Warlords, Witches and Wolves: A Fantasy Realms Anthology

by Michelle Diener

  She snarled. “Why do you have to be so difficult?”

  “Why do you have to turn me into a career criminal? Mum would hate this if she was alive.”

  “She understood how things had to be.”

  “Did she? Or did she push back and one thug took things too far?”

  Gran gasped like he’d hit her. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Really, then how did she die? Where is her grave? The photos?” He shook his head and stepped back. His mother had never existed on paper. She’d vanished, and no one knew or cared. But he existed now. He couldn’t vanish.

  He grabbed his pajamas from his bedroom and went into the bathroom. He locked the door, knowing he’d have only a few minutes of peace before she yelled at him to get out of the shower. With the water running, he peeled off the clothing that had been delivered with the card skimmer. It was only then that the agitation and fear receded to an annoying nibble.

  When he got super wound up, calm washed through the bond, like Kass was running his hand down his back. It was wrong, but he liked it. When tension thrummed from Kass’s end, Bailey returned the favor. But he was aware that everything they did altered the bond.

  With the water hammering on his skin and drowning out all other thoughts and noise, he let his thoughts drift to Kass the way they had all night. There’d been a tension in the bond, a hunger, and Bailey willingly gave into the lust. He stroked himself and imagined that Kass was with him in the tiny shower, on his knees sucking his dick.

  The desire was mirrored in his blood. Was that his heartbeat or an echo of Kass’s?

  He didn’t care, because he was drowning in lust and it felt good. Like hands were on him. Was Kass wanking too?

  He bit his lip to keep from groaning as his little fantasy turned. He was no longer in control and he didn’t care. Kass fucked him up against the cold shower tiles. He felt the slap of skin on skin and the sensation of being filled. He came hard, smothering the moan with his other hand.

  He leaned against the wall, the water drumming on his back, trying to catch his breath. That was…intense. Another tremble of desire rolled through him. Kass’s climax.

  He grinned until he realized Kass might have been fucking someone else.

  He wanted to be the one Kass fucked.

  They were already ass deep in this mating thing. Why not go all in? He’d taste him, kiss him, and lick him. He didn’t care what Kass preferred, he’d do whatever. He just needed him the same way he needed air.

  The bond quivered and sighed. And with his eyes closed, it was easy to believe that he wasn’t alone. While the bond grew with every passing day, what he sensed changed too. Not only emotions, but flashes of images. At first, he’d thought he was imagining things. Now he was sure that they were all real.

  He turned off the taps with a shaky hand and dried off, then pulled on his pajamas. His hair hung in limp blond tendrils around his face. There was about an inch of dark roots. He would have to sort that out, and finish his homework, tomorrow. He was almost done. A few more weeks, then there’d only be study and exams to go.

  One week and he’d be eighteen.

  He bundled up the clothes and the cash and returned to his room. Gran was still at the kitchen table, talking on the phone—thank fuck she hadn’t thumped on the bathroom door and ruined the moment. The men would be around soon to take the cards. He intended to be in bed, if not asleep.

  He shut the door, then hung up the suit; the shirt and everything else could go in the wash. He put a little of the cash into his school bag, then loosened the corner of the carpet near his bed and laid the money flat beneath the carpet and underlay. It wasn’t secure, but he wasn’t putting it all in one place again. He needed some cash to be able to disappear for a few months—he didn’t want them tracking him across the country—after exams.

  The phone call ended, and Bailey got into bed, light off, pretending to be asleep. But he was wide awake, buzzing with energy and the lust that hadn’t faded. He wasn’t sure he should do that again; it was too weird sharing his private thoughts with the person they were about. Maybe actually having sex with Kass would be strange too. But he wanted to give it a go.

  His body thought now was a good time to make that happen.

  Gran shuffled to his door. For a few heartbeats she stood there, her feet a shadow in the slice of light that crept beneath. Was she listening for movement? His heartbeat? Bailey expected her to barge in to make sure he was in bed, but she didn’t. Another few seconds and she walked away. He released his held breath.

  Not long after, the men arrived and took the haul. He strained to listen to their words, but they spoke too quiet, even for him. Then they were gone. Gran turned the lights off, and the house was dark and quiet.

  And he was wide awake.

  He blamed Kass. He kept having thoughts and flashes of images that were not the two of them in the shower. It was a room he’d never seen, a bed and Kass moving over him. If these were Kass’s thoughts, Bailey had a pretty good idea what Kass wanted. He shivered, torn between trying to sleep, wanting to jerk off again, or doing something to push the thoughts out of his mind.

  Minutes slid by.

  Bailey grabbed his notepad and by the light of his phone started writing.

  Hi,

  I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure what’s going on. But I guess I needed to say something. I know our history and it’s why I left.

  He wanted to write about witches and shifters, but he figured since the letter was going to a military base, it would be read.

  I don’t want to repeat past mistakes. And I feel like I’m getting to know you, but I don’t want to rush. I guess I want to know a bit more, so I’m hoping you write back.

  B

  P.S. My favorite animal is a snow leopard.

