by M. D. Grimm
“I get violent,” Anu said simply. “Got it?”
“Got it,” Poe croaked, his mouth and throat dry. Anu handed him the vial and immediately grabbed his wounded hand. He cringed as pressure on his hand caused near-crippling pain to shoot down his arm.
He knelt down and pressed the vial to one of Nordik’s bullet wounds, filling it with blood. He frantically tried to plan. What could he do? How could he get both of them out alive?
Poe stoppered the vial, his left arm pulled uncomfortably behind him because of Anu. Then new sounds met his ears and he looked up, seeing bears. Lots and lots of bears. About fifty of varying age, subspecies, and sex. Some had blood on their snouts or on their fur; others looked hungry and extremely pissed. Poe knew about half were shifters―the awareness in their eyes and strange coloring indicated their true identities.
“What the hell―” Anu said, stammering. He wrenched at Poe’s arm, and Poe stood. Anu wrapped his arm around Poe’s neck again. He backed away from the approaching bears. He couldn’t shoot them all with his puny handgun. He had no backup. All his minions were dead or dying.
“Keep hold of that vial,” Anu said.
Poe watched, fascinated, as several of the bears made a protective circle around Nordik. The others continued to approach Anu, their heads down, their ears back, their teeth bared. All of them were sending harsh snarls into the air, and their muscles were bunching, wanting to attack.
Anu kept pointing his gun from one bear to another, not knowing which or if any would leap at him.
“Call them off!” He tightened his grip on Poe’s neck, choking him again.
“I―can’t―” he gasped, struggling for air. “Nordik―called―them―”
Poe knew that Anu was using him as a shield but he honestly wondered how long that would work. Those bears really did look hungry. Anu loosened his grip, and Poe gasped in air. He held the vial tightly in his right hand and realized the bears were corralling both of them toward the edge of the cliff.
Were they going to charge and make Anu fall? And him with the traitor?
A quavering growl pierced the air. All the bears halted, though they still snarled. To Poe’s immense delight, Nordik stood. Green goo coated his fur, and Poe wondered if any major organs had been hit. If they had… Nordik was dead.
Nordik approached Anu and Poe. The other bears parted for him, soldiers before their commanding officer. Nordik staggered suddenly. Poe made a lunge for him, but Anu held him back.
“Tell him to stop!” He pressed his gun to Poe’s temple. “Stop, Nordik! Or I blow Poe’s brains out!”
Nordik stopped, and a low snarl bubbled out of him. Even Poe shuddered with fear. Nordik’s brown eyes were on fire. Then Poe witnessed the impossible. One bullet after the other pushed itself out of Nordik’s skin and dropped, steaming, to the ground. Then a gush of pus and some blood followed the bullets before the wound appeared to… close itself? Poe gaped in soundless wonder. Anu must be seeing the same thing because the man was frozen, and his grip on Poe slackened.
Poe used that to his advantage and stamped his heel into Anu’s foot with all the strength he could muster. Anu howled. Poe tried to dance away, but Anu grabbed his arm as, to Poe’s horror, the traitor was about to topple over the cliff. Anu flailed, and Poe worked his other arm like a windmill, trying to keep from falling over with him.
As Anu lifted his gun to aim at Poe, a white streak pelted past. Something forcefully wrenched Poe backward as Anu lost his grip on his arm. Poe collapsed on the ground, realizing one of the bears had chomped down on his jacket, tugging him away from the cliff. But Poe, disoriented with adrenaline pumping, realized Nordik and Anu were nowhere to be seen.
The vial fell from his hand as Poe screamed and lunged for the cliff. He was sickly terrified that he wouldn’t see his mate, that he would only see an empty cliff face and the black trees below. But as he lay on his stomach and looked down the rock face, there was Nordik in human form, holding on to a jutting rock with one hand. He held Anu’s ankle in the other. Anu sent out a bloodcurdling scream that echoed throughout the area.
But Poe had eyes only for Nordik. His mate looked up, and their gazes met. The truth rang clear for Poe at that moment. He knew his place, where he belonged. Confusion left and his mind cleared. Relief settled on him like a warm blanket, taking away the heavy weight of indecision and fear. He smiled. Nordik’s smile was small and strained, though genuine. They understood each other perfectly.
