by Susan Laine
Raising his hands at his sides, as if to envelope everyone within the circumference of his arms, Daniel continued, “On this moonlit night, we of the pack humbly ask the divine and the sacred to bless this union and shine upon it with the light of creation.” All the pack members around them picked up a candle from the edge of the circle, or lit one already in their hands, and lifted them higher until there was an elevated ring of fires burning around the three men in the center as Daniel went on. “Let these two mates be embraced by the lights of unity and mating. The shine of the heart, the heat of passion, the warmth of commitment, the glow of the home, and the radiance of family.”
At that Daniel looked pointedly at Gabriel and Kieran, both in turn. Kieran shivered at the piercing quality of the gaze. “As is the custom of our kin, the mating will be a bond of flesh and blood, of the heart and of the soul.” Daniel focused solely on Kieran who swallowed nervously but held steady. “Kieran, I ask you now before these witnesses, do you wish to enter this mating with an open heart and willing body, of your own free will, casting aside your fears and doubts?”
Exhaling a deep breath, Kieran managed a curt, quivering nod. “I do, yes.” He looked into Gabriel’s brown eyes, lit within with flames of passion, and his insides illuminated with a burn he felt compelled to associate with… love.
Daniel turned to face his son. “Gabriel, I ask you now before these witnesses, do you wish to enter this mating with an open heart and willing body, of your own free will, casting aside your fears and doubts?”
Gabriel bowed his head slightly. “I do, wholeheartedly.” His voice was calmer and far steadier than Kieran’s, and Kieran felt a flash of envy. But when he felt the trembling of Gabriel’s hands in his, he realized the man was not as composed as he appeared, not by a long shot.
“Gabriel and Kieran, by nature you two are born mates. Now, by ceremony and custom, your bond shall be solidified for all time and for all the pack to witness.” Daniel stepped back as his gaze remained fixed intently on his son. “Gabriel, you may bite your mate and thus confirm your mating bond.”
Kieran’s heart was pounding so hard and fast in his chest he feared it might burst out any minute. Quaking in his boots—if he had had any, that is—Kieran felt dizzy as Gabriel closed the short distance between them until their chests brushed against each other. Slowly, Gabriel inched his hands up Kieran’s arms. When he reached his neck, Kieran tilted his head instinctively. But Gabriel merely smiled a little and began to remove his tie.
“Are you all right, Kieran?” Gabriel’s voice was soft and concerned.
Suspiciously, Kieran shot the man a fierce look. “Why? Don’t I look it?”
“You’re pale and you look like you’re about to pass out at any moment.”
That made Kieran chuckle a little, shakily. “I’m okay. Jesus, I’ve been to war zones and battled monsters of all kinds. I can handle this.”
“Interesting comparisons,” Gabriel noted, grinning, and Kieran knew the man was making light of the situation by teasing him.
“Fuck you.” It wasn’t until the words left his lips that Kieran realized that no matter how quietly he whispered, these were lycans around them, and they could undoubtedly hear every utterance, curse or not. He blushed. “Fuck.”
Gabriel chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve heard worse.”
Sneering, Kieran said, “Yeah, I bet you have.” Fidgeting, he felt his hands flutter as the impulse to loosen the tightness of his collar grew stronger with every heartbeat. “How come you get to wear comfortable jeans and I have to wear this stupid suit anyway?”
“They are symbolic,” Gabriel explained, his tone low. “You are the civilized man in a suit and tie, and I’m the beast-man of the wilderness with as few articles of clothing as possible.”
“Oh.” Kieran had not thought of it like that. Official ceremonies were not his thing.
As Kieran’s tie ended up in Gabriel’s fisted hand, Kieran felt a rush of heat prickling beneath his skin. Flushed, he was buzzing with anticipation—and a small bit of fear. As Gabriel maneuvered Kieran’s jacket over his shoulders and let it drop behind him, Kieran was practically floating five feet off the ground. When Gabriel began to work on the top buttons of his dress shirt, Kieran wondered if passing out lay ahead of him in the near future.
