dexter wondered if he’d entered an alternate universe.

  “Why me?” he asked, his words barely stirring the air.

  “You’re sweet and kind, with a good heart, and I want to cuddle with you.” As if to prove it, Orion snuggled up to Dexter, resting his head on his shoulder. Orion was several inches shorter than Dexter, and Dexter had to admit it seemed right Orion was there by his side. Dexter cautiously dared a glance at Talon, not knowing what to expect.

  Talon’s smile was so open and affectionate as he stared at both of them that Dexter caught his breath. Then their gazes met, and Talon’s eyes heated, glinting like polished gold. He had his hands in his pockets, and his posture never shifted, though Dexter sensed he’d gone on high alert, tense with need.

  Not anger, not jealousy. Need.

  “Let’s play a game!” Orion suddenly said and leapt forward.

  “A game?” Dexter asked, completely thrown.

  “Hide and seek.” Orion pointed to Dexter. “Count to thirty, then come find me.”

  “But—”

  Orion dashed away. Dexter looked at Talon for any explanation.

  Talon merely shrugged. “I suggest you just do it. It would please him.”

  Dexter swallowed and nodded. The need to make the sweet man happy was uncomfortably intense, especially considering their short acquaintance.

  He softly counted where he stood, Talon beside him. When he reached thirty, he looked around.

  “This is a big campus. I don’t think I’ll ever find him.”

  “Don’t worry. He wants to be found.”

  Dexter eyed Talon, who simply smiled.

  “You’re not going to help me.”

  “No. But I will keep you company.”

  Dexter blew out a breath before turning to the right, in the direction he’d last seen Orion. Talon followed beside him.

  Dexter kept his eyes peeled even as questions crowded his mind.

  “I hope you don’t find this question offensive or intrusive,” Dexter said, glancing at Talon. “But how old are you two?”

  Talon smirked. “That’s not offensive. I say right now that you can ask any question you like. We want you to be comfortable around us.”

  Dexter swallowed and nodded.

  “I am thirty-two. Orion is thirty-one. His birthday is next week, actually. And may I ask you the same question?”

  Dexter hunched his shoulders. They’d accomplished so much, and they were younger than him. Nearly a decade younger.

  “Orion doesn’t look or act like he’s in his thirties,” Dexter said.

  “None of his family acts their ages. Youthfulness and enthusiasm are in his DNA. He will be carded until he’s sixty.”

  Dexter huffed a laugh, his breath fogging in front of his face.

  “You did not answer my question,” Talon reminded him.

  Dexter took a deep breath, still scanning for any sign of Orion. “Forty.” He didn’t look at Talon when he said it.

  “Good.”

  Dexter swung his head around. “Why good?”

  “Perhaps between you and me we can rein Orion in some. He is quite a handful, and though I would not say he’s naïve, he is… impulsive, and his optimism has led him into trouble before. It will be nice to have someone else to help me keep him from danger.”

  Dexter thought that was an odd thing to say. Despite that, though, warmth filled his chest as Talon’s sentiment sank in. If Orion was truly as precious to Talon as Dexter suspected, then for Talon to share the responsibility of caring and protecting of him with Dexter, that was a true sign of trust. Dexter was no stranger to responsibility, and he did enjoy caring for others. He supposed that was why he chose to be a custodian. He not only cleaned and emptied trash. He often helped others with problems and tasks.

  Dexter smiled. “I’m glad it doesn’t put you off. You know, that I’m an old man.”

  Talon rolled his eyes. “You’re not old.”

  Instead of answering, Dexter turned to a sound to his right and had a moment to compute that it was Orion hiding between two buildings before Orion leapt at him. Dexter gasped when Orion wrapped arms and legs around him with a squeal.

  “You found me!”

  Then he kissed him. Eyes wide, Dexter gasped again, and Orion used it to his advantage. Pushing his tongue inside Dexter’s mouth, Orion dominated the kiss, and the sweetness of his taste, the unyielding suction, the need and energy of it all, swirled around Dexter’s head, making him dizzy, light-headed. He stumbled backward and instinctually tightened his hold on Orion. His brain screeched to a halt as the sensations built unbearably, layering, making him feel drugged. His cock hardened as the kiss spiraled on and he felt Orion’s unmistakable bulge pressing against his stomach.

  Days or years could have passed for all Dexter knew before Orion finally pulled back. His golden eyes appeared to glow, and wasn’t that gorgeous? They both panted and gasped for air, and it was only then Dexter realized he was gripping Orion’s ass rather possessively. His face heated as reality snapped back.

  What the fuck just happened?