  That should be all the clue Kass needed. It was a lame letter, but he couldn’t tell Kass everything on paper. He added his email address as an afterthought.

  Bailey’s birthday passed with little fanfare. He paid in cash and sat the theory test for his learners driver’s license and passed. Now all he had to do was get some lessons, and he’d be on his way to driving. He’d use cash to pay for them too. The men he was running from would fund his escape.

  For the first time the exit sign was drawing close.

  Gran was waiting for him when he got home from school. She had a letter in front of her. “What is this?”

  “What?” He dropped his bag on the ground. It was easier to study at school than at home. Exams started next week.

  “This.” She showed the letter toward him. “It’s from the Government.”

  He peered at the letter. “You’ve already opened it and read it, so why don’t you stop pretending?”

  “How did you get a driver’s license?”

  “I read the book and took the test.”

  “They have your name, your photo…”

  He picked up the envelope and pulled out the hard-plastic card. Yeah, he may not be able to drive yet, but he was another step closer to freedom.

  “You don’t know what you’ve done.”

  “I’m getting my life together, because I’ll be damned before I live the rest of my life ruled by your protection outfit.”

  Gran lifted her chin. “You’ve changed.”

  Bailey took a step back. “Or maybe I’ve grown up and I want more.”

  “Ungrateful, tiresome child.”

  “Yep. I’m not working this weekend. Exams start Monday.” He picked up his bag and walked toward his room.

  “That’s not how this works.”

  “Then tell them I quit.”

  “They’ll visit again. They’ll take your tail, your claws.”

  He’d only ever seen her shifted once, the first time she’d taken him out to prowl. The end of her tail was missing, and she had a notch out of one ear that she kept hidden when human. He’d give up tail and claws if that meant he’d be free.

  “Will you sit there and watch
as they kill me? How is that keeping us safe?”

  He slammed the door with enough force to rattle the windows. He was breathing too hard. He leaned against the door and rested his head on the scarred wood. A few more weeks, then he’d vanish.

  “Bailey!”

  “Fuck off.”

  Concern radiated through the bond.

  Whatever.

  Kass hadn’t bothered to reply to his letter, and it had been weeks. He didn’t have the right to care.

  Bailey sat on his bed. He put his shiny new license in his wallet next to Kass’s. He stared at Kass’s photo. There hadn’t been much between them over the last couple of weeks, not after that night. He wanted more but feared it too. The bond hadn’t shrunk from lack of use, and he was missing the closeness. Which was lame.

  Maybe Kass was embarrassed to be mated to such a loser.

  He closed the wallet and pulled out his books to study, but the urge to pick up his phone and check his emails was too much. An itch he couldn’t scratch. He’d checked a dozen times at least today, and there’d been nothing. He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the urge. After five seconds he gave in.

  This time there was a new one from an unfamiliar and official looking address that had a security warning. His heart stopped. For a moment he thought the government was after him and knew what he was. Then he recognized the name. And his heart exploded into action as a grin formed.

  Hi,

  I’m glad you wrote again. I received your letter yesterday, but only got the chance to email today. I’m not in Australia. I deployed the day after we met. I need to know if you’re okay or in some kind of trouble?

  I’ve been enjoying getting to know you, but it’s strengthening our connection, and our lives are deeply entwined. I had thought to break it when I got back, if that’s what you want. If you do, we should stop (though I really like it, probably a bit too much sometimes ;) ).

  And I love snow leopards, so fluffy.

  Do you like superhero movies? I do, I’ve always thought being telekinetic would be fun.

  Kass

  P.S. Totally not mad at you, but I want to know why.

  Bailey stared at the email. Then reread it twice to make sure he wasn’t missing anything that wasn’t being said. Kass was overseas, and he’d left the day after they’d met. Stealing his wallet had been a real dick move, but the next line kicked him in the gut. Kass knew something was wrong. How much was he getting through the bond?

  Everything, apparently. His cheeks heated, but Kass had been liking it too, even though it changed what was between them.

  He hit reply and stared at the screen for several heartbeats, trying to figure out what to say, while not saying anything that the authorities could catch on to.

  Hi Kass,

  I’m not sure about breaking up. Can it wait until you’re back and we can talk? I wasn’t sure if we had something or if it was just me.

  Bailey frowned, not liking where his thoughts took him. How deeply entwined were their lives? Did Kass mean if one died, they both died? Dread balled in his stomach…Kass was a soldier. He was too young to die. But he didn’t know how to ask Kass to explain. Had Kass felt the beating he’d been given?

  I hope you safe and well. I will do my best to stay the same.

  The why, that’s not easy to explain. But it’s not something I’m proud of.

  And yet he kept doing it. After the beating, he’d gone out the bare minimum, but he couldn’t stop until his exams were over.

  I’ll think of you,

  B

  Was that too much? He’d never had a boyfriend, had never wanted to drag someone else into his mess, or have Gran find out he was gay. He shook his head. How could it be too much when they had a magical connection that let them get off together? Oh…what if that happened at a really bad time? What if he was in an exam? Or Kass was doing whatever army stuff he did? He didn’t want Kass getting shot because he wanted to jerk off.