“Breathe, Kieran,” Gabriel coaxed him smoothly. “Just like your first time. Breathe.”
Nodding, Kieran tried to obey. It was hard. His throat felt at least three sizes too small for successful inhaling and exhaling. By the time he finally got his wayward responses relatively under control, his shirt was unbuttoned and his bare chest was exposed.
His gaze darted up to Gabriel, alarmed, but the man’s brown eyes melted away his fear and anxiety. “Kieran? It’s time. Are you sure about this? Once done, it cannot be undone.”
Closing his eyes briefly, Kieran nodded. “I’m as sure as I’m going to be. Just do it.”
Gabriel bowed his head in approval, even though there was still some apprehension in his eyes. His strong arms wound around Kieran’s waist, and Kieran was grateful because it took all his energy to remain immobile and standing. As Gabriel lowered his head, Kieran smelled the clean male musk of Gabriel’s skin and the fresh woodsy aftershave he wore wafting over him sweetly. Gabriel’s hot breath fanned over Kieran’s uncovered neck, giving him goose bumps all over his body. Kieran’s toes curled and his fingers dug into Gabriel’s powerful, steady arms. He was aware he was panting hard, so fast that his vision began to cloud, and he could no longer hear anything beyond the wild hammering of his heart in his ears.
“I’m going to protect you, Kieran. I’m here for you. All the way.”
Gabriel’s soft words huffing against his skin made Kieran calm down a bit—and then he felt sharp pain skewering through his body like two burning knives. Deafened by his own scream, he didn’t immediately comprehend when the pain turned into pleasure, but suddenly he was floating, flying, dancing, and the air was fragrant around him, the earth solid, and the wind rustled in the trees. And the weight of a man was over him, bearing him down, and yet holding him up, not allowing him to fall. Something warm trickled down his spine, and then there was a rough tongue lapping at his skin, hot and wet, and Kieran sighed with delight. Then Gabriel’s arms tightened, and Kieran cared about nothing else—not even when Gabriel lifted his head from his neck and studied him worriedly, with tiny droplets of blood clinging to his luscious lips, canines no longer visible.
Daniel came forward again, and there was a strain in his voice slowly uncoiling as he relaxed. “Vows have been spoken, a bite has been given. By an offering of blood you two are now bound to one another until the end of your days. For the last cord to attach you together, will you now share a kiss as pledge of this sacred union?”
Though his legs felt weak and his eyesight blurry, Kieran struggled to regain his footing—not having noticed when he had dropped down on his knees. Admittedly, Gabriel had to help him up by grabbing his arms and lifting him back on his feet. Before Kieran knew what was happening and could even draw a breath, Gabriel’s lips landed over his. Blood, sweat, saliva, all mingled on Kieran’s taste buds as he parted his lips and let Gabriel in. Fire in his blood was thrumming through his veins, pulsating within his heart and his groin, making him feel more alive than ever before, and it was a rejuvenating experience.
When Gabriel finally pulled back, Kieran faintly heard Daniel speak, “By my authority and power as Alpha, I hereby declare that you Gabriel and you Kieran are now mated for life as equal partners in the pack.” Addressing everyone else, Daniel regarded each and every one there with an acknowledging, approving nod. “Would you all please join me in raising our candles for our newest mates?”
His vision still wobbly, Kieran observed Daniel raising a candle high above his head. The flame glowed, blue as the full moon above them. Blue flames rose all around them, and then the howls began as Daniel first, Gabriel next, and everyone else took part in the
symphony of the lycan kin, crying out their joy and mirth to the woods and plains beyond the boundary of the circle. The sound was deafening, and yet it was not the cacophony of mindless beasts, but the harmony of ancient, majestic beings Kieran had so little knowledge of.
Slowly, the howling died down, and people blew out their candles, the smoke rising up to the sky in thin wavy columns. Kieran felt them—his people, his pack—pat him on the shoulder, or ruffle his hair, or murmur a few words of greeting and acceptance as they departed, sauntering away into the dark of the night. If Gabriel had not still been holding him up by his arms, he would have dropped on the spot as his knees entertained the idea of imminent collapse.
