by Julia Talbot
Fallon turned in a circle, scanning the room so fast. “No. There has to be a mechanism. Let me try. The spells shouldn’t affect me.”
“Mate! No!” Carter stared at Fallon. “You’re part of me and I’m part of you.”
“I can do it,” Preston murmured. “Hold still, buddy.”
The—what was that thing? It lifted its chin and tilted to one side, obviously showing off where the clasp lay.
They all watched as the chain came free and the little man lifted into the air, screaming wildly, the world beginning to shake.
“Whoa. Whoa! Where’s the wolf!” Tom was sick of waiting. He needed to find Nathan.
Preston was freeing bird and fox while Carter checked the other cages.
“Please. Someone tell me where the wolf went!”
It was the raven who shifted, landing on the floor, skinny and naked and shivering. “He—he ran. The ugly man is hurt. Follow his blood trail.”
Tom stared at the man for a moment, then nodded, shedding his clothes. “Help them, Preston.” He shifted into his wolf form before bounding out the door.
Carter was right beside him, with Tanner and Ed right behind.
His nose wrinkled as he tried to sort out the blood, the pain, the anger.
What he caught was his mate’s scent. That was a trail he could follow like a huge dotted line on a map. Ed would be their eyes in the sky, and Tom was shocked at how fast Tanner could run in bear shape.
A black form paced along with Carter—Fallon. The vampire moved like a flash, burning through the snow.
No ogre could beat them, but he had to find his mate first.
Tanner was sniffing too, nose quivering. Bears had incredible senses of smell. Better than his, but he had an advantage. Love.
He had the faith that his lover was waiting for him. Fighting for him.
There. The trail veered to the right sharply, heading up yet another rise. More elevation would make the ogre work harder, bleed more. He saw the puffs of snow as the asshole lifted a huge branch, brandishing it like a club.
He could see the still form of a wolf, quiet and dark in the snow.
Tom pushed up the hill in three major bounds, snarling as he barreled into the man at the legs, sending them both sprawling. Ed was tearing at his hair, squawking furiously, wings beating the deformed head.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fallon lifting Nathan, then carrying him a safe distance away.
Please, Goddess. Let him be whole.
The branch whistled through the air, aimed straight at him.
It missed because Tanner caught it, the roar of the big grizzly ringing out.
The ogre blinked; then the asshole roared at Tanner.
Carter slammed into the fray, knocking the big… manbeast down. Tom snapped at the thing’s Achilles, his teeth sinking in hard, foul blood in his muzzle.
He wanted to go to Nathan, but they couldn’t stop until this thing was dead and could never hurt another of their kind. That room….
He ripped and tore, the four… no, five of them biting and tearing to bring the monster down.
Tanner gave the blow that felled the giant, knocking it so hard across the arm and shoulder that something snapped.
The killing blow came from Tom, though. He surged up the big body, standing on the monster’s chest to rip at its throat.
No one would ever steal his mate. Never again.
He pulled and snapped until the thing stopped moving, the foul smell becoming too much to bear. Speaking of, Tanner made a noise of pure disgust before backing away.
Nathan. Nathan. Nathan.
There was nothing from his mate but silence.
Tom whined, and he raced to Nathan’s side. He lay so still, so quiet. Nathan. He nosed Nathan’s side.
Dark blood seeped out of the poor throat, Nathan’s nose, one ear. Fallon leaned down and scooped his mate up. “I’ll get him to Preston. He’ll help.”
Tom followed, but there was no way he could keep up with Fallon, as hard as he ran. He trusted his friends with all his heart, but he was so scared.
He couldn’t lose his mate now. Not now. Not after only days. Nathan deserved the world. To be free to explore every bit of everything. He ran until his lungs felt like they might explode.
Carter and Tanner paced him while Ed screamed and swooped above.
They all needed to know Nathan was going to recover. They were family.
He got to the clearing with the shack in time to see Preston hovering over Nathan in the back of the SUV. Right. Not in that filthy, terrifying shack.
