by Shea Balik
The confusion, and even some of the fear, in Kegan’s gaze was replaced with determination as he aimed the gun and fired. Bjorn was sure he hadn’t hit anything but at least he was willing to fight.
Sword in hand, Bjorn attacked the first Unseelie pet he reached. Slime coated the thing. Kegan was right, they looked like giant boogers with claws and teeth. Not that it mattered, for he’d cut the beast’s head off, already slicing through the next before its body hit the ground.
Too quickly, more minions joined the ranks, overwhelming Bjorn and cutting him off from Kegan. Bullets rang out. One slammed against Bjorn’s sword, ricocheting off and, against all odds, tore through the chest of a slimy creature who had suddenly appeared at Bjorn’s side.
His eyes met Kegan’s, who smiled triumphantly for killing one of the creatures, but also mouthed, “Sorry,” for nearly shooting Bjorn. If he didn’t end up with a bullet hole somewhere in his body, Bjorn would be shocked.
With too many of the Unseelie’s pets surrounding them, Bjorn knew there was no way they were going to make it out of this alive. Well, he’d still live, but Kegan wouldn’t. And if they were to have any chance to break the curse, he needed Kegan alive to do it.
At least, that’s what he told himself, for there was no way Bjorn would admit his heart had nearly stopped when two beasts took a swipe at Kegan. Enraged beyond anything he’d ever felt in his life, Bjorn shifted into his bear.
It was the only part of that stupid curse that Bjorn had never wanted to change. He and his friends had paired with an animal that they could shift into at will. For Bjorn, his bear was a true gift that he enjoyed becoming. It was a way for him to commune with nature on a much more visceral level.
Everything became sharper, crisper, cleaner, as a bear. Things he never noticed in his human form were transformed in his animal form. Smells were stronger, movement easier to see, morphing the world around him into a wonderland.
Even now, as his bear zeroed in on Kegan, Bjorn couldn’t help but notice the subtle hints of his sweet aroma as it practically called out to him. The acrid scent of his fear as he dove to the right, slamming into the ground, barely eluding the razor sharp talons of an appendage that resembled a dinosaur.
Roaring his displeasure, Bjorn swiped out with his giant paws at the creatures that were trying to take him down. One swing of his mighty appendage, took out three of the creatures, knocking them off their feet like bowling pins. Another blow and two more went down, giving Bjorn a path to the man who his bear would destroy the world to defend.
He charged forward, barreling into one of the beasts that was attacking Kegan. The creature went flying through the air, careening into two more Unseelie pets stampeding their way.
An agonizing scream tore through him as Bjorn whipped around to find blood dripping from the same talons that Kegan had darted from moments before. Below, Kegan lay on the ground, red soaked into the white snow that surrounded him.
Bjorn’s bear roared as the creature’s arm swiped downward, right for Kegan’s throat. Fury propelled Bjorn forward. Those talons were only a hair from slicing Kegan’s throat open when Bjorn slammed his full weight into the beast. Bones cracked at the impact as the thing went sailing.
By the time he’d crouched down by Kegan, Bjorn had shifted back into his human form. He needed to get them out of there before another of the Unseelie’s pets finished Kegan off. As it was, Bjorn had no idea if he would survive. Unable to take the time to examine Kegan’s wounds, Bjorn scooped him up into his arms and ran as fast as possible.
The only good thing about the Unseelie’s lumbering beasts was their size made them slow. It would have been nice to have a vehicle close by, but Bjorn would be able to outrun them. If Kegan regained consciousness, Bjorn would shift into his bear and place the druid on his back, as his bear was far faster than his human form.
He just had to pray that Kegan continued to keep breathing. He hated the way each time he inhaled, it sounded like he was gasping for more air. Then again, the rattling noise he made on exhaling wasn’t much better.
As much as he wanted to head back toward the small town that wasn’t more than fifteen miles away, Bjorn refused to lead those monsters there. He might want to save Kegan, but allowing others to die wasn’t something he could stomach. Since Kegan had abandoned the relative safety of town that morning, Bjorn was fairly certain he’d feel the same way.