And then the two of them were alone under the pale full moon.
“You are still faint from the ordeal,” Gabriel whispered to him. “Let’s sit down.”
Holding up Kieran’s weight, Gabriel lowered his mate to the sacred ground next to the bonfire, which was still giving off substantial amounts of heat and light. Gratefully, Kieran nodded in compliance and dropped down on his butt, focusing on regaining his breathing, his heart beating from frantic to steady again, and his mind from racing a mile a minute.
“Well….” Kieran rubbed his tired eyes with the backs of his hands. “That was really, um, something.”
“Are you still in pain?”
Gabriel was worried, and Kieran hastened to assure him of the opposite. There was a pleasant hum vibrating through his body, even though he felt fatigued to the point of passing out. “No, I’m cool. Just… drained, you know.”
Gabriel dared a chuckle. “I’m not a vampire. I didn’t suck you dry.”
The playfulness in his tone undid Kieran’s last knots of worry, and he started laughing. It felt surprisingly good to just let go and laugh without a care in the world. When he finally cooled off again, he looked at Gabriel and said, “Listen, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now.” Cocking his head to the side, the cowboy waited, and Kieran continued. “I got a job.” Gabriel began to smile. “With the Veil Keepers.”
Gabriel’s smile vanished, but soon he recovered and kept a brave face as he struggled to smile encouragingly. “That is wonderful. Having been a mercenary for so long, you undoubtedly have a multitude of skills—”
“Stop.” Kieran sighed. “I know you’re afraid that I’m off gallivanting around the world doing good deeds to redeem myself of all the bad things I’ve done. But the truth is, I’ve already taken an assignment.” Bewildered and a little afraid, Gabriel sat in place, cross-legged. “Starting tomorrow I’ll be a part of the security team for the ranch. In essence, I’ll be your bodyguard along with the Taur security—not that you’ll need me to bail you out of trouble. I mean I did do that once for you, but once is really enough, and—”
“I will always need you, Kieran.” Gabriel’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears and his voice was raspy, nearly cracking. “Why?”
“Why… what?”
“Why here? As a Keeper you could travel all around the world for—”
“Cause you’re here, dumbass. One would think I wouldn’t need to explain that—”
The scoffing Kieran was attempting to produce got smothered by Gabriel, who grabbed him by the nape of his neck and dragged him forward into a searing kiss. There was nothing subtle or tentative about it. Gabriel used his left hand on Kieran’s jaw to pry his mouth open, and his tongue pushed in, delving into a deep exploration that left Kieran melting from the waist down first, and then turned his whole brain to mush. He could not explain why it was different from all previous kisses, but it was, mind-numbingly delicious, slick and sweet, burning him to cinders.
Just as Kieran was getting into the thick of things, without warning Gabriel pulled back, a mortified expression on his handsome face. “I’m sorry, Kieran. I guess I lost my head there for a minute. Forgive me—”
“No, don’t apologize.” Kieran couldn’t stop staring at Gabriel’s lips, the taste of which still lingered on his tongue, the pressure of which still tingled on his own lips, as though the ghost of the kiss remained drifting between them and on his skin. “Why does kissing you feel so much better than kissing girls?”
Gabriel’s eyes widened in shock, and he seemed to be searching for words, stammering awkwardly, “I, uh….”
“Don’t freak out on me, Gabe, okay?” Kieran inched a little closer to Gabriel until their knees were touching. “Look, I need to say this, so just let me, okay? Since I was a kid, I have had this mental exercise. I compartmentalize. I always do that. It’s easier, considering how I live my life without any fixed points of reference. It lets me put things into perspective without having to really go into detail or analyze them. Lately, all I’ve been doing is thinking about all this.” Sighing, he needed this to come out right, and he could only hope he was succeeding. “I’m tired of overthinking this. You and me. I know it’s weird to do this one-eighty on sexual orientation, but the truth is, I don’t really care about that anymore.”
Frowning in confusion, Gabriel shook his head. “I’m not really sure I get where you’re going with this.”
