by Faith Gibson
Trevor got an idea. A crazy one, but an idea nonetheless. He made his way downstairs to find Dante staring out the window. While he had been holed up in Jasper’s room, the rain had turned into snow and the ground was covered. Dominic had Lilly outside, swirling her around. Tessa and Gregor were throwing snowballs at each other. Here it was, snowing in the south, and Jasper was missing it. He desperately needed to get him to wake up.
He went into the kitchen and grabbed the biggest spoon he could find. He went back upstairs and sat down next to Jasper. As gently as he could, Trevor pried Jasper’s mouth open and stuck the spoon between his teeth. Quickly, he poked his finger with a fang and let the blood drop onto Jasper’s tongue. When Jasper’s tongue was coated red, Trevor coaxed the spoon from Jasper’s mouth.
He rubbed his fingers through Jasper’s beard and said, “I don’t know if that actually seals the bond, but I want you to know I’m here with you. For as long as it takes, I’m here. And after? I’m staying then, too. It shouldn’t take something like this to make you realize how much you lo… care about someone, but it has. You need to wake up, Jas. You’re missing the snow. I think the fates are trying to tempt you.” When he thought about the snow and how much Jasper loved it, he got another idea. Yes, another crazy one. He ran downstairs and yelled for Gregor to come inside.
“Trevor, what’s going on?” Dante asked.
Not only Gregor, but everyone ran into the house. Gregor asked, “What’s up? Is he awake?”
“Not yet. But he loves the snow. Like, wants to move back north someday loves the snow. Please help me get him outside. I want him to feel it falling on his face.”
Lilly smiled and said, “Your aura. It’s different.”
“Different how?”
“It’s the same color as Jasper’s”
“Oh. Yeah, I might have tried to mate with him.”
“You what?” Tessa screeched. “Did you… you know… while he’s…”
“No, of course not! I poked my finger with his fang. Dang, woman, I wouldn’t molest an unconscious man, even if it’s Jasper. Well, I might if it’s Jasper and he was just asleep, but not… never mind.”
Before he could get upstairs, Gregor was coming down the stairs, holding Jasper in a fireman’s carry. “Where do you want him?”
“On his back,” Trevor said before he thought about it.
Tessa giggled, and he shot her a nasty look. “You said it,” she told him.
“Let him feel the cold on his back and the snowflakes on his face.”
Gregor did as he asked, placing him carefully on the white ground. Trevor sat down beside him, both their clothes getting wet. He didn’t care. It was the least he could do for his mate. Whether what he tried worked or not, he considered himself Jasper’s mate. Trevor knew there would never be another for him.
After a while, Trevor lay down beside Jasper, enjoying the silence that a blanket of snow brought with it. It was the most beautiful sound in the world.
“So this is the afterlife,” Jasper said from beside him.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Trevor was hearing Jasper’s voice in his head.
“Why the fuck is my ass wet? Trev…”
“Jas? Oh, thank god, you’re awake!” Trevor sat up, touching Jasper’s face, his chest, his arms.
“How am I awake?” he asked, retracting his fangs.
“Magic,” Trevor said honestly. Voices yelling from the house took his attention away from Jasper briefly. “Magic and love,” he whispered before he leaned over Jasper and kissed him.
“Let the Goyle up, for the gods’ sakes. He’s awake. He doesn’t need mouth to mouth,” Tessa yelled from the door.
“Red, leave them alone,” Gregor chastised her.
“I’m not fully awake. I still think this is heaven,” Jasper said and pulled Trevor down for another kiss. When they came up for air, he asked, “I must have bit my tongue. My mouth tastes like blood. And you were dead. I saw you.”
“Uh, that’d be my blood, and it wasn’t me you saw. The last victim looked a lot like me.”
“The blood. How’d that happen?” Jasper asked as he rolled Trevor off of him. “I really need to fuck you right now. Trevor, oh god, what did you do?” Jasper pushed down on his cock.
“Are you mad?” Trevor didn’t like the look in Jasper’s eyes.
