Two Spirit Tournament [Spirit of Sage 8] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour ManLove)

by Jools Louise

  Skull followed the markings on the map and saw the words “Two Spirit Campus” written in bold letters.

  “You’re building a college, too?” David squealed, then grimaced as he moved too suddenly.

  “After what those bozos tried to do during the cross country, we all decided that it would be a great idea to invite shifters who are finding it difficult to adjust to a regular college. We’ll cover every major subject, with a focus on the earth sciences and conservation, architecture, engineering, arts, music, and the history of our race.” Alfie sounded proud as punch as he explained.

  David stared at Alfie and his father, his eyes glittering with emotion. “This is…amazing.”

  “Sage is growing into something I never imagined when I first came home after my father died,” Joe admitted, shaking his head ruefully. “When David came to my door, he’d been shot then, too,” Joe said to Skull. David nodded slowly.

  “I’d just escaped Sean Feenan’s ranch, and I headed over here. He shot me as I fled, and I collapsed right in the front yard of dad’s ranch,” David said.

  “I picked David up, thinking I’d get bitten at any second since he was in his cougar form, and I had yet to realize what shifters were…or that I was one, too,” Joe said, smiling a little at the memories. Skull chuckled a little. “When David felt safe enough, he shifted right there on the kitchen table, and I had to remember to breathe at the sight of him, young and scared and with a bullet wound in his human arm, when a minute before he’d been a mountain lion.” after only a minute earlier changing from a mountain lion into a human.”

  “I trusted you, even then,” David said, speaking directly to his father, now. “You kept calling me kitty or pussy,” he added with a frown. “But you didn’t run or freak out. You just told me that you’d seen enough strange shit in your life, being in the army, and that seeing a cat change into a boy wasn’t anything special.”

  Joe grinned wickedly, and Skull laughed, as well. “I lied,” Joe said, and chuckled softly. “I was freaked out, big time. But those battle lines were drawn in the dirt. Your own family, hurting you for being who you are, trying to control you, then trying to kill you when they couldn’t.” He looked sad for a moment. “When you told me about the others, about Chaz and all those who Sean had taken, I couldn’t leave it. There was no way that I was going to leave it.”

  “Then you called your old army buddies, and we had us a lot of fun and frolics rescuing the first of the kids from the cult.” David smiled, as well, when Skull laughed. Skull was enjoying the story, knowing some of it but not all. This was the reason for the Two Spirit Tournament. That first rescue, and Joe’s determination to step in and help shifters, had been the precursor to everything that had happened since. Without Joe and his crew, they would never have been freed, and many more kids would have died, unloved and uncared for by people whose duty should have been only to love them as family should.

  “How did you end up here, Alfie?” Skull asked the leopard shifter.

  “I was in the second wave,” Alfie said. “I was at the zoo itself, and was with Lucas and Archie, Kieran and Kevin. We were too scared to shift into human form when we were rescued, and Joe thought we were full-blooded felines. When he went to put us all in an outside pen with the other pure-bloods, we were terrified. Lucas was the first to shift, I think, when Joe figured things out.”

  “Yeah, I just remember you looking so scared, but a little too human around the eyes,” Joe replied, ruffling Alfie’s hair gently. “You all ended up sharing a room for a while until I could build extra rooms onto the ranch.” He shook his head. “My life used to be so simple.”

  Alfie giggled again. “No it didn’t,” he retorted. “You were an army ranger. You kicked ass for a living. We brought you love and laughter.”

  “And gray hairs,” Joe shot back drolly, raking a hand through his longish dark hair, speckled with silver.

  “That’s because of the terrible twins,” Alfie said. “Kieran and Kevin are livewires.”

  Joe snorted. “No, that’s because each time I think we’re ahead of the pack, something else rears its head, and I have to build more fucking rooms. I now have a town on my property, as well as a sports village, a hotel, and a tent city.”

  “Don’t forget the school, the feline rescue center, and a gazillion little critters causing mayhem,” Skull added dryly, waggling his brows.

  They all laughed, but Skull saw that his mate looked tired suddenly. “Why don’t you rest awhile, love?” he said, seeing Joe and Alfie shoot concerned looks at the young man.

  “We’ll let you sleep,” Joe said, and kissed his son’s forehead gently. “Skull’s off duty today, so he’s going to stick around for a while.”

  David looked at him with a shrewd gaze. “Flashpoint?”

  Skull nodded. “They tried once, and they’ll likely do it again. You’re the perfect target in here.”

  David closed his eyes and leaned back into the pillows. “They haven’t gotten me yet,” he said drowsily. “I’ll scratch their eyes out if they come for me again. Let ’em try hitting their target then.”

  Skull laughed. He heard David’s breathing even out as he fell asleep quickly, obviously exhausted. “I bet you would, too.”

  “I’d hold them down,” Alfie said fiercely. He plucked the sparkly box from David’s lap and placed it on the bedside table. “If those idiots think they’re going to ruin my tournament, they have some serious delusions of grandeur.”

  Joe shot Skull a laughing glance as Alfie hopped off the bed gracefully.

