Meridian

by Gabbo De la Parra

  The tattooed one growled, but then blew a kiss to the prince. “Shut up.”

  “Get us? What’s goin’ on, Deixis?” Tiger didn’t move an inch.

  The fae grimaced. “You see, Themistocles, we heard through the grapevine about some fugitives, and we just wanted to be helpful citizens of Vampland.”

  “Helpful my ass,” growled K. “None of you are vampires or citizens of the West Area.”

  “So, cutie speaks.” Deixis stroked his owl.

  “Gentlemen,” the second warlock, wearing a jarring, flowered long-sleeved shirt, and floating like half a foot over the pavement on a blue cloud, called their attention. “The best course of action here is to listen to their story and then make our own conclusions. It is one thing to profit, but another to act like vamps’ minions.”

  “Abattoir is right,” the Viking impersonator offered. K should be more lenient; the fur hoarder was helping to give them a chance.

  “Thank you, Gaol,” the cloud rider said. “Let me take care of that monstrous bike.” He chanted quickly, and Tiger’s bike started to shrink until it was the size of a gun. “You can put it in your pocket now.”

  “Motherfucker,” said Tiger under his breath, keeping K behind him.

  Deixis waved his right hand, and the briar wall evaporated in a purple mist. “Guess we’re taking them to Ami.”

  “Hold on. There’s something fishy about these two.” The tattooed werewolf advanced toward them. He put his hand behind him like someone drawing a gun from their waist band.

  Tiger aimed his gun at the werewolf’s heart. “Stay right there, mutt.”

  Abbattoir floated gracefully and touched the werewolf’s arm. “What are you doing, Tats?”

  “Something’s not right. I don’t think they are humans,” Tats growled. He pulled what he was keeping hidden. It was a reader.

  The long-haired werewolf came and sniffed them. “They smell right to me.” He licked Tiger’s cheek. “Although there’s something flowery about this one that’s weird.”

  “Stop that, you dog.” Tiger moved his arm to punch the werewolf.

  K held it down. “We are outnumbered,” he whispered.

  “I don’t care.” Tiger cleaned his cheek with a rough swipe.

  Tats moved the reader around Tiger. His eyes narrowing with each inch inspected. Then he did the same operation with K. Here his face was one of confusion more than suspicion. He walked backward, regrouping with the supras and pulling Abattoir and the other wolf with him. “The tall fucker is fae, and you knew that.” Tats was in Deixis’s face.

  “I ain’t no fucking fae, you stupid-ass runt.” Tiger pulled K possessively to his side. “Bunny is the one with them pointy ears.”

  “Hey,” K punched Tiger in the side. He waved his wrist for all to see. “Vampires have been taxing me since I was 18. They wouldn’t if I was fae.”

  “I know you’re not fae, little thing. I don’t know what the fuck you are, but you’re not a hundred percent human.” Tats scrunched his face.

  “What?” What was this moron talking about?

  The long-haired werewolf took a step toward Tiger and K. “Let me lick him. I’ll figure it out.”

  “NO!” Tiger and Tats yelled simultaneously. Tats grabbed the werewolf by the upper arm and pulled him. “Bones, let Ami decipher this shit.”

  “This is bullshit.” Tiger still had his gun trained in the general direction of the supras. He elbowed K softly and pointed with his chin at the reduced bike. “Deixis, ain’t you gonna back me up here?”

  K picked up the bike and tried to put it in his backpack. Tiger shook his head and pointed to K’s pocket.

  Right. In case we need to run. How are we going to make it big again though?

  Deixis gave Tiger a slight shake of his head then looked at Gaol. “Please help our guests to Ami.”

  “Finally,” said Tats before turning into an impressive grey wolf. Bones followed suit, and his wolf form was a majestic brown beast.

  Abattoir and K’s eyes found each other.

  The warlock winked.

  That was the last thing K saw before everything went black.

  ****

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Thud.

  Bunny and Tiger found themselves in a heap in the middle of a well-lit cavern.

  Motherfuckin’ supras.

  Deixis materialized beside him. The owl landed on his shoulder a second later. The two werewolves transformed into men. The warlocks joined the group.

  “Are you alright?” Tiger asked Bunny, who was rubbing his butt and trying to get up.

