by Cardeno C.
He set the water bottle on the ground, slipped out of his jacket, and then ducked his head and began unbuttoning his shirt. In that position, his eyes were hidden from anyone watching, so he took the opportunity to scan the surrounding area. Nothing stood out but the back of his neck prickled telling him something was off. Confident his brain would catch up with his subconscious, he removed his shirt, raised it slightly, and then inhaled deeply, presumably to smell whatever had spilled on it. In actuality, however, he focused on the surrounding areas, not his clothing.
The scent he’d barely caught a hint of earlier was now strong enough to identify. A shifter. Maybe two. Neither of them familiar.
Though Johnnie had anticipated Larry and Dennis bringing reinforcements, he hadn’t expected the new additions to come alone. With what he knew about Larry, he doubted the man would give his recruits enough space to double cross him, so if he had sent someone else to grab Johnnie, he had to be waiting for them nearby.
“Crap,” he whispered to himself.
Their plan had been for Johnnie to make himself a visible target with Hugh waiting behind rocks nearby but not close enough to be seen or scented. Then, when Larry and company attacked, Hugh would hurry over and they’d disable the intruders. Unfortunately, if they did that, they’d capture the two unknown lions, but Larry and Dennis likely would escape and try again later. Then instead of solving their problem, they’d send the Berk pride a message that their Premier had been thwarted again and they were still in danger. That was an unacceptable outcome and Johnnie internally kicked himself for not having considered this contingency.
He could immediately run over to Hugh and hope the attacking lions would give up for the night, but he had no doubt they’d try again and there was no assurance it’d be at an anticipated time and location. Even worse was the possibility they would become desperate enough to harm a pride member as part of their plot, something that would devastate Hugh and tarnish the pride’s confidence in him. No. That wasn’t an acceptable choice. They’d have to move forward with their plan, but instead of Hugh jumping in right away, Johnnie would have to let himself be taken and Hugh would need to follow at a distance until they reached Larry and Dennis’s waiting spot.
Hoping Hugh would come to the same conclusion, Johnnie quickly shuffled to the right and angled his body so he’d be visible to Hugh if he was peeking from behind the rocks. He then spread his hand in a ‘stop’ motion in front of his belly, focused all his energy on his connection with Hugh, and mentally sent out a message to wait. Movement sounded in the brush behind him and the strangers’ scent got stronger. He lowered his arm, took in a deep breath, and braced himself for an attack.
Wait, Hugh. I’ll be okay. Please wait.
Within seconds, the air behind him moved, two arms wrapped around him, and a hand covered his mouth.
“Come quietly and we won’t hurt you,” said an unfamiliar voice.
That plan meshed well with Johnnie’s, but he wriggled a bit and whimpered, putting on a small show so he wouldn’t rouse the would-be-kidnappers’ suspicions.
“I mean it, Siphon,” growled the man as he tightened his grip on Johnnie and shook him.
“Let’s go,” said the other stranger. He grabbed Johnnie’s arm and the two of them dragged him away from the festival grounds and toward the Forest Service land.
Well, at least he’d been right about where Larry and Dennis were hiding. Johnnie stumbled along with the two men, occasionally pretending to struggle and try to escape but not putting on enough of a fight to incite violence because he wanted to be at his strongest when the real battle started. They’d been walking for fifteen minutes when he first caught Larry’s and Dennis’s scents.
“We’re almost there,” said one of the men.
“That was easy,” said the other. “Do you think the Premier’s already dead or will we have to go farther?”
Red-hot anger burned through Johnnie, but before he could react, they stepped around a thick grouping of trees and shrubs and came face-to-face with Larry.
“You caught him!” he said excitedly. “See, Dennis! I told you it’d work.”
Johnnie looked ahead and saw Dennis. He stood quietly, staring in the direction of Berk. His hair was disheveled, his posture slumped, and his expression forlorn.
When Dennis didn’t respond, Larry elbowed aside the lion holding Johnnie, dug his fingers into Johnnie’s shoulders, and shoved him forward so hard Johnnie lost his balance and fell at Dennis’s feet.