“Mad, are you kidding? I want to strip you bare and make love to you right here in the snow. But we have an audience. And you’d freeze, or at the least get sick. What did you do exactly?”
“I punctured my finger with your fang and dropped the blood into your mouth. Dante said you thought I was dead and didn’t have anything to live for. I’ve been talking to you for days, and you still weren’t waking up. It was the only thing I could think of. Does this mean we’re fully mated?”
“No,” Jasper whispered. The worried look on his face let Trevor know he was lying. “Not unless you want to be,” he added.
“I want to be. I want to be with you, Phelam Jasper O’Donnell Jenkins, forever. I lo…” He wouldn’t confess his love. Not until he knew how Jasper felt about him.
“I love you, too.” Jasper pulled Trevor to him, kissing him soundly on the mouth. “Definitely heaven.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“Good, you love him. Now get your asses up and get in here so we can celebrate!” Tessa shouted.
She didn’t have to shout, but Tessa was excited. Jasper was excited, too. He was alive, and Trevor loved him. His precious Trevor had given him his blood trying to save him. It must have worked. Trevor stood and helped Jasper to his feet. Jasper was weak, but he sucked it up. He wouldn’t allow Trevor to see him stumble. They walked hand in hand to the back deck where Dante was waiting with towels. “Good to have you back with us, Jas.”
“It’s good to be back. I want to get dried off and then I want to know everything.” He and Trevor wiped the snow off each other before going inside to change clothes. Jasper stopped when he saw two newcomers. For some reason the female was familiar to him.
“Jas, this is Dominic Dubois and Lillian St. James. Lilly is one of Dane and Isabelle’s sisters. She’s the one who healed you.”
The pretty blonde blushed and said, “I think Trevor had a bigger hand in healing you than I did. I only stopped the poison’s progress.”
“Whatever you did, I’m grateful. Dominic, pleasure to meet you.”
“Aye, mate. Glad you’re back in the land of the living.” Jasper couldn’t wait to ask Trevor about that one.
“You two go on and get changed. I’m going to start calling the others,” Dante said.
Together, they made their way upstairs where Trevor helped him remove his wet clothes. “I can undress myself,” he snapped. Trevor backed up, eyes wide. “I’m sorry. Come here,” he apologized. He didn’t mean to hurt Trevor’s feelings. Trevor took a step toward him, wariness in his eyes. “Trev…”
“Jas…”
Jasper wanted nothing more than to throw Trevor down on the bed and really seal the bond. He would need his strength for what he had in mind. “I’m sorry, Baby. I’m still a little out of it. Please forgive me.”
“I forgive you. Now, get changed, Detective. I guarantee in less than four minutes that front door is going to open, and we are going to have more company than the manor saw at Christmas.” Trevor tried to back away, but Jasper needed to feel him in his arms. Assure himself he was alive.
“Hold me. Please.”
Trevor wrapped him up tight, kissing his cheek and his jaw before nestling his face in the bend of Jasper’s neck. Voices from downstairs interrupted their moment. “How long did you give them?” Jasper joked. Trevor hadn’t been wrong. His house was filling up with Clan members and their families.
“It’s a good thing Priscilla fixed so much food. I bet you’re hungry. Come on, let’s get this over with. The sooner everyone sees you, the sooner they’ll go home.”
Jasper didn’t miss the hungry look in Trevor’s eyes.
His mate had changed while he was unconscious. He liked it. “How long was I out of it?”
“Five days, twenty-one hours, seventeen minutes.”
Six days. Six fucking days he lost because of that motherfucking Theron. “Tell me he’s dead.”
Trevor backed away from him a little. “He’s in Greece. Urijah has his sister, though.”
Why was Trevor looking at him like he was going to bite his head off? He opened his mouth to ask him when his fangs cut into his lip. “Godsdamnit!” he yelled. Trevor backed all the way into the bathroom. Fuck. He had to get control of his anger. Trevor came out of the bathroom holding a wet washcloth. He handed it to him then turned his back to him while he changed his clothes.