  “Yes. You?”

  “My ego is more hurt than my body.”

  Bunny snickered. “That’s something.”

  “Oh, shut up.” But Tiger smiled. Bunny seemed fine, more surprised than afraid.

  Good.

  Deixis walked to a girl sitting in a lotus position in a corner of the cavern. He murmured something in her ear. She opened her eyes.

  The girl, Bunny, and Tiger straightened up together. She walked toward them. She looked seventeen but could easily be a thousand years old. Her hair was the color of honey, her eyes green like a virgin field. Spiky boots and leather leggings seemed incongruent with her gauzy blouse that shimmered faintly in the surreal light. Now that Tiger had the chance to actually look, he realized that the light emanated from the walls.

  “Welcome. I’m Ami.” Her voice had a wind-chime quality that was soothing and scary at the same time, like a storm contained in a jar.

  Maybe he’d hit his head when they landed because his mouth wasn’t connected to his brain. “Ami doesn’t sound like a fae name.”

  “My real name has twenty-six letters and it’s unpronounceable for the non-fae. It might make your ears bleed.” The last sentence was a threat delivered with a smile.

  “Ami is fine.”

  “Don’t I look like an Ami to you?”

  “You look like whatever you wanna look like, doll,” Tiger said, pulling Bunny toward him.

  Bunny let his body melt into his and softly pushed Tiger’s head toward his mouth to whisper, “If you do that again, I’m going to hurt your body and your ego in front of all these supras. I’m not a damsel in distress.” He kissed Tiger’s cheek.

  “I ain’t promisin’ shit.” Tiger chuckled and returned the kiss softly on Bunny’s lips. He felt Bunny tremble.

  “Tell me your story, Themistocles,” Ami said, appraising their joined bodies.

  “I go by Tiger, lady.” Tiger smiled. “We’re honeymooners on our way to Mega-Vegas, and a fucking bloodsucker decided my husband here looked tasty enough for a meal.” Good thing fae were not mind readers. That was a skill only very few witch people could manage. Gaol and Abattoir didn’t look like the type, but he was about to discover if they were.

  “Sounds reasonable enough,” Ami tilted her head, her honey-colored curls moving sideways in that uncanny way that only fae hair could, in a reverse motion.

  “I don’t believe them,” that asshole Tats griped. “Tall’s a fae trying to pass as human. And the kid… I don’t know what the fuck the kid is.”

  Ami’s eyes moved from Bunny and Tiger to Deixis; she narrowed them. “Quarter, eighth?”

  “Probably eighth, lower than that would not register.” Deixis nodded with a semi-shrug.

  This is bullshit.

  Tiger blurted, “What the fuck are y’all talkin’ about? I ain’t no fae. I’d know if I was fae.”

  “Shhhhh.” Ami put her hand over Tiger’s forehead and closed her big eyes.

  It prickled, and Tiger seriously wanted to smack her, but she was so pretty he felt like that would be an unforgivable sin.

  “Swamp, spices, great-grandfather.” Her eyes snapped open. “You have to have some special abilities in you. Even an eighth fae makes you more than a normal human.”

  Well, that might explain a lot of things, but Tiger kept his mouth shut. His hand was over Bunny’s heart, and he noticed the acceleration
of its tempo. Time to move this thing along.

  “Listen, Ami. It was self-defense. If you’d be so kind as to tell the warlock gentleman to un-shrink my bike, we’ll be out of y’all’s hair in a jiffy.”

  Ami did her head-tilting again.

  “Hold up. There’s a bounty on their heads. I don’t even believe they’re together. I’m not buying the whole ‘my husband’ thing.” Tats said “my husband” like someone doing vinegar gargles.

  A growl emerged from Bunny. “What is your fucking problem, moron? From the get-go you’ve been questioning every little thing. What is it, blue balls? Why don’t you let Bones give you a nice fuck and go on with your shitty life? Maybe you need to be gangbanged? We can all help with that. I’m pretty sure we could even get a dildo for Ami to join us.” Before Tats could jump him, Bunny shrugged Tiger off and pulled out his gun. “I’m tired of your bullshit.” But he didn’t shoot.

  “Unless you got silver bullets in that piece, you’re just bluffing.” Tats smirked with fake nonchalance.