“I bet now you’re glad you listened to me,” Larry said smugly and then looked at the other two men. “Did you have any trouble?”
As Larry and his friends happily chattered about what they’d done and the next step of their plan, Dennis held his hand out for Johnnie and helped him to his feet. “Do you think he’s dead?” he asked, his voice cracking and his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Why are you doing this?” Johnnie whispered, confused as to why Dennis was involved in something he clearly didn’t want.
“I shouldn’t have,” Dennis said regretfully. He turned his attention back to Berk. “I was stupid and thought I was helping the pride and by the time I realized I wasn’t…” He shrugged. “I should have trusted in my Premier. Now it’s too late.”
“No, it isn’t.” Johnnie curled his hand around Dennis’s forearm, trying to get his attention. “Hugh isn’t dead. You can come back to Berk and—”
“I betrayed my pride and my Premier.” Dennis swallowed hard. “I can never go back, but”—he searched Johnnie’s face—“you’re sure he’s still alive? Even with you this far apart from him?”
By his estimation, Hugh was no more than a couple of minutes away, but he wasn’t going to give away their advantage. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m carrying his power and I can only do that if he’s alive.”
“The Premier is alive,” Dennis whispered. “That means it’s not too late.”
“It’s not,” Johnnie agreed. “You can still come back to the pride.”
“Dennis, grab the Siphon,” Larry said. “We’re going to get farther from Berk, just to be sure we’re in the clear. Then we can finalize a buyer and—”
“Tell him how sorry I was,” Dennis said quietly and then his eyes hardened and he hissed, “Run!”
Other than Hugh, Johnnie had never seen a lion shift as quickly. Before he realized what was happening, Dennis was in his animal form, roaring as he leaped toward Larry.
Confusion, shock, and realization spread over Larry’s face in quick succession and then he too began to shift. From his vantage, Johnnie couldn’t tell how far Larry had gotten because Dennis was on top of him and, moments later, the other two shifters also took their animal forms and joined the pile. Pained yowls rent the air.
“Dennis!” Johnnie shouted frantically. Even with his unexpected attack and lead-time on the shift, Dennis wouldn’t be able to survive a battle against three other lions. Johnnie would have to take his animal form and help him. “I’m coming.”
“No, you’re not.” Hugh’s gruff voice rumbled behind Johnnie just before familiar, protective arms tugged him away from the violent scene in front of him and pulled him against a broad chest.
“Hugh.” Johnnie nearly sagged in relief. “We have to help Dennis. He won’t make it.”
“None of them will.” Hugh shook his head regretfully as he draped Johnnie’s shirt around his back. “I thought you’d be cold so I grabbed this when I followed you.” He lifted each of Johnnie’s arms and slid them into the sleeves. “I didn’t have time to get the green bean stuff off, but at least you’ll be warm,” he said as he buttoned.
Confused about Hugh’s behavior, Johnnie clutched at his chest and said, “Dennis is under those lions. He needs help.”
“It’s too late.” Hugh looked over Johnnie’s shoulder at the scene playing out behind him. “A fight that sudden and violent in lion form wrings every ounce of rational thought and adrenaline from us. Their animals have completely t
aken over. They won’t remember who they’re battling or why and they won’t stop until they’re dead.”
Almost as quickly as they’d started, the loud screeches ceased, and the scent of blood, thick and heavy, filled the air. Instinctively, Johnnie tried to turn around to see the cause of the change, but Hugh held him close and wouldn’t release him.
“You don’t want to see this,” he said quietly.
“But Dennis was trying to help.” Johnnie remembered the despondent expression on Dennis’s face as he had gazed toward their pride lands. “He made a mistake and he said he was sorry. He loved Berk.”
“Dennis is dead.” Hugh glanced at the scene behind Johnnie and then looked at him. “Only one of them is hanging on, but he’s on his way out.”
A tortured whine came from behind him along with an unnatural gurgling sound.
“We should check.” Johnnie tried to turn around again. “He might have made it.”