But that didn’t diminish the need to find a place they could not only rest, but somewhere where he could stitch Kegan’s still bleeding wounds. Thankfully, they were on the side of his body that was currently pressed against Bjorn’s. With any luck, it would help to stem the flow.
Not sure where to go, Bjorn called his bear to the forefront of his mind and let him lead them to safety. The only problem with that plan was his bear became hard to control from shifting and killing each and every one of the Unseelie’s minions.
Only the knowledge that by doing that, it might cause Kegan to die, stopped his bear from taking over completely. Bjorn refused to contemplate how he would be able to stop himself from making Kegan his for all eternity now that his bear was involved.
One problem at a time.
CHAPTER 4
Fire seared along Kegan’s side, causing him to moan pitifully as he suddenly came awake.
“Sorry, dollface. You were bleeding too much for me to wait for the pain meds to kick in.”
Nausea caused his stomach to roll as another sharp pain erupted along his side. He tried to reach his hand to stop whatever was causing the agony, but he was too damn weak to lift it.
Blinking, he tried to focus on what the deep, soothing voice was saying, but everything remained blurry, as if he were looking through murky water. Was he underwater somehow? It would explain his vision remaining fuzzy, as well as why he was having trouble making out the words that were being said.
No. How would he be breathing if he were underwater?
He hissed as more pain pushed into his body. He would swear someone was stabbing him, but who? He blinked again as he struggled to make out who was talking to him.
Memories of creatures coming after him surfaced, but he couldn’t remember if that was real, or just another nightmare.
He tried to turn his head when he was sure flames were engulfing his side. Things were still blurry, but he didn’t see anything orange that would indicate he was actually on fire. He was certain he’d at least have been able to recognize something like flames in the dim light of his surroundings.
The nausea hit him hard as agony ripped through him. Kegan strained to turn over, but he couldn’t make his body cooperate. Bile rose up suddenly and he started gagging.
Sure he would end up choking when he couldn’t expel the vile tasting substance as it caught in his throat, Kegan waited for death to take him.
“It’s okay, dollface,” the deep soothing voice said as Kegan was turned onto his side by strong hands.
Air rushed into his lungs when he was finally able to spit the foul tasting vomit from his throat and mouth. But when he started coughing uncontrollably, Kegan screamed. Blistering agony raced along his side, thankfully not the one he was currently lying on, but he wasn’t even sure that mattered with how much pain coursed through him each time his body spasmed as his stomach and throat tried to expel the bile still inside of him.
A large hand patted his back gently, as if trying to help without causing any more injury. Kegan wasn’t so sure that was possible at the moment, but he was grateful for the way the stranger was trying to help him.
Bjorn.
Suddenly the name popped into his head, as well as how they met. His heart raced, which considering he’d nearly choked to death, Kegan hadn’t thought possible. “We have to run,” he croaked out.
“We’re okay, dollface. I just need to stitch you up and then we’ll get out of here,” Bjorn assured him as he carefully turned him onto his back once more.
Fuck that hurt. Kegan groaned, unable to hide the pain,
even if he’d wanted to, which, admittedly, he’d never really seen the point of doing. If something hurt, he was going to let whoever was taking care of him know it. To him, there was nothing manly about suffering.
“Sorry.” Bjorn gently petted his arm, which also stung for some reason. “I wish we could wait, but I need to finish these stitches. The pain medicine should be kicking in. Though, I’m not sure it will help much right now.”
As he said the last part, that stabbing pain returned. His vision had mostly returned, although he was sure part of the reason things were so hazy was they appeared to be in some sort of cavern with only a torch nearby to offer them light. Kegan glanced down to find Bjorn sticking him with what had to be the biggest fucking needle in the fucking world. The thread sticking out the back told him Bjorn was, in fact, putting stitches in, but was it really necessary to try and kill him while he was doing it?
“What?” Kegan let out another groan followed by several curses directed at Bjorn. “Couldn’t find a bigger needle?” He hissed as Bjorn stuck it in him again. “Or are you hoping to make a bigger hole?”