  “Alfie, my love, don’t ever change.” Alfie grinned at Joe, and they hugged again, understanding each other perfectly.

  “Yes, Dad,” the younger man replied wryly. “Now, I have to get over to the ranch to get ready for the day’s events. Can I catch a ride? Jay and Mason have a full bed-and-breakfast for the rest of the week, so they can’t leave until later.” Joe nodded agreeably.

  “Stay safe,” Joe told Skull, bumping fists, and he left with Alfie.

  Skull settled down, prepared for a long day guarding his mate. He wouldn’t stop at scratching eyes out if anyone came back for a second go at David. The bastards would be leaving in body bags containing dismembered body parts.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kaden and Sketch made it to the clinic after their events, and they entered David’s room quietly to find Skull staring at a map and David fast asleep. “Hey,” Kaden said to Skull, keeping his voice to a whisper. “We got here as quickly as we could,” he said, then kissed his lover hungrily as Skull got to his feet. “I was hoping David was awake. I can’t stay long.”

  Sketch was using crutches, gaining strength each day, and moved in for a three-way smooch with the pair, leaning against Kaden for balance. “Hmmm, missed you,” Skull said in a sexy growl, and went in for a second helping. Kaden moaned, stroking his lover’s gorgeous ass and then squeezing firmly.

  “Baby, we missed you, too,” he said, whimpering when Skull grabbed his crotch and fondled him erotically.

  “Guys, I don’t mean to interrupt, but David just had open-heart surgery four days ago…I don’t think he’s ready for this much excitement just yet,” Lex said. He grinned when the three men leapt apart, breathing hard.

  “Sorry,” Kaden said sheepishly. “Been a long few days.”

  Lex smiled more gently. “I’ll keep an eye on the patient if you want to take a break,” he said. “He’ll be out for a while yet.”

  The trio exchanged sultry glances, then took the doctor up on his offer gratefully, sending apologetic looks back at David, who slept on obliviously.

  “We’ll have to be quick,” Skull said urgently as they found an empty room and shut the door behind them. Kaden stripped down, then bent over the cot bed, spreading his cheeks as he widened his stance.

  “Oh, that’s so fucking sexy,” Sketch said with a growl, reaching their mate first and spanking him a couple of times. Kaden groaned needily as Sketch stroked a finger along
his crease, probing at his hole gently. “What’s this little beauty?” Sketch asked gruffly, touching the handle of a black butt plug.

  “I didn’t want to wait,” Kaden admitted, moaning when Sketch wiggled the plug about, then shunted it in and out a few times. “Fuck me, please,” he begged, shoving his hips back impatiently.

  “I want his mouth,” Skull said, and knelt on the bed, his pants around his knees, his cock fat with arousal, its tip dripping precum in anticipation. “Fuck and suck, Kaden.” He grinned when Kaden leaned lower, took the thick cock between his lips, and sucked greedily.

  “One slot filled,” Sketch said approvingly, and removed the butt plug. “Here goes the other.” He shoved forward, using his crutches for balance as he speared Kaden’s needy ass with his cock. They all groaned in unison.

  “Fast and hard, baby, fast and hard,” Kaden pleaded. His mates complied willingly, thrusting steadily and bouncing him between their hard, driving strokes. Kaden keened his pleasure, loving his sexy mates as they pounded at him. A few minutes later, Sketch spurted, quickly followed by Skull. After popping from Kaden’s mouth, Skull reached under his mate’s body, fisted his dick, and pumped him into a furious climax, mouthing Kaden’s cock at the last second to take the thick, creamy cum shots down his throat.

  Moaning, Kaden convulsed as his release pummeled through him. He panted heavily. “I love you,” he said. “I can’t get enough of you,” he added, flushing a little as he remembered where they were. “I hope we didn’t wake anyone.”

  Skull shot him a sultry look, licking his lips seductively. “Dude, this is a shifter hospital. I’d be more surprised if we hadn’t woken anyone.”

  Kaden laughed at that and saw Sketch’s grin as the man eased from his ass and turned him around for a sultry kiss. “But so worth it,” Sketch said, stroking Kaden’s neck gently as the kiss deepened.

  “I have to go and open up soon,” Kaden said apologetically. “We have a delivery this morning, but I’ll come by later for lunch.”

  “You go get your store ready,” Skull said. He kissed Kaden, as well, helping to dress him in between kisses. “I’ll stay here for as long as I need to.”

  Kaden headed out, leaving Sketch and Skull to return to David’s room, where they flushed guiltily when they saw Lex’s sudden grin. “Had fun, did you?” David asked. The pair groaned, seeing their mate was awake.

  “Er, we just…” Sketch stammered, rubbing his face as he tried to suppress a grin.

  “We had a little catching up to do,” Skull said, nudging Sketch in the ribs. “Kaden had to go to the shop, but he’ll come and see you later. We thought you’d still be asleep.” He shot Lex a look.

  “You made so much noise I’d have to be dead not to wake up,” David retorted dryly, grinning. “I thought I’d woken up in a bordello. I was waiting for Lex to show up in a thong and start a lap dance.”