Poe reached down and gripped Nordik’s wrist with his good hand.
“I’ve got you, Nordik,” he whispered. “I’ve got you, mate.”
Chapter Thirteen
Needless to say, Poe called the Agency. They tied up Anu, who was still mumbling incoherently after his near-death experience, and Poe and Nordik took turns patching each other up. Nordik paid special attention to his wrists and kept kissing and stroking the bandages. For his part, Poe still couldn’t believe what his own eyes had witnessed. Nordik had actually been able to push the bullets out of his body, as well as the remaining silver in his bloodstream. That was the only explanation to how he could shift so fast and save not only his own life, but the traitor’s. Perks of being a master shifter, apparently. Now Poe was beginning to understand about “being hard to kill.”
Poe finally got his Advil but he feared that his poor hand would never forgive him for the abuse he’d put it through. His other injuries were demanding attention as well, and he figured his entire body would be one big bruise tomorrow. What he needed was a Valium. Or morphine. The bears were long gone, and Poe was indebted to them. The one who’d pulled him away from the cliff was a shifter. A descendant of Nordik’s tribe.
His name was Ted.
Poe and Nordik sat in a part of the park nearest to Haven with Anu gagged beside them. He glared daggers at them, and Poe was too exhausted to care. He should be grateful that Poe didn’t use the iron bracelets on him. He was sorely tempted. But he didn’t want to become what he hated. Though he wasn’t above planting his boot into Anu’s stomach. He didn’t use his full strength, since he didn’t want the guy dead. He was more valuable alive.
Poe had returned to Nordik’s cave, retrieved his bag, and it now lay beside him. When Nordik checked his hand, the stitches had held. Only a little blood had welled up and crusted. After Nordik cleaned it off and rewrapped it, he’d simply held Poe’s hand as if it was something fragile. Precious.
“You do good work, Nordik.”
His mate met his eyes. “So do you.”
Poe smiled tiredly. They waited in silence, and it wasn’t long before half a dozen Agency Jeeps appeared, rumbling toward them.
“Your suspicions were true,” Nordik said quietly. He glanced at Anu, who sat, glowering.
“Yeah. Yay me.” Poe rested his head on Nordik’s shoulder. Nordik was wearing his faded jeans, and makeshift bandages covered his chest, back, and arms. Poe had managed to eat a bit of his rations and drink some water but his system still felt out-of-whack. Poe pushed away with a grunt of discomfort when agents got out of the vehicles. He stood and hailed Captain Odin.
What followed was long and tedious. Genii saw to Nordik; Anu was put in the back of one of the cars and driven back to HQ. Several other agents went into the forest to collect the bodies of the knights. Nordik gave them permission, adamant that the “polluting corpses” were to be taken out of Sanctuary.
“So Anu wanted Nordik’s blood?” Captain Odin asked. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Poe shook his head. He’d just finished telling Odin about Anu going over the cliff and Nordik not allowing him to fall. His captain stood nearly seven feet tall and was built like a Mack truck. He was also bald, pale, with black eyes, and the remarkable ability to be invisible in plain sight. Not an easy task for a guy who dwarfed everyone around him.
“Where’s the vial?” Odin asked.
Poe’s eyes widened. “I―I dropped it. Shit.”
“Relax.” Odin smiled. “I’ll
tell the agents recovering the bodies to keep an eye out for it.”
“Right. Good. Right.” Poe peeked at Nordik, to find him staring intently at him as Genii checked his wounds.
Captain Odin cleared his throat. “Is there anything else, Poe?”
Poe raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Odin. His former partner and best friend always saw way too much.
“Nothing the Agency need concern itself with,” he said.
Odin made a noncommittal noise and glanced between Nordik and Poe with an uneasy expression. Poe turned away, dreading the conversation to come. He loved Nordik with everything in him, but the Agency pulled him away. He wanted a relationship with Nordik. He had to have one.
“Josh is alive.”
Poe snapped back and gripped Odin’s arm. “What? How?”