The edges of Bjorn’s firm mouth twitched as if he were trying not to smile. Why Kegan noticed, or worse, felt his dick twitch when his body was on fire, was beyond him. He was fairly certain the laws of physics would be against him seeing, hearing, or feeling anything but that damn needle as it punched another massive hole in him, all to supposedly heal him.
“Quit being a baby,” Bjorn had the audacity to tell him. “At least you’re alive.”
“If I were dead I wouldn’t be forced to endure this torture.” Kegan screamed, although with how sore his throat was from his recent throwing up episode, it came out choked off and suspiciously sounding like a whimper. Okay, so it was a whimper, but no way was Kegan admitting that.
He may not exactly give a crap about his man card when it came to complaining about pain, but even he had his limits. Whimpering was at the top of his list. Actually, it might be the only thing on that list, since nothing else bothered him. The gender normative roles had always seemed a bit silly to him.
Was he athletic and outdoorsy? Yep. Did he love to dance, assuming it wasn’t the lame druid rituals? Definitely. Did he put on a little eyeliner and lip gloss when he went out to the clubs? Sure, it made his grey eyes pop. Did any of that make him more male or female? Shit if he knew, or cared.
“Fuck,” he shouted as loud as his raw throat would allow. “That hurts.” Kegan made sure to glare at Bjorn as if the man had done it on purpose. It wasn’t entirely fair, since he was just trying to stop Kegan from bleeding out, but then again, Kegan wasn’t exactly in a great frame of mind at the moment.
Those firm lips twitched again, but this time, Kegan wasn’t finding it half as charming as he had a minute ago. “Stop laughing at me,” he grumbled, then hissed when he was stabbed again.
It wasn’t quite as sharp as before. Hopefully, that meant the pain killers Bjorn sworn he’d given Kegan were kicking in. Of course, with his luck, the hulking man had lied his ass off and it was all in Kegan’s imagination that the pain had receded.
“This wouldn’t be necessary if you’d done as I told you and used your druid magic,” Bjorn said as he tied off the thread he’d been using to sew up Kegan’s side.
The sight cause Kegan to sigh in relief as he tried to relax his overly tense body now that the worst was over. “I already told you, I didn’t do the ritual, so I didn’t get any ability.”
After witnessing his family die, any doubts Kegan had of his ancestry died along with them. No matter where he was in the world, he’d made sure to do each of the eight rituals in order to keep those things from coming into their world.
It was also why he’d been looking for a safe location to perform the winter solstice as well as the ritual for him to receive the magic of his people. He’d hoped whatever ability was given to him would help keep him alive.
But he hadn’t even gotten to start gathering wood for a fire, much less begin the chants for either ritual. That had been something drilled into him from a young age, no ritual, no magic occurred.
“And I told you, that doesn’t matter.” Bjorn held up more thread and started to put it through the eye of the needle.
Kegan froze in horror as he watched. “Please tell me that isn’t for me.” He wasn’t sure he could stand more torture.
Black eyes met his with a mix of concern and resolve. “I’ve only stitched up one of the three wounds,” Bjorn told him.
Fuck me.
Bjorn chuckled. “I’m not so sure you’re up for that.”
Shit, he’d just said that out loud.
“It’s the pain killers.” Bjorn’s explanation told Kegan he’d said the last part aloud also. “Not to worry, I wouldn’t hold anything you say while drugged against you.”
When Kegan felt the needle pushing through his flesh, he let out a whoosh as pain washed over him. It wasn’t quite as bad as earlier, but it still hurt like a son of a bitch.
Either Bjorn sensed his need to get his mind off the pain, or Kegan had spoken aloud again. Not that mattered. He was just grateful when Bjorn started talking.
“As I tried to tell you when we were fighting the Unseelie pets, the ritual isn’t necessary to receive your druid power.” Kegan tried to argue, but when he opened his mouth it was as if Bjorn knew what he was going to say and purposefully chose that moment to stick the needle in him again.
Fucker.
