Fangs for the Memories

by Julia Talbot

  “We’ll take these three,” Tom told Marnie. “And some of those fur-lined gloves, please.”

  Nathan loved to play in the snow.

  “Of course.” She smiled. “Did you want to look around a little?”

  “Please.” There was stuff here Nathan had probably never seen.

  Nathan followed him around, laughing at the goofy toys, looking at the different feeds and stock tanks. There were chew bones, and he could see Nathan pondering those.

  “Should we?” he whispered.

  “Can we?” Nathan whispered back.

  “Hmmm. I mean, I bet Tanner would get us real bones….”

  Nathan growled. Actually growled.

  “We’ll go to the grocery.” Now. As soon as they paid.

  “Grocery. Yes. That’s where Ed is.”

  “Yep. We’ll get bones. Come on.” The original kid rang them up when he asked for their stuff.

  This was more fun than color TV.

  Nathan was vibrating, ready to go get bones.

  He led Nathan out onto the sidewalk, then into the sliding doors of the grocery.

  “Oh.” Nathan stopped dead just inside. “Look at all the food.”

  “You’ve been to a grocery store, honey.” Nathan knew making love, he knew Scrabble.

  “I know. I just—I’m not even hungry.”

  “It’s the bones. Your wolf is pushing.” Tom patted Nathan’s arm.

  “Right. Is yours? Do you find it harder?”

  “No. Not in situations like this. Now, if we were out in the woods and something scared me? I would feel it, even if we were with people who didn’t get it.”

  “Are you sorry you were bitten?”

  “Not even one bit, especially now.” Now he did take Nathan’s hand and press it.

  He could feel Nathan’s joy, that deep warmth.

  “Bones. Ed. Not the same thing, but we need to find both.”

  “Right, no gnawing on Ed.”

  “Nope. He’s delicate.” It was as if being among people was making Nathan more human. He loved this quick-witted banter.

  “And a good feathery friend.”

  Ed came around the corner, preening and pleased. “I am. Your good feathery friend.”

  “We need bones, Ed.” His wolf was pushing a little, now that Tom thought about it.

  “Like… soup bones?”

  “Yes. Nothing splintery.”

  Ed beamed. “I know this. Come on.”

  They wandered back into the butchery area, the scent of meat strong and fine. Damn. He breathed deep, trying not to drool.

  “Hi, Dan. Soup bones?” Ed asked.

  “Of course. How many?”

  “Ten pounds, please. Meaty ones.”

  “You got it.” The butcher beamed at Ed, and he thought everyone felt the same way about the guy.

  Ed hummed and bounced. “Ta-da. Bones.”

  “Thank you so much!” Nathan kinda danced Ed around in a circle, both of them jumping.

  “Lord have mercy.”

  It was adorable, charming, and made him want to bite a little.

  “Wow. They really like bones.” Dan the butcher handed him a big wrapped pack of bones.

  “I think they like everything,” Tom replied. They just wanted to be free.

  “I get it. That’s the cutest thing ever. You guys have a good time. Say hi to Tanner.”

  “I will. Guys. Let’s go look at cheese.”

  “I like cheese!”

  “Nathan likes food!” Ed teased.

  “What’s your favorite food, Ed?” Tom asked.

  “Hamburger. I love hamburger meat.”

  “Really?”

  “God, yes. I burned my feet so bad one time landing on a grill….”

  Nathan stared, wide-eyed. “Ow!”

  “Right? I could hear them sizzling.”

  Tom grimaced. “That sucks. I ate something dead not too long after I wolfed out the first time. It was a skunk….”

  Nathan stared at him, wide-eyed. “Your nose didn’t say no?”

  “I was out of my mind in pain.” He chuckled. “I thought I was going to die after.”

  Nathan reached for him instinctively. Mate.

  “It probably saved my life. Even when I was crazy with being caught between, I never ate anything bad again. Or chewed on anything.”

  “Good. Good, mate. You have to be careful.”

  “I know. I take it you never landed on a grill again, Ed?”

  Ed hung his head. “Uh, well….”

  “Silly bird.”