  “I don’t want to kill you. I just want to hurt you. Haven’t you noticed I’m aiming at your dick?”

  “You can’t do that.” Bones sprang to shield Tats with his body.

  The gun flew from Bunny’s hand and landed on Gaol’s waiting palm. “There’s no need for violence. There’s a way to prove if they’re together.”

  “What, you want me to fuck him in front of you? Just let me get the butt-juice.” Bunny had his fists clenched.

  What’s with little Bunny thinking he’s going to fuck me?

  “Nobody is getting butt-juice. Anyone can fuck, boy. Any of us could fuck you two and even enjoy it. No. Nothing says love like the eyes of a man on his knees.”

  “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  “Bunny, no!”

  They didn’t have to prove anything to these supras. They would find another way. Tiger would appeal to Ami’s female sensitivities. Surely there were things she could do to verify their self-defense claim. If they had to come clean and tell the entire truth, Tiger would rather do that than let these fuckers watch Bunny sucking him.

  “Not you kid. Tiger.”

  Tiger should be enraged, but something inside him sighed, relieved. The idea of him on his knees didn’t seem as much of an aberration as the other option. He turned Bunny around to face him. He caressed a high cheekbone with his thumb. “It’s alright.”

  “But I’m a…”

  Yes, Bunny was a companion and, as such, was an expert on showing attraction and desire and lust. Perhaps Gaol couldn’t read minds but was able to sense things and suspected Bunny’s profession.

  “I’m a rebel, remember?” Tiger traced his lips over Bunny’s before giving him a soft kiss. “It’s our honeymoon after all.”

  A tremor seized Bunny as Tiger’s hands rested on those slim shoulders. “It’s not right,” Bunny said throatily and turned to Ami. “You’re their leader, do something.”

  Ami shook her head and flailed her hands like someone disgusted. “I’m their guide, and sometimes you need to let those you’re guiding get away with what they want.” She pointed an accusatory finger at them. “I don’t know what you wish to accomplish other than a free show. There are places for that. I don’t care if they’re married or not. If they killed that vamp in self-defense we will let them go. I’m leaving you to have your fun, pervs, and will come back to verify their claim. Deixis come with me.”

  “But…” Deixis opened his mouth and pointed at Bunny and Tiger— a kid not wanting to miss the destruction of the piñata. Even his owl seemed scandalized by Ami’s request, flailing its wings.

  “Really?” Ami huffed. “Stay then.” She vanished.

  “Guys, I can do a spell…” Abattoir started. “We don’t need to embarrass them.”

  “Sugar, the werewolves always follow what we say without complaining. If Tats is uncomfortable with them, there must be a reason.” Gaol rested his hand on Abattoir’s shoulder then whispered something in his ear.

  Abattoir snickered. “Okay.”

  “Gentlemen, please ease Tats’s concerns.” Gaol waved his hand in a “go ahead” manner.

  “The only thing that would ease that fucker is cock,” Bunny hissed.

  “Bunny!”

  Sweet Fanaqua, the kid doesn’t know when to shut it.

  “Well, you’re about to show him some,” Gaol riposted, amused.

  “Hey,” Tats snarled, moving forward, but Bones held him back.

  Tiger grabbed Bunny’s face with both hands. He liked that Bunny was feisty, but this wasn’t the moment for that. He pressed their brows together. “Please, love. Stop poking the mutt,” he whispered. A soft chuckle escaped those soft Bunny lips.

  Slender arms encircled Tiger’s waist. It felt incredibly right. Their eyes met, and Bunny uttered gently, “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not.”

  ****

  CHAPTER NINE

  Violet eyes peered between thick white-blond lashes as Tiger, on his knees, unbuckled K’s belt. They shouldn’t be doing this. They shouldn’t be giving these morons the show they wanted. Nevertheless, in his heart of hearts, K knew he wanted to see Tiger’s lips wrapped around his cock, to see those cheeks hollow as Tiger sucked with purpose because perhaps their lives depended on his performance. Still, beyond the urgency of the moment, that unnamed thing inside K (stubbornly aware of Tiger’s every move, every breath) desperately needed to savor the big man’s submission.