  “No me disculparé,” Orion said breathlessly.

  Dexter blinked. “What?”

  Orion hop
ped down, and Dexter staggered and touched his lips with his fingers. Orion moved in again, only this time, he hugged him. He squeezed tight, and Dexter had no choice but to hug back.

  “I said I won’t apologize, and I want to do that again,” Orion said for his ears only, “and so much more. You can have so much more, Dexter. Please? Can we have you?”

  Dexter trembled, his breath uneven. This was really happening. He looked over Orion’s head to Talon, who appeared quite taken with the sight of them. His eyes seemed to glow as well.

  “I greatly enjoyed that,” Talon said softly, words thick with tension. “I’m going to enjoy watching him ride you.”

  Dexter’s heart pounded in his ears as erotic images flashed through his mind. Could he really do this? Would he clutch at the moment of truth?

  “Yet I know it’s not the right time.” Talon stepped forward and peeled Orion off Dexter.

  Orion gave a mewling whine that put Dexter instantly in mind of the little elf owl he’d saved days ago.

  “Patience,” Talon whispered and draped an arm over Orion’s shoulders. Orion pouted, looking like a little boy denied a favorite treat.

  Dexter still trembled, painfully hard.

  “Let us meet up again, say, in two days?” Talon cupped Dexter’s shoulder.

  Dexter met his eyes and nodded.

  Talon’s smile was gentle, even as his eyes were hot with need that mirrored Orion’s. Talon turned away, dragging Orion with him, and Dexter thought he heard Talon call Orion “little elf.” Odd term of affection, though it did fit Orion’s delicate stature.

  Once the men were out of sight, Dexter found a bench and dropped into it. He let his head fall into his hands and finally caught his breath. He needed to get control over his body before he had to clock in. Maybe he should rush home and take a cold shower.

  This was genuinely happening, and no Oscar-winning actor in the world could pull off such a performance. They were telling the truth. They wanted him.

  And, dammit all, he wanted them. Both of them, naked and hard and all his.

  Talon realized he was becoming as itchy as Orion to seal the deal with Dexter. Watching Orion kiss him, watching Dexter lose himself to desire, had been heady, and he wanted more. He wanted to watch them lose themselves in each other, and as his affection for Dexter grew, so did his desire.

  Unfortunately such thoughts were distracting him, and after the third time of being scolded for lack of attention to an experiment, he finally excused himself. Considering the cost of the INC’s machines, he wasn’t surprised he received the beady eye from Dr. Rosenthal, and with profound apologies, he bowed out early.

  His owl scratching and hooting inside his head didn’t help either. His owl didn’t understand the wait and wanted to claim Dexter now before anyone else could. He was also aggravated that they hadn’t flown in far too long. His owl was decidedly unhappy and angry with him. His muscles squirmed and bunched, and he knew the movement rippled his skin. He scowled and ordered his owl to calm down and have patience.

  After pulling on his coat and gloves, he stepped outside and again glared at the snow as it fluttered in the cold wind. He was so sick of freezing his ass off every time he wanted to cross campus, although being so close to the Rocky Mountains did have its perks. He and Orion could be their owls safely within the Rocky Mountain Park. In fact, they should do that right now and take some of the edge off.

  “Talon!”

  He stopped and looked over his shoulder, alternately pleased and annoyed to wait for Audrey to catch up. She was bundled in shades of blue, including the beanie covering her black curls, and her bright hazel eyes burned out of her dark face.

  “I hoped I would catch up with you.” She panted slightly when she reached him, her breath visible, mixing with his own. “You weren’t answering your phone.”

  “I usually mute it when I’m in the lab. Dr. Rosenthal doesn’t like it when we’re distracted.” He took it out of his pocket now and needed to pull off one of his gloves to work it. Orion kept telling him to get those mobile-device friendly gloves with the padded fingertips.

  “My group is meeting tonight.”

  He swallowed a sigh. “I need to spend time with Orion, Audrey. I was thinking we should spend time as our owls. I’m afraid if I put it off too long, he might shift again without me and get hurt like he did before.”

  “What?” Her eyes widened. “What happened? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He shrugged and put his phone away after raising the volume. He tugged on his glove again, his finger already freezing. “He was only a little shaken. In fact, a man took him out of the storm and cared for him.”

  She frowned. He realized his tone was warm when he mentioned Dexter, as it only was when he spoke of Orion. Interesting.

  “The man got a name?”

  “Dexter. He’s a custodian here, in fact.”

  “A human?”

  It was Talon’s turn to frown. “Yes. Why?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Why do you think? Humans are dangerous, you moron. If you start something with him, what if he finds out what you and Orion are? Will you risk your precious elf?”