  “I know! But hamburger!” Ed twirled. “I should get a tiny pack….”

  “Tanner has a freezer full,” Tom said.

  “But it’s better fresh.” Ed bobbed his head toward them. “You can grill it, Tom?”

  “In the snow?”

  “Yes!”

  “Uh, as long as you don’t land on the grill, yes.” He would do it for Ed.

  “I promise. I will land on Nathan.”

  Nathan nodded. “I can handle that.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Back to the meat, then.” Shopping with a magpie.

  “Yes. Ground meat. Did you see the gummi bears?”

  “No.” He glanced at Nathan, who shrugged. “Did you get some?”

  “No.” Ed bit his lip. “I don’t think they’re on the budget today.”

  Nathan took Ed’s arm. “Show us?”

  Can we? Just a few? For him?

  Of course. I’ll go with him to the meat counter. You go to bulk and get him a little bag.

  Thank you, mate. It takes so little to make him happy.

  I know. And it made Nathan so happy to help his friend. Dear mate.

  “I’ll be back in two shakes.” Then Nathan headed off to the candy aisle.

  “Is he okay?”

  “He is. Hamburger, Ed.”

  “Right on. I like the fine ground. It cooks better.”

  “I’m easy. I’ll cook whatever you want.” He had to laugh at how Ed bobbed and danced.

  “Thank you! I do love that, grilling.”

  Tom was still grinning hugely when the shout came in his head.

  Mate!

  “Nathan?” He spun around, eyes searching. “Nathan, where are you?”

  Mate, help me!

  Tom ran toward the candy. Nathan was in trouble.

  “Tom?” Ed ran with him. “Tom? What is it?”

  His head pounded, his heart racing. He found the cart, the spilled bag of gummi bears. “Nathan!”

  “Where is he?” Ed ran for the door, faster than he could move, discarding clothes with abandon.

  “Nathan!” Tom ran too, straining at the bond with his mate. All he heard was silence. Nothing. Nothing at all.

  Ed was flying, cawing out his fury as he swooped. Tom wolfed out, stumbling over his empty clothes. Nathan, where are you!

  Nothing. How could there be nothing? How was that possible?

  He sniffed all the way around in front of the store.

  Nathan. There. Blood. Mate!

  A sharp caw sounded, and Ed swooped down, chittering at him.

  What? What? I don’t fucking speak bird. Find him, Ed! Find Nathan. He barked furiously, needing to be understood.

  Ed bobbed and flew. Flew so fast. Ed could go so much faster than he could. He ran to the truck, grabbing his clothes from a man in the lot who’d gathered them for him.

  Nathan. Nathan. The call echoed inside him, going nowhere.

  His mate was lost.

  Tom had to find him. Now.

  Chapter Ten

  “STUPID dog. Did you think you could escape me?” The man pulled his chain, making it dig into his throat.

  Not stupid. Not. He’d made his way free before. He could do it again.

  Nathan had a mate now. Someone to fight for.

  “Going to fix you this time. Remove those teeth.” A blow rocked him, making him stumble hard.

  He shook his head to clear it, the collar keepi
ng him quiet. Goddess, he hated it. The magic burned like acid, steadily, constantly.

  “You’re just a pet. Don’t get it in your mind to run from me again.”

  Not a pet. Not this man’s pet. Never.

  He would run as soon as he could. Run right back to his love. He simply had to be patient. And remember to bite.

  Bite deep and hard.

  Nathan sank into himself, biding his time. He would wait. Then he would act.

  Then he would kill the man.

  That was what he had to do, or he would never be free. This man would find him anywhere.

  Then the man would find Tom.

  Fear and anger shot through him. No. No, the man couldn’t have Tom. He’d taken too much from Nathan already.

  He spun, teeth snapping, blood hot and wet in his jaws. He bit and bit, tearing as the asshole hit him, beat him.

  The man held something hard, and it was too much finally. Too damn much, and he went under, calling to Tom with all he was worth as it happened.

  TOM tore into the Dead and Breakfast on two wheels, screaming before he got out of the truck. “Help me!”

  Tanner came bounding out of the place as fast as a bear could move. Turned out that was pretty fast.