“I know this, not only because Ryley obtained his ability without the ritual, but I saw the lightning drop from a fairly clear sky, twice, I might add,” Bjorn said with an especially sharp jab of the needle. “Turning two of those creatures into ash while not harming you in the slightest.”
No way was Kegan going to admit Bjorn might have a point, especially when that damn needle sank into him again, causing him to moan in agony. “I thought you gave me pain killers,” he spat out. “Cause if you did, give me at least five more doses.”
Bjorn chuckled, but Kegan nearly wept in relief when he placed the threaded needle down upon Kegan’s stomach. Kegan was sure his eyes bugged out of his head when Bjorn picked up a syringe with a needle that had to be three times the size of the one he’d been using to stitch him up.
“You’re a sadistic fuck,” Kegan accused. Bjorn, the asshole, grinned at him as he pushed the tip of what had to be the equivalent of a javelin into his hip.
A howl in the distance had them both tensing, for it wasn’t like any animal Kegan had heard in his many travels. “They’ve found us,” he whispered.
Bjorn picked up the threaded needle and quickly started to jab it into Kegan as if he were in some sort of sewing speed competition. The added pain killer hadn’t had time to take effect and Kegan wanted to scream his head off, but didn’t dare alert the monsters to where they were.
He was dizzy as Bjorn’s quick work didn’t give him a moment of relief from the sheer agony tearing through his side. He couldn’t even take a full breath as he struggled to control the need to crawl away from the torment.
Only the knowledge it would slow them down, giving the beasts time to close in on them, stopped him from doing just that. His vision once more blurred as his brain tried to shut out all sensation. He was going to pass out, which, considering what was after them, might be a good thing. At least Kegan wouldn’t have to feel them tearing him apart.
“I know this hurts, dollface.” Bjorn’s voice had turned hard and demanding. “But you have to stay awake. My bear is the only thing fast enough to put enough distance between us and them, but you’ll need to hold onto me.”
Bear?
A huge brown furry animal charging at him and the creature that had tried to rip his flesh from his body flitted through his mind. But the pain killers, or maybe his mind’s way of dealing with the anguish, kept the images distant and blurry.
“Stay with me, dollface,” Bjorn ordered as he began to toss things into a small bag, that he imagined could fit along a perso
n’s body under their clothes.
Then Kegan was standing.
Wait. When had that happened? He stared in confusion as his arms were being stuffed into a bloody sweater, then that bag he’d seen Bjorn packing was wrapped around his body before the coat that had been shredded and appeared as if it had been dipped in red paint was covering him.
Kegan blinked. A part of his brain was sure it hadn’t just magically gotten on his body, yet he couldn’t remember putting it on, either.
“Stay with me, dollface,” Bjorn demanded. “I’m going to shift into a bear. Then you need to climb on my back and wrap your arms around me as best you can.”
None of that made any sense. But when Bjorn shook him none too gently, his hard, unyielding voice asking, “Got it?” all Kegan could do was nod.
He blinked when he was nudged. Was that a…
Kegan blinked again. He had to be seeing things. How had a bear gotten in? Something niggled in his head and Bjorn’s words came back to him about climbing on a bear.
Sure the pain killers were causing him to hallucinate, hell, he was probably asleep, Kegan went with it and climbed up on the bear’s massive back. Curling his hands into the animal’s fur, he laid his head down and relaxed into the warm body.
He sighed. This was better. No pain. No cold. A flash of light in the sky had him turning his head just enough to look at the streams of blues and greens swirled together of the aurora borealis, while yellow and white streaks of an asteroid shower went past. It was beautiful.
He’d never known hallucinations could be this breath taking. He continued to stare at the sight feeling nothing but peace flow through him as he snuggled closer to his imaginary bear.
CHAPTER 5
The howls of the Unseelie’s pets sounded way too close for Bjorn’s comfort. His bear was chomping at the bit to run full tilt to get the sweet smelling man on his back to safety. Bjorn refused, reminding his animal that Kegan had passed out and if they went too fast, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t fall off.