“No.” Hugh cupped Johnnie’s cheeks. “Listen to me. Their bodies shifted into their human forms and Dennis is—” He cringed. “Dismembered. Larry too. Another one of them had his throat ripped out and the fourth is barely taking in air. They’re done. All of them.” Hugh hugged Johnnie tightly. “It’s over.”
Chapter 19
As they crossed back into Berk territory, the sounds of adults talking and children laughing greeted them, completely at odds with the horrifying cries and deathly silence still ringing in Johnnie’s head.
“Will you be okay here for another little while?” Hugh asked. “I need to take care of the bodies and then we can go home.”
The scent of the Thanksgiving meal wafted over and melded with the coppery blood odor Johnnie couldn’t clear from his system.
“I’m fine,” he answered reflexively.
“You’re pale and you’re trembling.” Hugh stopped walking, tugged on Johnnie’s elbow until he faced him, and then he slid his hands over Johnnie’s shoulders, massaging him. “I’ll take care of you soon, but if we leave their bodies in the open, scavengers will get to them. And Dennis’s friends in Berk need to know he died a hero.”
Despite the fact that the lions had tried to kill him, Hugh wanted to preserve their dignity in death. And though he had witnessed the same horror as Johnnie, he was concerned about the pride rather than himself. Johnnie gazed at Hugh in admiration.
“I’m okay.” Johnnie squared his shoulders. Berk needed its Premier and the Premier needed his Siphon. “What should we do?”
Smiling softly at him, Hugh curled his palms around Johnnie’s neck and brushed his thumbs against the sensitive skin behind Johnnie’s ears. “You’re wonderful.” He hunched down, and pressed his lips to Johnnie’s. “I love you.”
Johnnie ran his hands over Hugh’s chest, the heat and strength arousing and reassuring. “I love you too.”
“Let’s find Van Hartwick. He can gather some of the lions from his den to bury the dead. I don’t want Percy or the others who lived with Dennis to see his remains.”
Nodding in agreement, Johnnie followed Hugh to the center of the gathering. Years of experience helped him appear fine despite his uneasy stomach and frayed nerves. He disappeared into the background easily, remaining close to Hugh but out of the way, present but unobtrusive. Now that he accepted his role, Johnnie fell into it without resentment or hesitation.
His pace unhurried, Hugh walked by various pride members, nodding in greeting and answering a few questions. Most people likely would have considered his demeanor calm as usual but Johnnie saw the slight stiffness in his shoulders, the tick in his jaw, and the way he pressed his fingers into the base of his skull, as if to push away tension.
“Van,” Hugh said when they finally reached the area where Van Hartwick stood talking with a group of shifters. “Did you enjoy the meal?”
“Yes, Premier. Thank you for planning this.”
“Good.” Hugh reached his hand out, and when Van took it, clapped Van on the shoulder, leaned close, and said, “Come talk to me.” With Van on his tail, Hugh turned around and stepped away from the others.
Johnnie kept his distance, giving them privacy.
They talked for a few minutes, Hugh shook Van’s hand, and then Van walked toward the center of the gathering, darting his gaze around, presumably to locate the lions he’d take with him.
“How did it go?” Johnnie asked Hugh when he approached.
“Van is a good man. He’ll take care of the bodies.” Hugh sighed and rubbed his palms over his eyes. “Now I need to talk to Percy and a few others who were close to Dennis individually, and then I’ll update the pride as a whole.”
Thoughtful, systematic, thorough. “You’re a wonderful Premier and this pride is lucky to have you.” Johnnie cleared his throat. “I’m lucky to have you.”
“I feel the same way about them.” Hugh gazed at him warmly. “And you.”
“What are you thinking about so hard that it’s keeping you from sleeping?” Hugh asked as he pressed his lips to the top of Johnnie’s head and caressed his back.
Johnnie lay partially on top of Hugh, his face pillowed on Hugh’s chest, his groin pressed against Hugh’s hip, and his left leg tucked between both of Hugh’s.
“How could you tell I wasn’t sleeping?”