  “Tom? Where’s Nathan? And Ed?”

  “Someone took Nathan at the store! In the candy aisle, for fuck’s sake!” He clutched his head. “My head is killing me, Tanner.”

  “Fuck! Took him? Them? Where? What the fuck?” Tanner’s roar filled the air like a siren.

  “I don’t—” He gagged, the pain tearing through him. “Someone is hurting him.”

  “Who? Where?” Tanner dragged him in, roaring Carter’s name. “Where’s Ed?”

  “He was following, I think.” He clung to Tanner, shivering. “I told him to find Nathan. What if he gets hurt, Tanner? That was shitty of me.”

  “Ed is Nathan’s friend. Ed would have gone anyway. Carter! Get your fuzzy ass down here!”

  “Coming.” The sound of stumbling feet reached him. “Sorry. Sorry, I was asleep—Tom? What happened?”

  He tore at his hair a little. “I don’t know! Someone took Nathan! I can’t hear him now.”

  “Ed’s tracking them. We’ve got a mate bond gone silent here, man. I need your help.”

  “Oh.” Carter knelt at his feet. “That probably means he’s unconscious. Sometimes out of range. What you can’t do is panic.”

  “Too late.” He let out a ragged laugh.

  “Tom. Tom, he’s going to need you. You’ll going to have to listen for him, right?”

  “I am. It’s just silence.”

  “I know, but it’s like shifting. You have to be ready.”

  “Carter. Carter, please. They’re hurting him!”

  “Tom, we have to focus.”

  “I’m sorry. I—I’m trying.” He shook his head again.

  “Good. Good. Call Preston, Tanner. Now.” Tom had never heard Carter snap.

  “Of course.” Tanner ran off.

  “Now you focus on me and tell me what happened. How did they find him? Any idea?”

  “No. I mean, I went with Ed, and he went to get gummi bears. As a surprise.”

  “In the store. They must have been hunting him. Dammit.”

  Tom nodded, his wolf battering at the back of his skull. Running off wouldn’t help. Not one bit.

  “Ed will follow him. You know he will.”

  “I know. But then what? Ed can’t call, can he?”

  “You think that magpie won’t be able to lead you right back to your mate?”

  “What if they move him?” Tom was just… he didn’t know what to do.

  “Those scars mean he was held in one place for a long time,” Carter said gently. “There’s magic there. They’ll take him there, and then we will find him.”

  “Promise?” He could be action man if he needed to, but right now he needed to believe in something.

  “I swear. We will find Nathan, and we will show the ones that hurt him how we repay evil here.” Suddenly Carter the bouncy kitty was gone, and in its place was a man with mountain lion and vampire in his eyes.

  Tom nodded slowly. “Okay. Okay, I believe you. I just…. Oh, Carter, my head hurts.”

  “I bet.” Carter drew him close, holding him, rocking him.

  He hung on, grateful his friend knew what was going on inside him, and just as sorry that Carter had ever had to go through anything like this. Carter would help him. He had faith. Carter had to.

  They were calling Preston too. Preston was magical. Kind of literally. Okay. Okay, think. Had any of Nathan’s memories shown him where his mate might be?

  There were bars. Chains. Pain. Stop it. Focus.

  “I think the scars were definitely from someone keeping him chained. He had a family once. Doesn’t anyone keep track of that? Like, mass murders of shifters?”

  “Sure. Sure, but do you know where from? I mean, I don’t know where to start looking.” Tanner sounded near hysterical.

  “I’ll start researching.” Glenda’s words made him look up. “What? I can use a computer.”

  He didn’t meet her eyes, but he held out a hand to her. “Thank you, Glenda.”

  “Nathan’s a doll. I’ll help any way I can.”

  “He is. He’s a good wolf. A good man.” And just starting to trust again, dammit. They would find Nathan, and Tom would love him back to just where he needed to be. No matter how long it took.

  Glenda sat at the guest business computer, her fingers tapping hard against the keyboard.

  Tanner sorta spun in circles.

  “Tanner. Can you put together some food for Tom? We’ll need travel supplies too. For all of us.”