Odin smiled slightly. “It’s the damndest thing. Several days after you left, when you were beyond cell range, we get a call from Josh. Apparently they ran into some knights, and he was calling for backup. And―get this―he’s in love with his kidnapper.”
Poe’s mouth dropped open. “What? But the shifter―”
“Whose name is Xavier,” Odin said.
Poe pinched his eyes shut and rubbed hard. “I don’t believe this. I leave for a week, and the world flips upside down.”
“Captain Hera and Genii flew to the desert just outside Las Vegas where they were attacked. Josh convinced her he was all right and that Xavier isn’t crazy anymore. He still needs some time to recover, but he seems to have taken a liking to our Josh.”
Poe sighed and shook his head. “Love is funny.”
“Yes,” Odin said slowly, watching Poe carefully. Poe tried not to show too much. “But Josh also says he met Arcas down there.”
Poe’s jaw tightened, and his fists clenched, sending pain once more through his wounded hand. “Did he?”
“Apparently. Arcas had taken a personal interest in Xavier and planned to reprogram him to killing other shifters. But Josh was smart enough to call the Agency and… well, why don’t I just let you read the report when you get back? Josh should be near done with it.”
“Report. Right,” Poe repeated dumbly. He shook his head again.
“Oh, the kid also had a good idea about what to do with the shifters who were experimented on by the Knights.”
“Do tell.” Poe didn’t know how much he could take of these surprises, but he might as well let his friend tell him everything.
Odin smiled again. “A counseling center. He and Xavier would be counselors. Hera told me, using Josh’s own words, what better people to help wounded shifters than another wounded shifter and someone with Josh’s resources? He wants funding. I think we should give it.”
“Yeah.” Poe smiled slowly, thinking about Josh. Thinking about the shifter. Xavier. “We should. I always knew that kid had spine.” He paused. “But who’s going to sign off on the funding? The chief usually does that and….” Poe shrugged.
Odin grinned. “The new chief, of course.”
Poe raised an eyebrow. “You?”
“Bah! No way.” Odin shook his hands out in front of him. “No way in hell do I want that responsibility.”
Poe grinned. “Smart man.”
“I like to think so.”
Poe gazed fondly at his friend and slapped his arm.
“By the way, Poe.”
“What?”
“You look like hell.”
Poe blinked. Odin’s lips twitched. At the same time, they fell into gales of laughter. Memories of their missions together, the camaraderie they shared, the knowledge that Odin would always have his back, flooded into Poe. He gripped his friend’s arm to keep standing.
The other agents returned with the knights’ bodies on stretchers, and Odin went over to direct them. Poe walked toward Nordik, feeling frogs jumping in his stomach. Genii moved past him, a small frown on her face. She met his gaze for a moment, confusion and concern in them. She knew. That didn’t surprise him much, considering she was psychic, and they were good friends. She paused beside him, touched his arm.
“You sure?” she said on a breath of sound.
Poe swallowed hard. “More than anything in my life.” His voice was equally low. Genii’s frown deepened. She squeezed his arm slightly before letting go and returning to the Jeeps. Poe could only hope she would one day feel the love he felt for Nordik.
“Hey,” Poe said when he stood in front of Nordik.
Nordik got to his feet, and before Poe could say another word, the damn shifter flung him over his shoulder. Then he ran deeper into the forest, away from the shocked faces of agents.
“Nordik!”
Poe struggled but Nordik didn’t put him down.
“Goddammit, Nordik! I order you to put me down, you fucking shifter!”
Nordik rolled his eyes and leapt over some roots, running deeper into the forest. His wounds ached and stung, but both Poe and that other agent did a good job at patching him up. Now he wanted nothing more than to claim Poe once more as his own.
“Nordik, I swear to God―”
He dropped Poe unceremoniously, though gently, on the mossy ground between two old trees. It was a pleasant, secluded area. Poe pushed up and scowled darkly.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I have to go back with them. I have to―”
Nordik stopped his words with a deep kiss. Those soft lips fought him at first before yielding. Nordik thrust his tongue inside and tasted all of Poe’s mouth. Feeling urgent and needy, he gripped his mate’s groin and rubbed him mercilessly.