“You breathe differently when you’re asleep.” Hugh ran his hand over the curve of Johnnie’s ass.
“I like how you know that about me.” Johnnie turned his head slightly and kissed Hugh’s nipple.
“Me too.”
He flicked his tongue out, swirled it over Hugh’s nipple, and suckled him for a few moments. “I was thinking about what Dennis did.”
“Uh-huh,” Hugh said encouragingly.
“It was the complete opposite of what game theory would have predicted.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well.” Johnnie gathered his thoughts. “In game theory, if people stick together, the group as a whole benefits more, but if a person looks out only for himself, he’s better off individually. If Dennis was worried about being caught, he could have run off and left Larry and the others there to take the fall. That would have benefited him individually but hurt the group. Or if he wanted to help the group above himself, he could have worked with Larry and the other two shifters and taken me farther from you faster so they wouldn’t get caught. They had no idea how close you were so in his mind that approach would have worked. But he didn’t do either of those things.”
“He attacked Larry instead,” Hugh said.
“Yes.” Johnnie dipped his chin. “And he knew it was a death sentence. I didn’t notice at the time because everything happened so fast, but I was thinking back to that moment and I remember him asking me to tell you how sorry he was.” Johnnie laid his forearm across Hugh’s chest and propped his chin on it so he could meet Hugh’s gaze. “He said ‘was.’ Like he knew he’d be dead by the time I told you.”
“He probably did. His latest actions aside, Dennis wasn’t dumb. He also wasn’t selfish. And what he did followed the game theory concept, just in a more extreme way.”
“What do you mean?” Johnnie asked, scrunching his eyebrows together.
“The theory is that if an individual works for the group instead of himself, he won’t be as well off but the group will benefit more as a whole, right?”
“Yes. But Dennis attacked the group. He wasn’t trying to make them better off.”
“You’re thinking of the wrong group.” Hugh traced Johnnie’s eyebrows with his fingertip. “At the end of the day, Dennis’s loyalty lay with Berk. This pride was his group and he was willing to sacrifice his own life for the well-being of his pridemates.”
“That makes sense.” Johnnie nodded in understanding. “It’s why you said he died a hero.”
“Right. He made mistakes so profound, I couldn’t see him as anything other than a traitor and an enemy. But then he put the pride’s well-being above his own and showed his trust in me as the Premier in the most fundamental w
ay possible.” Hugh curled his huge palm around Johnnie’s head and pulled him forward for a kiss. “Plus, he died trying to save you. That makes him a hero in my book.”
While that was technically true, Dennis’s ultimate reason for trying to help Johnnie escape had been to save Hugh’s life, not Johnnie’s. But the distinction didn’t matter. The bottom line was that Dennis gave the ultimate sacrifice for Berk’s good.
The depth of Dennis’s devotion put Johnnie’s upbringing into perspective. He now understood why his birth pride had never considered a life for him outside of being a Siphon—the pride would whither without a Premier and he alone held the ability to keep the Premier alive. And having experienced firsthand the violent actions of shifters who wanted to possess him for their own greedy purposes, Johnnie now recognized the wisdom in keeping a Siphon secure and protected.
“Were you close enough to overhear my conversation with Alexandra?” Johnnie asked.
“A few words here and there. Not enough to understand anything. Why? What did she say?”
“She’s pregnant and she thinks her baby is a Siphon.”
“Really?” Hugh arched his eyebrows. “What gives her that impression?”
Shrugging, Johnnie said, “She senses it.”
“Well, putting aside whether it’s possible to sense the nature of an unborn cub, something like one of every half million lions is born a Siphon. Having two in the same pride seems like a long shot.”
“Probably,” Johnnie agreed. “But let’s say she’s right. Let’s say that within the year, we have another Siphon in Berk. A tiny, defenseless Siphon.” Johnnie sat up, crossed his legs, and dragged his fingers through his hair. “I spent my childhood depressed and resentful about being excluded from everyone, but when I think about that baby and what the Larrys of the world could do to him, I want to build a tower, surround it with an alligator-filled moat, and lock the cub at the very top.”