“I’ll be downstairs,” Trevor said as he left the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Jasper sat on the bed, wiping at his mouth. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” He sat there and steadied his breathing. He chalked the mood swings up to being poisoned and unconscious for six days. He had to keep his temper in check, especially around Trevor. Gods, his sweet Trevor. His mate had bled for him to bring him back. The longer he sat there the more voices floated up the stairs. Sighing, he rose from the bed and took his time in the bathroom before changing into dry clothes. Having lain inactive for almost a week, he needed to freshen up.
As he made his way downstairs, Jasper fully expected Trevor to be waiting for him, but his mate was nowhere to be seen. He reached out, searching for him. Trevor was outside on the back deck. Before he could go to him, Jasper was swamped with Clan members swarming around him, asking how he was, saying they were glad he was okay. The one who supposedly saved him, Lilly, stood off to the side with Dominic. The way the pirate held her close told Jasper they were mates. Even though he’d been lying in bed for days, Jasper needed to sit down. His strength was returning slowly, but not enough that he felt like standing for hours. With this Clan, he knew they wouldn’t just wish him well and leave.
The house was full of people talking and laughing. He knew he had cause to celebrate, but after hearing “how are you feeling” for the twentieth time, he growled, “I’m fucking fine. What will make me heal faster is to know where Theron is so I can go after the motherfucker.”
Everyone stopped talking at the same time. It was Rafael who took control of the room. “I think we should give Jasper time to get back to his old self. Uri, since you were the one to capture Kallisto, please remain and fill Jasper in on everything that’s been going on. Jasper, Brother, I’m glad you are going to be okay. Take your time, and let us know if you need anything.”
Jasper felt like a dick. “I’m sorry, I just…”
“He needs time. And I’ll be here taking care of him,” Trevor said from the back door. Jasper’s heart filled with love for his mate. He needed Trevor. Needed to make love to him. His beast was berating him to complete the bond the right way. He knew they were already mated; his beast was just a horny fucker. He held out his hand to Trevor who came and sat beside him.
“We’ll talk to you soon,” Kaya said before she and Rafael ushered everyone out the door. When Lilly and Dominic followed the crowd, Jasper stopped them.
“Lilly, please stay.” She glanced up at Dominic who nodded once.
When the others had gone, Jasper rubbed his forehead. “I’m thankful for whatever it is you did, but I need to know what it was exactly. I don’t feel right, and my moods are all over the fucking place.”
Trevor laced their fingers together while Lilly explained, “You were given a powerful mixture of wolfsbane, hemlock, and cat bone. When Julian figured out the three ingredients, I recognized them from my grandmother’s grimoire. Those particular poisons are used in a dark magic spell.”
“You do dark magic?” he asked her.
“Goddess, no! Dark spells are passed down so if we come across them, we know what we’re dealing with.”
“So, Theron cast a spell on me?” That didn’t make sense.
“No, that is why you are conscious now. He only injected you with the poison. I didn’t have a counterspell, but there was one similar I used, adding Trevor’s blood to strengthen it.”
“You’ve given your blood to me twice. Thank you,” he whispered to his mate.
“You would have done the same thing,” Trevor said, running a finger down his face. Trevor’s eyes dropped to his lips, and Jasper needed to be alone with his mate. He had to hurry this discussion along.
“Are there side effects? Why am I ready to rip everyone’s head off?”
“I will need to refer back to the grimoire. Honestly, I’ve never performed a counterspell against dark magic or ingredients intended to be used in such a way. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be sorry. You brought me back, and I thank you.”
Dominic pulled Lilly to his side. “I believe it is your shifter that is causing you trouble. You were close to death, and there was nothing you could do about it. The beast is rebelling. Once you and Urijah have a chat, I would suggest spending some time with your mate, letting him soothe the beast.”
That was the best advice Jasper had heard yet. Upon hearing his name, Uri stepped out of the shadows. The Goyle looked pissed.
“Once Julian got a lock on Kallisto and her partner, we were able to find them. We have them both in a secure location. When we threatened Kallisto, her partner Sergei gave up the information quickly. Theron went back to Greece, leaving his sister and partner to clean up any loose strings. I need to know what you want me to do with them, Brother.”