  K took a moment to scowl at the supras around them. All seemed eager for the spectacle, except Abattoir, who honestly looked like someone debating between shame and uninhibited interest.

  “Don’t pay attention to them. Focus on me and be sure that I’m doing this with pleasure because I love you,” Tiger said, loud enough for the others to hear, with an open grin.

  They were just playing a part, in full survival mode, but shoot K if his mulish, inner starry-eyed child didn’t want it to be something more meaningful. Nevertheless, as much as his brain and his heart hoped for a deeper connection, his body was totally fine with the present scenario. His cock was hard and eager, his pulse was on hyperdrive, and even his hole was clenching expectantly.

  Peeling K’s pants apart, Tiger gave open kisses to the column concealed by thin underwear. K sighed, wanting to let his eyes roll back, but he would not give these fuckers the satisfaction of watching his pleasure. He forced his eyes to stay glued to Tiger’s handsome face, in the same way those strange-colored eyes were trained on him, bewitching, enticing, challenging. K rested his hand on Tiger’s cheek, not just to steady himself but to tell Tiger with the contact… he didn’t know exactly what; he just hoped Tiger could sense his intention, even when it wasn’t clear to K.

  Tiger nodded briefly, then nuzzled K’s awakened cock— a beast clamoring to be uncovered. He inhaled deeply, his face glowing with the satisfaction of someone thoroughly enjoying himself, but there was something in the liquidity of his eyes that was beyond enjoyment, and the promise languidly swimming in those violet oceans made K tremble.

  “Enough!”

  That one screamed word shattered the magic web their staring eyes were weaving.

  “I believe them. Fuck this.” Tats sounded disgruntled.

  Tiger stood up, zippering K up in the same motion. He embraced K and kissed him on the forehead. K hated these brotherly forehead kisses more and more by the second. This was the moment where Tiger should have been French-kissing the fuck out of him— to seal their cover, of course. He whispered in K’s ear, “We’re lucky wolves must honor the bond of soul mates in the same way they honor those of parents and their children.”

  Soul mates?

  Had they really seemed like soul mates to these wolves? K looked at Bones, and the werewolf gave him a thumbs up, accompanied by a seriously beautiful smile.

  “Even better, they only wanted to get the reward; if their intention had been to kill, we’d have been doomed together. You know, ’cause they wouldn’t b
e so cruel as to force someone to live without his mate.” Sarcasm flowed thick in Tiger’s tone.

  “Or a parent without his child,” K murmured, remembering that the murder rate in the East Area was practically zero. Werewolves followed the Talion Law, thus convicted murderers died along with their immediate family. A heavy hand on K’s shoulder made him swivel.

  “There’s something about you two that is so dreamy, I’ve been rooting for you since the beginning,” Abattoir said, shaking K lightly.

  “You’re a nice warlock. You don’t see many of those nowadays.” Tiger snickered.

  “‘Witches are bitches,’ says the popular song.” Abattoir smiled.

  “I heard that.” Gaol approached them, his many layers of fur shrinking into a fashionable vest. That was a lot better than his former fur fuck-fest, but there was no help for his obnoxious Viking helmet. He offered K his hand. “Sorry, kid, I was just trying to help you. Wolves can be cranky, and Tats is a very cranky motherfucker.” He eyed the werewolf, who was growling softly under his breath, his arms crossed in a very pissed off fashion.

  “They can still be vamp-killers,” Tats grumbled.

  “Aren’t we all?” Bones elbowed Tats, chortling. “C’mon. Let’s have something to drink while Ami returns.” He pulled Tats’s braid. “Move.”

  Those two need to fuck ASAP.

  Deixis seemed a block of ice. Fae and vampires shared a way of standing still that was downright creepy. The owl on Deixis’s shoulder acted as petrified as his master, making them both look like a strange statue. Tiger wagged a finger at the fae as they moved toward an opening in the wall K hadn’t noticed before. “You and I are havin’ a conversation later,” Tiger hissed.

  This broke Deixis’s stillness. Their eyes met, and there was a spark of challenge, and something else K couldn’t quite decipher. The blond supra grumbled, “Yes, we are.”

  The response made Tiger growl under his breath in a way so similar to Tats that K had to wonder if Tiger didn’t have some unknown werewolf great-grandparent too.

  ****