  He added an extra line about scheduling a time to be close and hoped Kass would take the hint, then hit send. He waited ten minutes, constantly refreshing before giving up and going back to study.

  But he was distracted by the idea of meeting Kass again. What would it be like when they’d already shared through the bond? Would they be able to break it if they kept using it for fun?

  The mating bond wasn’t supposed to be fun. It was for power. Witches used shifters, yet Bailey wasn’t feeling used. He was elated. Kass was his, all his. And Kass seemed to like him. No one, not his grandmother or the people she worked for, could do a damn thing about it. There were worse things that could happen to him than being a witch’s familiar. For the most part, he was already there.

  Kass had spent the better part of three days watching and waiting. He was used to the waiting. Usually he waited and packed up and went home without taking a shot. Other days everything turned to hell in the blink of an eye.

  Today was one of those days.

  When the explosions began the only thing that mattered was getting back to safety. The fear that he’d die rode him hard. He choked on dust and followed commands, protecting his team while trying to get clear. He didn’t have room for thoughts about Bailey, and yet he couldn’t shrug them off. He was aware of Bailey in much the same way he was aware of everyone around him.

  The wall next to him exploded, and Kass deflected the shards of brick and plaster without thinking who might see.

  The soldier next to him said something Kass couldn’t hear over the ringing in his ears.

  He wiped his hand over his cheek and his fingers came away bloody. Small bits of frag had gotten him, but he’d have been killed without his magic.

  Then they were moving and they still had to fight their way out.

  Bailey’s ears rang, and he was sure he was about to faint. He put his pen down and took a breath. He wanted to get up and have a drink, but he was in the middle of his math exam. His heartbeat quickened and sweat rolled down his back.

  What was wrong with him?

  He’d been nervous before the exam began, but this was ridiculous. He could do this stuff. It was easy. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and tried to focus on the page. He had an hour to go.

  While the adrenaline flooding his body and drying his mouth made him want to run, it was the noise that was the worst. Like gun shots. He kept his head lowered like he was figuring out the question, then closed his eyes.

  The bond shook and pulsed. Heat spread over his skin and he heard distant shouting.

  Kass was in trouble. And there was nothing he could do.

  He answered a few more questions, despite the distractions in his head. He was sure that if he said anything, they’d cart him off for an evaluation and some strong meds. But it wasn’t imaginary, and it was getting worse.

  Kass had given him magic when he needed it…now it was his turn and it couldn’t wait until the exam was over.

  He opened himself to the bond. Confusion and noise surrounded him, and he hunched over, gripping his pencil tight, not knowing how to help. When he was in a rough spot, he melted into the background. He couldn’t turn invisible, but snow leopards were good at appearing to vanish. So that’s what he offered Kass.

  He didn’t care if the witch stole his magic; it was no good to him if he died.

  Nor was Kass. And goddamnit, he wanted more than imaginary sex.

  With the bond wide open, Bailey did his best to finish the exam fast and leave. He was sure he got heaps wrong, but hopefully he got enough right to pass.

  He stood and almost fell over before leaving the room. In the corridor he leaned up against the wall, unable to take another step.

  Maybe he’d given up too much. He didn’t know how to regulate the sharing of magic, and he had no one to teach him. There was no exam to pass to become a shifter and no handout on what to do with a witch.

  He peeled himself off the wall and made it to the water fountain. He felt a little better after drinking his fill. Enough t
hat he could make his way home, at any rate.

  When he got home, he collapsed on the sofa. Was Kass dying? Is this what it felt like as the magic bled out, taking both their lives? He wished Gran were here, instead of working the supermarket round, to sit with him while he died. Even so he didn’t regret the kiss that had upended his life and shown him magic could be a good thing.

  The sunlight dimmed, and he passed out.

  Chapter 6

  Bailey groaned, unwilling to wake up even though he was being shaken. He was too tired and too heavy and just needed a little more sleep.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Gran asked.

  Bailey forced his eyes open. Was he late for an exam?

  Gran loomed over him, the lounge room light behind her too bright.

  Bailey squinted. “What time is it?”

  He was still alive, but he felt like roadkill and was as weak as a newborn cub. What the hell was going on? Then he remembered the adrenaline and fear…was Kass alive or dying?

  “I’ve been cooking dinner and you haven’t moved since I got home. Are you doing drugs?”

  “No.” Like he had enough money for drugs. He tried to sit up and failed. He had no strength and no bones. His phone lay on the floor where it had fallen out of his hand, and he wasn’t sure he could reach it without falling off the sofa and onto the floor. If he ended up down there, he was never getting up again.

  But he needed to contact Kass. He needed to know what was going on.

  He tried to reach for Kass, but the bond between him and Kass was now a narrow thread. It didn’t pulse with heat and life and lust. It was cold and withered.

  A whimper escaped. Was Kass dead?

  “Are you sick?” She put her palm on his forehead, then peered into his eyes like she’d be able to see exactly what was wrong with him.

  His heart clenched. Would she be able to tell? He hadn’t thought about other shifters being able to sense the bond. He wanted to blink and turn his head away, but he held her fierce stare, refusing to show fear.