“Tom, get over here. I need you to be close to him.” Preston put both hands on Nathan’s rib cage, then closed his eyes.
Tom bounded over, his nose pressing to Nathan’s belly. Mate. He kept repeating it, wanting his lover to answer. He didn’t think Nathan was breathing, and he let out a soft, short howl.
They all stood around, staring at each other, silent. All his friends.
Nathan, please. Please. Tom prayed. He asked the universe to let Nathan come back to him, to be alive and vibrant and wonderful.
He lifted his nose to the air and began to howl.
THERE was a blessed silence where Nathan lay. A peace. No pain.
Nothing but ease.
He slept, and the man was not there to torture him, to make him fear.
Nathan.
Shh. He was sleeping. Resting hard.
Nathan, please. Come back to me.
His head tilted, and he whimpered softly. Who was that?
Nathan. Love you, sweet. I miss you.
The sound was familiar, comforting, and it rang deep inside him.
He didn’t want to rise up only to find pain and fear, but that voice. How could he ignore that voice?
Nathan pushed up, fighting the biting monsters of pain. He hurt, but he knew something amazing waited for him.
Who… is that… who are you?
You know me, love. I promise. Please come to me.
Come to you…. He took a deep breath, pain flooding him for a second.
Oh, love. I can help. Preston can help. But I need you here.
Love.
He groaned. He knew that word. Especially from that voice. It made him warm even though he was cold when he got close to the surface.
Mate. Hurts. Hurts.
“He’s awake. He’s coming back. Please. He hurts.”
“I can help with that.” Warm touches helped him feel less cold, and a tingling spread through his body.
He whimpered again, lapping at the air.
“That’s it, Nathan.” The voice sounded different out loud. Thick, as if with tears. “Here I am.”
He blinked up, trying to focus. Here.
I see you. A man pushed over him, dark hair wild around his face. “Hi.”
He licked his muzzle, the blood coppery and bright.
“I’m so sorry, love. He’s gone. He’ll never hurt you ever again.”
“We need to get him wrapped up in blankets, get him warm, Tom.”
“I can do that. I just need the—thanks, Carter.” The one with the best voice slid into the space next to him, then wrapped them both in blankets. “I have you. He’s gone. Never again.”
Gone.
He whined softly, shaking his head.
“Shh. It’s been a hard day. It really has. You’re safe now.” Sweet, gentle hands stroked his head, his back, skipping the wounds on his neck.
He didn’t know what half those words even meant, but it didn’t matter. The man was gone.
The bad man. The one with the nose and the collar and the cages. He was gone. Dead. Nathan believed it.
No collars. No collars. His throat throbbed.
No. Never again.
The murmur of other people came to him, the sense of motion around him. He was in a small space, but it wasn’t frightening. Not with the very snow-wet bird that settled by his head and the man with the wondrous voice.
“We saved them
all, Nathan. The fox, the raven, the… other guy with the wings.”
He remembered a little sooty man with wings….
Nathan nuzzled the voice man. What had they called him? Tom.
“That’s right, mate. Tom.”
Tom.
Yes. Oh, sweet. I swear, you’ll remember. I know now that it was the collar. Preston said so.
No collars.
He would bite.
Never again, I swear. He’s gone. He’s gone.
Nathan hoped Tom didn’t hate repeating it. He needed to hear it over and over.
The car began to move, the sensation making his eyes pop open, but there was nothing but darkness and Tom.
“Shhh. It’s okay. We’re going back to a place that makes you happy. I promise. You like it there. There’s a warm fire, a soft bed, and bread. Such good bread that Carter bakes.” Tom kept talking, low and husky.
He closed his eyes, letting the darkness sink him down deep, the soft words following him.
“Just sleep, but don’t go farther than that, okay? I need you with me. You’re safe.” Tom petted him, loving on him, making him rumble deep in his chest. “I have you, mate. We’ll go home. Get clean. Heal.”