  How was Carter so clear? How did he do this?

  “Fallon, Tom. He’s inside me. He’s asleep now, but he’s still in my head, talking to me. If it was just me I would be chasing my tail or gnawing on yours.”

  He reached out again, and this time Carter took his hand instead of Glenda. “Thank you.”

  “You’re one of us, Tom. Even if you weren’t, we’d help. Because you are, we’ll make them pay.”

  His wolf surged, a tiny howl escaping him at the words. Yes. Pay. For hurting his mate.

  Carter’s eyes burned, and he got a single nod.

  His friends understood. They knew.

  Suddenly Carter was fuzzy, wrapped around him, nose on his chest. Those big paws held him, making him feel loved. Calming him.

  He leaned in, curling close with a sob. “We have to help him. We have to.”

  Carter rubbed that heavy head against him, nodding cat style.

  “We will, Tom. You have my word.” Tanner’s voice was as deep as he’d ever heard.

  “Thank you. All of you.” He’d never known such good friends.

  “You’re our family, you and Nathan.”

  “My Nathan.” Tom tried reaching out again. Nathan. Mate. Please.

  Nothing answered him. Only silence. The emptiness echoed.

  His mate was out there. Alive. He had to believe that.

  Tom closed his eyes and prayed that it was so.

  Chapter Eleven

  THE pain weighed him down, the emptiness inside him raw and agonizing. Still, he would not let them destroy him.

  He remembered everything now—how the man had let his guard down. Had believed the magics of the chains, and the sigils outside that would erase his memories if he left, were enough to keep him down, keep him hidden.

  He could run free and lost, if he needed to.

  The new magic inside would take him to Tom. Tom was his talisman.

  He knew this. He closed his eyes, screaming for Tom, screaming for any sort of connection.

  There was nothing. Not yet. Maybe he was too weak from the beating the man had given him. From the collar being back on.

  It would come. Tom would come. And if Tom couldn’t, then….

  A flutter came from the shadows, and he stilled. The man came through the doo
r. Always. He never came out of the corners or from the windows.

  He stilled, eyes going wide. Then the black bird came creeping out, the ebony wings tipped with white.

  Ed.

  Friend Ed.

  Ed was drooping some, his eyes cloudy, but he came right to Nathan, beak opening and closing.

  He whimpered, bloody muzzle nudging the cage bars. Please. Please let me out.

  Every line of that bird body strained, Ed clearly trying to shift. He could see the wild determination in Ed’s eyes.

  Please! Please, Ed! He scrabbled at the cold dirt, his claws tearing at the ground.

  Ed slumped, wings shaking in an agitated way.

  No. No. No, please. He whined, shaking hard. Please help me.

  Ed tumbled over to him, beak landing against his paw.

  He leaned over, licked the slick beak.

  He understood. He did. He had to escape. Again.

  Ed popped back up, clawing at his foot and looking into his eyes. Ed hopped toward the window, then came back. Then toward the window and back.

  His friend was trying to tell him something.

  Go get Tom. Please. Tell them where I am.

  Ed bobbed as if he’d heard, coming to hop up on him, loving on him.

  He vocalized softly, mourning. He wanted to come home.

  A sad chirp was his answer, then a fierce call. Ed was coming back for him.

  Please. Please don’t let me die here. He met those red eyes.

  Ed leaned on him, and he would swear he could hear Ed. I’m coming back.

  I believe you. He had to. The alternative killed his soul.

  That poor bird looked so sad. So sad. But he went to the window and hopped through the bars. One last call and Ed was gone.

  He slumped down, telling himself to conserve his energy, wait. His time would come.

  Ed would come back. Someone from his new home knew where he was. Ed would bring Tom.

  “TOM! Tom! Tom!” Ed was naked and screaming. “Tom, I found him!”

  Tanner grabbed Ed and held him still. “Breathe, Ed. Breathe. Where is he?”

  “He’s all chained up. I flew and flew.”

  “Carter, get him water and something sweet. He’s shaking like a leaf.”

  “On it. Fal? A robe?”

  “Yes!” Fallon streaked away.