  He didn’t like her tone and stood straighter, glaring. “Do not judge a person you have never met. Dexter literally would never harm a fly. And how dare you claim I would knowingly put my mate in danger.”

  Audrey lowered her head slightly and stepped back. But her expression remained fierce. “Why can’t you find a nice bird shifter? Doesn’t have to be another owl. I know a couple of eagles and even a falcon that are nice guys and could provide you with a good time.”

  Talon clenched his jaw. “Pimping us out? How generous of you.”

  “Don’t be snotty.”

  “Don’t be hateful.”

  She stood straighter this time and her eyes glowed, the wolf in her on full alert. “I’m being realistic and cautious, something I thought you used to be. I only date wolves for a reason, Talon, and any other pairing just doesn’t work.”

  “We are done having this conversation,” he said stiffly. “Perhaps we need a break from each other. If the group you founded has turned you into a bigot, then I want nothing to do with it.”

  “You bastard.”

  Without another word, Talon turned and strode away, hands trembling, his owl clicking his beak in irritation. And fear.

  He wouldn’t tell Orion, not yet. He needed to settle things in his mind first. Now he and his owl were more aggravated and edgy. He really needed to fly and escape fucking interpersonal politics for a while.

  The sun was quickly setting as he hurried across campus, back to their apartment. He yanked off his gloves and sent a quick text to Orion. It only took a minute to receive an enthusiastic yes with all the silly and overdramatic emojis their phones had to offer. He rolled his eyes, his lips twitching. He successfully pushed Audrey’s angry words to the back of his mind and focused on Orion and his owl.

  Within the hour a great horned owl, about two feet in height with double the wingspan, climbed into the chilly sky, sharp eyes assessing, vision keen in the dark. Trailing after him was a lightly colored poofball of an elf owl, struggling to keep up with Talon’s longer wings. Talon turned and dipped, never losing sight of his mate. He hooted in affection as he brushed the tip of his wing against Orion’s tiny body. Orion mewled back, the high-pitched chuckling making Talon’s owl swell with pride.

  Talon slowed down just enough for Orion to flit around him, squeaking in humor and excitement. Talon hooted in amusement. It had been far too long since they’d indulged their primal spirits together. They shouldn’t neglect themselves.

  With a deep hoot, Talon dove, silent as a ghost. Orion mewled and dove after him, not as silent, but stealthy enough to catch his prey when he hunted. Talon’s sharp ears picked up on a familiar voice as he neared the ground.

  Talon touched Orion’s mind and Orion let him in after the first brush. Then he chuckled and picked up speed, happy with the knowledge they
were going to spy on Dexter. Talon hooted in caution and also used their mental connection. Orion pouted but didn’t argue. Talon slowed his dive and angled off to the roof of a short building. He fluttered down and perched on the edge, craning his neck around. He knew he heard Dexter here somewhere.

  Orion bounced off his head with a squeak and rolled along the roof before fluttering his wings and hopping up beside him. Talon spread out his wings and ruffled Orion’s soft head in exasperation. Orion hopped closer, huddling in his warmth.

  Unlike Talon the man, Talon the owl enjoyed snuggling with his mate and welcomed him. He draped his wing over Orion’s body, blocking most of the chilly wind.

  There he is, Talon said through their mental connection.

  Where? Where? Orion hopped around, craning his neck, huge eyes growing even wider.

  There. Talon used his other wing to point.

  Dexter was walking with someone. A woman. As they drew closer to the building, Talon caught words.

  “It’s settled, then,” the woman said and patted Dexter’s shoulder. “You’ll have dinner with me next Tuesday before finals. You make sure you don’t take a double shift.”

  Talon’s owl tensed and clacked his beak in irritation as the need to assert a territorial claim on Dexter became nearly all-consuming.

  Orion chirped and rubbed his side, easing him. That’s the woman he helped when her ex assaulted her. Her name is Stacey. They’re friends.

  Talon clacked his beak once more before settling, though his owl still demanded they assert their claim soon.

  “I’ll mark you on my calendar,” Dexter said with a laugh. “I promise I won’t pick up another shift that night. I’m all yours.”

  Stacey grinned and kissed his cheek before walking into the building Talon and Orion perched upon. Then Dexter began to turn away, and Talon realized Dexter had safely walked Stacey across a dark campus. He was a gentleman to the core.

  He hooted.

  Dexter paused and tilted his head. Talon hooted again, and Orion mewled, the sharp sound cutting through the night.

  “What the—?” Dexter squinted at the sky, obviously not seeing them.