Clean. Yes. He stank, and his nose was sensitive enough to really know it. The bird smelled better than he did. He needed to groom himself.
As if the bird heard him, it began to chitter, claws and beak in his fur.
He chuffed, amused. This was not the raven. This one was different. Only a little familiar. Somehow.
A friend. His friend.
His tongue lolled out in a lupine laugh. Yes. This one liked to play. Nathan knew that. Liked to sit on his shoulder and scold him. Good bird.
That’s right. Ed. Our friend. He showed us where you were.
Ed. Okay. That was easy. An easy name. Ed. It seemed a fine name for a magpie. The markings were magpie, for sure. Nathan was so pleased to remember something.
He came for me. Nathan sighed; remembering was so hard.
Tom just petted him, and his wolf knew this was safe. This was good. This was love. He just needed to remember Tom like Tom knew him. He had to. Nathan whimpered, his body going stiff from his distress, which caused more pain.
“No, you were about to sleep. You’re okay. You’re fine. Just rest. We can figure it all out.” Tom’s hand pressed on his forehead, a rush of peace flooding him. “Sleep.”
He closed his eyes again, sinking into Tom’s heat, his love. Nathan could feel that love all the way to his toes.
Maybe he even deserved it.
Chapter Fourteen
TOM held Nathan and thanked the gods, goddesses, and the universe that Nathan had come out of the fugue state he’d been in. Preston had called it twilight, and Tom didn’t want to even ponder what that meant.
Nathan was with him and they were on the way home. They didn’t even need the vampire pods, it had all happened so fast. Carter and Fallon were snuggled, and Ed had moved up to sit on Tanner’s headrest.
He stroked Nathan’s ear gently, careful not to hurt. Poor mate. He was broken in so many ways.
“How’s it going back there, Tom?” Preston asked quietly. His voice carried gently, so calm. It helped Tom breathe.
“He’s hurting. I hate it.” He hated the taste still in his mouth too, the monster’s blood lingering even after Tom had washed out his mouth with snow.
“He’s been badly beaten. He’s trying to heal now.”
“I know. I just— What kind of fucker does this?”
“A collector. There were a dozen cages. All used.”
“God. I mean….” A collector. That was fucked-up. Really fucked-up.
“There weren’t any others.”
“They’re all dead. We thought the wolf was dead.” The little imp’s voice was like listening to ice scrape against the roof.
“I’m sorry.” Tom didn’t know if apologizing was helpful or not, but it came out.
“Why? You didn’t do it. Are you going to put us in another cage?”
“No.” Tom said it firmly.
“We’re just taking you somewhere safe until you decide what to do,” Preston added.
“Then don’t apologize.”
Tom blinked. “No, I was sorry that so many died.”
“Oh. Yes. I am glad yours is crafty.”
“So am I. My name is Tom.” He wanted to know everything about Nathan’s life, so he would get to know these other shifters.
“Dev. I don’t know about the others.”
“Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Dev. This is Nathan with me. Preston is driving.”
Dev nodded, then curled up in his leathery wings, ducking his head.
Tanner chuckled. “I think this is all a little overwhelming.”
“I know it is.” Tom met the bear’s eyes. “More than a little.”
“I’m just glad we got him back, Tom. He’ll recover. Remember that.”
“I’m trying. I swear. I’m trying.” He needed to remember that.
“I know. I know.” Tanner reached back to offer a big hand, warm and hard and callused.
Tom took it because he needed the reassurance.
Carter’s hand landed on the small of his back, a low purr sounding.
Tom closed his eyes. His friends were offering comfort, even if he didn’t need Ed pecking at his ear.
“Ed. Gently. Please.”
Ed stopped picking and snapping and chittered. When had he hopped down off Tanner’s seat back? That was Ed, right, not the raven?
God, his head hurt.
Mate. Shh. Breathe. Oh. Oh, that was Nathan.
Nathan. He settled down on the… seat? Floor? Something. Then he covered them back up with the blanket.
Mate. Nathan pressed into him, nose hot and dry, breath shallow.