Poe’s breath caught, and the hand on Nordik’s shoulder tightened. Then that hand moved to his chest and stroked him, played with his nipples. Poe’s hips never stayed still as they moved eagerly against his hand. Poe kept his wounded hand pressed against chest, and Nordik kissed it gently, feeling tenderness wash over his desire, changing its tempo. He must be gentle with Poe. His mate was beaten while tied up. And those scars on his wrists from the iron. His precious Poe.
Unable to get enough of him, Nordik let his mouth drift all over Poe’s face. He kissed those wonderful eyes, that cute nose, those prickly cheeks that needed a shave. He drifted down to Poe’s neck and sucked skin into his mouth.
“Nordik,” Poe said on a groan. “We shouldn’t―fuck.”
“No,” Nordik growled. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Nordik deftly released Poe from his jeans and stroked him fast and hard. Poe’s eyes shone with need as he cupped Nordik’s face with those small but strong hands. Nordik turned his face and kissed the palms, sliding his tongue down those delicate wrists that were stronger than they looked. He noted the cuts, the bruises from his bindings marking his pale skin. He could have lost him. They could easily have shot Poe before Nordik had shown up. That knowledge shuddered through him, tearing at his heart, tightening his gut.
Poe came with a moan. Nordik felt the fluid cover his hand. He groaned and ripped open Poe’s shirt to attack his pink nipples. Poe bowed his body and tangled his hands in Nordik’s hair. Nordik mouthed Poe’s tattoo, feeling that the unity the trinity symbolized was not only meant for the Agency, but for the two of them. Bruises were darkening the skin there as well. It would appear no part of him was untouched by those monsters. His tongue laved gently at those marks, causing Poe to shake. Poe’s surrender was intoxicating and made him want more.
Poe’s scent, his arousal, made Nordik harder, and he rubbed his erection against Poe’s thigh. He savored those nipples in his mouth and sucked hungrily, wringing choked cries from his mate. Nordik thoroughly possessed Poe, and his mate didn’t seem too bothered by it. In fact, Poe urged him on, pushing himself closer to Nordik’s questing mouth.
Poe could no longer deny them. Nordik wouldn’t allow him to. The love he felt for this descendant of the fae, the connection he felt―there was no denying it. The instant Nordik had been born he’d been on a long journey, a long wait, for Poe. With Poe, it wasn’t si
mply love. It was a soul bond. They were soul mates, kindred spirits.
Poe must recognize that as well.
Nordik swiftly pulled off all of Poe’s clothes and shucked off his own jeans. Naked and glorious, Nordik pulled back to soak up the vision Poe created. His mate was breathing rapidly, his lips swollen, his nipples hard and peaked. Those fiery blue eyes were staring at Nordik with raw desire. The bruises stood out starkly, and Nordik considered them warrior’s marks, scars from a battle. A battle hard fought and won.
Poe reared up and wrapped his good hand around Nordik’s hard shaft. He grunted. Poe gave him a cheeky grin before taking Nordik’s erection into his wet mouth. Nordik gripped Poe’s shoulders and closed his eyes.
That mouth was like a little slice of heaven. Nordik gazed down lovingly at Poe’s bouncing head. He wanted Poe, with all his annoyances and imperfections, for eternity. He wanted to smell him, feel him, taste him. He wanted to argue with him and comfort him. He wanted a life with him.
Nordik urged Poe on his back once more before wrapping his arms tightly around his mate’s waist. Then he took all of his mate into his mouth and sucked vigorously.
Poe gave a hoarse gasp. “Fucking A!”
Nordik took deep breaths when Poe’s tip touched the back of his throat, and his nose was buried in those dark blond curls. He would find his mate anywhere. His scent was forever imprinted into his mind. His soul.
“Nordik, Nordik! Jesus Christ!”
Nordik chuckled and looked up, now tormenting the sensitive tip of Poe’s erection. His mate stared down at him, wide-eyed with surprise. He wanted to continue to surprise him. Forever.
In great need, Nordik gently shifted Poe onto his stomach and urged him to his knees. Poe came eagerly and lifted his ass as much as he could. Nordik gripped it, loving the feel of it underneath his hands. There was nothing more beautiful. He must try to convince Poe to walk around naked more often.