Jasper already knew what he wanted – Theron’s ass back in the States so he could take him out. “I need to get a message to Theron. One that will guarantee his return to New Atlanta.”
“What are you thinking?” Uri asked.
“I need someone who is familiar with Shibari.”
Uri’s eyebrows rose underneath his blond bangs. “I like where you’re going with this.”
“What’s Shibari?” Dominic asked.
“Pretty knots like this,” Trevor said. He scrolled through his phone until he found one of the less dramatic pictures shown on the internet.
“Well, why didn’t you just ask?”
“You know Shibari?” Uri asked.
“I’m a pirate, mate. Of course I can tie a pretty knot,” he said with a wink. Jasper was beginning to like the Goyle.
“Okay then. Jasper, tell me exactly what you want, and we’ll handle it.”
Jasper described in detail the way he wanted Kallisto tied up and displayed. Since her partner was cooperating, they would be able to text Theron with the picture of his sister in the same pose Jasper had been left in for a week all those years ago. Jasper didn’t want Lilly to think badly of him, so, without going into too much detail, he explained why he wanted this done. He made it clear he didn’t want the ropes to hurt Kallisto, only to paint an explicit picture. Once the plan was set, Jasper stood, refusing to look weak in front of his guests. He shook hands with Uri first, then Dominic, before fisting his heart to Lilly and saying, “On my honor.” The pretty witch had tears in her eyes, but she was smiling.
Finally, they were alone. Trevor came and stood in front of him, tracing the lines of his face, running his fingers through Jasper’s beard. “I thought I’d lost you,” Trevor whispered.
“I thought I’d lost you, too.” Jasper couldn’t stand the distance any longer. He tugged Trevor’s belt loops, bringing him into his chest. “You really want to be mated to me?”
Trevor kissed Jasper’s Adam’s apple. He licked his way across Jasper’s neck to behind his ear. He sucked the lobe before whispering, “Yes, I do.” Trevor slid his hands underneath Jasper’s t-shirt and tugged at the hem. Jasper raised his arms so Trevor could take the shirt off. He tossed it on the sofa and licked his lips. Trevor closed the distance between them and placed open mouth kisses on Jasper’s neck, drifting lower to his chest. He teased one nipple, blowing on it when it hardened. Jasper growled, and Trevor jerked back.
&nbs
p; “I’m not going to hurt you, Trev. That I promise. But right now, you are turning me on, and my shifter is demanding I take you. You are my mate, Trevor McKenzie, and I need you. Now.”
“I’m not ready,” Trevor said.
“I understand. We don’t have to make love. We can still suck each other off, though.”
“No, I mean I’m not prepped. I wasn’t expecting you to wake up as soon as you did, and I haven’t, you know...”
“I’m ready. It’s what took me so long upstairs,” Jasper admitted.
When Trevor realized what he was implying, his eyes widened. “You’d do that?”
“Trevor, you’re my mate. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, and that includes letting you make love to me. That is, if you want to.”
“I, yeah, of course I do. I just thought… Never mind what I thought.” Trevor took great care in not knocking Jasper down when he lunged at him. Trevor grabbed Jasper’s face and kissed him. It was frantic, it was passionate, and it was driving Jasper crazy.
“Upstairs. Now.” Jasper was alive. They both were. He was going to show Trevor just how alive they could be together.
Chapter Thirty-Two
After getting things ready at the armory, Urijah returned to the Pen to retrieve Kallisto. There were plenty of rooms they could have used for what they were going to do, but Dominic didn’t want Lilly subjected to the inner workings of the prison. Plus, the armory offered plenty of privacy, and he had been able to set up the scene exactly as Jasper requested.
Before Uri went into the room where the woman was being held, he paid a visit to her sidekick. Sergei was in a cell in the Basement. When he’d gotten a good look at what else was housed in the lowest level, it didn’t take long for the man to cooperate.
“What is the passcode for your phone?” Uri asked through the cell door.
“I want to see Kallisto,” he replied.