Just rest. I’ll guard you in our dreams.
Stay. Stay with me.
I will. Just you and me, I promise. Tom held that poor, beaten body closer, his head on Nathan’s. I’m taking you home.
Home?
Yes. Even as he said it, he knew it wasn’t true. At least not exactly.
He would make it so if and when he had to. He had no idea where Nathan’s home had been before, but his friends would help them make a new one.
He would make his mate a den, a home, a place of his own.
Tom smiled, the idea perfect. Calming. Yes. A den. Not under a tree.
A warm home with a fireplace, a big bed, a big tub.
Shh. Sleep with me, Tom. No more thinking.
Right. No more thinking. Not possible. But he would try.
For Nathan.
His eyes flew open. Nathan had called him by his name. That was good, right? Maybe deep down Nathan had heard him introduce himself to the imp, but he didn’t think so. Nathan was sleeping hard.
Oh, my love. No more thinking.
No more. Sleeping now. Tom closed his eyes and told himself to breathe. Just breathe.
Soon they would be at the inn and things would get better.
NATHAN woke to stillness, to a strange quiet.
“Come on, let’s hurry and get Fal and Carter in first.”
“In the pods? Or Fal has some fireproof blankets upstairs.”
“We’ll grab the blankets. In fact, here’s Glenda.”
“Here, guys.” That voice was rough and almost sibilant at the same time.
“Thank you, lady. We have extra guests—and of course, Preston will need a place to work.”
“You got it.”
There was some kind of a rush, someone being carried out of where he was to somewhere else.
He stayed perfectly still, hiding deep in his fur.
“Nathan? We’re here.” That was the good voice. “I want to get you in a bath, get you water and food.”
The blanket fell away, the sunlight hitting him. Sunlight. None of it ever got into the building where the man chained him.
I know you’re awake, mate. I know you can hear me. C
an you walk?
Could he? Nathan didn’t know. He was… tired. So tired.
“Okay, let me get some clothes. I’ll come back and carry you.”
He rolled up, limping as he followed.
He felt Tom move away. It was Tom. He’d heard it. Tom had been so pleased when Nathan had used his name.
All he could do was lie there and pant. His muscles couldn’t work. The melting snow was cold in his fur, and he couldn’t tell if it felt good or bad, burned or soothed.
“Okay. I’m going to lift. Just stay still.” Warm hands slid under him, lifting him up. “Sweet wolf.”
Sweet. Was he? He forced himself not to flail.
“That’s it. That’s it. I’m just taking you to the cabin. There’s a fire already because Jami laid it for us. How wonderful is that?”
“I’ll need to look him over, Tom,” a voice called.
“I know. I just want to get him in and warm.” Tom grunted, stumbling over something.
“Here. Here, let me help you.”
“I’m okay, Ed.”
“Tom, shut up.”
Tom snorted. “Okay, okay.”
The scent of wood smoke hit his nose, and it was familiar. Warm. Right.
Ed the bird was fluttering around, but he didn’t care. Tom put him down on clouds. Clouds. It had to be.
“Shh. Water or a bath first?”
He licked his lips, his tongue all but sticking.
“Water, then.”
“Here. I have some.” That was Ed again.
His head was held up, a towel held under it, and he was given a drink, lapping at the cold liquid.
Oh. That was bright and good, making his whole mouth and throat feel better.
“Not too much all at once. It will make you sick.”
He whined, but Tom shook his head. “Throwing up in your condition could be dangerous.”
Nathan harrumphed, putting his head down. Tom wrapped him in a blanket, and one by one his muscles relaxed.
“There. There, mate. We’ll bathe you later. Now, breathe.”
His breath came easier with each moment, because he was warm and there was no collar. No stench of the ugly man.
“No more, mate. We killed him. You’re free.”
No chains?
“Never again.” Tom stroked his ears. “I’ve got you, and we have nothing to do but rest. I want my friend to come clean your wounds. Is that okay?”