“At first it was like I had to save you, like I couldn’t imagine you dying.” Kieran stared at his hands in his lap, over his legs folded beneath him. “Then it was like I had to have you, taste you, feel you, or I’d die of blue balls.” He knew he sounded strange saying it and felt the blush spread across his cheeks. “Then… it was like I was left outside alone, with you leaving me with a thousand and one questions, and I was struggling to catch up.” As he looked up, Kieran saw Gabriel sad, how his face crumbled a bit with the weight of emotions, and felt horrible at putting those feelings there. “Jeez, Gabe. Don’t cry or anything….” Gently, he touched the cowboy’s shaking hands and gave them a little comforting squeeze. “Anyway, after that I knew if I wanted to retain my sanity with all these new things happening, I had to have more in my life than just you. You know, I’ve been a merc for so fucking long I… I need to make things right by myself and by others. Mythical beings, I mean. I think this Keeper business can help me do that.”
Gabriel nodded, keeping it together admirably. “I agree. I’m sure it will be fine.”
Kieran smiled a little, feeling needlessly cautious. “Which brings us up to the here and now. To the two of us in the circle, mated.” Insinuating himself closer to Gabriel, who inhaled sharply and stiffened, Kieran said what was on his mind. “I don’t know if what I’m feeling, or starting to feel, for you is… love. I’m not ready to tackle that issue. But you were right about the mating. The haze of need for you has dissipated some, and I can think clearly again.”
“That’s good, Kieran.” Gabriel seemed genuinely pleased at the prospect, and the hope shining in his eyes made Kieran burn inside.
“Despite my past, you accept me for who I am. You don’t try to change me—except maybe for the cursing—and you let me and even encourage me to choose for myself. You wish for me to experience something real instead of something convenient, even if it breaks your heart in the process. For a month now, I’ve done nothing but dream about you every damn night.” Kieran hadn’t intended to make it sound like an accusation, so he hurried onward. “I may not have all the answers, and neither do you, but I think we should try this out and see where we’re going with this.” Slowly, he swallowed and let out a breath. “What we did at the cabin, I want more of that. I want—”
Suddenly Kieran heard a distinct growl emanating from Gabriel, and upon focusing on him he could see Gabriel’s brown eyes morphing into golden ovals, like embers in the night, and his lips parting to expose his dropped fangs, like jeweled knives glittering in the dark. Chills raced up and down Kieran’s spine.
Then Gabriel murmured, the timbre of his voice rich and ominous, “Run.”
“WHAT?” Kieran seemed frozen in place, his eyes wide in shock.
Gabe was hungry, and he could stand it no longer. “Run—or I’ll eat you up.”
Kieran’s
voice cracked as he stuttered, “Y-you’re not serious….”
Gingerly, but taking his time, Gabriel leaned forward until he was able to move his feet beneath him and he was hunkered, like a wolf waiting to strike. “All matings are different. The bond and how it manifests reflects the personality of the mates. You are a hunter—but with me you are the hunted. I’m the dutiful peacemaker, ever calm, cool and composed—but with you I am the predator.” Crouching forward until his nose brushed against Kieran’s, he whispered, “So, my beloved prey, you had better start running, or I will devour you right here.”
A whole host of emotions flashed over Kieran’s face, from fear to excitement. His hair had grown in a month, Gabe observed, longer now on the top, but still cut short around the ears and the neck, but the new length did not cover Kieran’s stunned expression. Panting now, he carefully slid backward on the ground until he had gotten far enough to jump to his feet and scurry off toward the edge of the tree line.
“You had better not run to the house, babe, ’cause you won’t want everyone to hear what I’m going to do to you.” The thrill of the imminent chase foremost on his mind, Gabriel stayed low to the ground, watching as Kieran ground to a halt just beyond the circle, glanced at him, and then started running in the other direction, toward the plains and the river. The scent of his fresh sweat and the flapping of his open shirt came through clearly in the night air, even above the chirping birds and gusts of wind. “I’ll give you until the count of a hundred, beloved, and then I’m coming for you,” he shouted, laughing.