  Lex chortled at that. “Leo might enjoy that,” he said and got to his feet. “Now, if you don’t need me for a while, I’ll go and check on my other patients, then take a quick break myself.” He sent the two loved-up shifters another grin, looking a little flushed, and then left the room.

  David eyed them with an intense stare, and then he looked wistful. “How was it?” he asked, pouting slightly.

  “We missed you,” Sketch said quickly. He moved to sit beside David on the bed. Skull took the other side, and they took turns to kiss him. “Baby, we missed you so much,” he added, looking lost for a second. “We nearly lost you. I didn’t know how much I actually cared until you were nearly gone forever.”

  “That’s the shifter bond.” David smiled and caressed Sketch’s face with the back of his hand. “It bites deep.”

  “Yeah, it does,” Skull agreed. “When I first met Kaden in New York, I knew he was the one, right from the start. We were so wary since we’d been hurt so many times, screwed over by people we trusted. We both took the plunge, though, and never looked back.”

  “What did you think when you realized you had two more mates?” Sketch asked curiously. “I’m certainly not complaining, because, you know, more dicks, but it must have been a surprise.”

  Skull and David laughed at their lover, seeing the amusement in his eyes. “We didn’t ever think that it was wrong,” Skull said. “We were more concerned with the new dynamic, how everyone would get on. Sometimes matings don’t work. For whatever reason, the pairing goes sour. Not very often, but it does happen. More because the mates don’t want it, or don’t believe in it, I guess.”

  “Were you parents like that?” David asked intuitively.

  Skull shrugged. “I don’t know. They put me into foster care when I was an infant. I’ve no idea what they thought about being mated. I’m just glad that I found you all. I can’t remember what life was like before you. At least, I can’t imagine how Kaden and I managed without you.”

  There was movement at the door, and then a timid knock. “Come in,” David called, nudging Sketch, who stared hard as the newcomers entered. The two hyena shifters who had been injured by their father eyed the big man nervously.

  “Hi, David,” the first one said, shuffling in hesitantly. “We saw what happened on the news channel,” he said. “We’re sorry. You’ve been kind to us when nobody else was,” he said, shooting a quick look at Sketch.

  “I’m Boomer, and this is Brodie,” the second shifter said, scowling at Sketch. They had short brown hair and greenish hazel eyes. Thin and pale, they looked as though a few good meals wouldn’t go amiss. “Is it true that you’re going to open a high school and college here?”

  David shot them a startled look. “We have pretty good hearing,” Brodie said, looking sheepish. “We heard Joe mention it earlier.”

  “Yes, we’ve just broken ground at the new site, near the ranch,” David replied gently. “We always had plans to open a college here, as well as the two schools, but it’s taken ages to get permission to build.”

  “We were enrolled at college,” Boomer said, looking sad. “But Dad told us we had to go into the family business.”

  “Killing and extortion and drug running,” Brodie cut in, rolling his eyes. “He didn’t want us studying botany. Said it was a sissy kind of subject.”

  “Botany is definitely not for sissies,” David said, rolling his eyes. “Plants have been used in medicine for centuries. Not to mention poisons and cooking. Without plants, the world would look a lot less interesting.”

  “No corn on the cob,” Sketch drawled, then smiled at David’s narrowed glance. “No mint juleps.”

  “No trees to climb, which would mean nobody would have ever been able to build a boat to explore the planet, back in the day,” David added, smiling again.

  “No sugar and no honey, because there’d be no bees to process the pollen,” Skull said with a grin.

  “And we wouldn’t be able to open our own florist’s shop.” Boomer smiled at his brother.

  “We signed the contract yesterday,” Brodie said, looking pleased. “Cody and Joe gave us the go-ahead and said they were looking forward to seeing our shop.”

  There was another knock on the door, and an unexpected visitor came in, accompanied by John. “Hey, Cullen,” Sketch greeted the small fox shifter, smiling as he saw the man looking much better, his leg out of its cast.

  “Hey,” the younger man said shyly. “I’ve been getting a little bit of cabin fever, so John brought me into town for some coffee and donuts,” he said, smiling at the bigger shifter.

  John came over to hug David, kissed his cheek, and placed a large paper bag on the bedside table. “I brought a few extras, if Lex says it’s okay,” he said. “I have to go help Ethan and the lads at the café now, though, so I’ll come by later.” He gave David a light hug and then departed.

  “What’s up, Cullen? Are you okay?” David asked sympathetically. The shifter had been through it, being beaten up and tortured on the orders of his so-called mate, Ghost.

  Cullen shrugged, looking forlorn. “I�
��m feeling a little lost, actually,” he admitted. “I’ve been watching the tournament and thinking how close Ghost came to destroying it.”

  “Sweetie, there’ve been plenty of folks trying to derail our celebration,” David said softly, patting the bed beside him. Cullen wandered over and sat down, staring at his fingers.

  “I think that Ghost might have had an extra surprise, though,” Cullen said, frowning as he looked up. “I’ve been racking my brain, trying to make sense of something that he said, and I warned John to take extra care. The parade for the closing ceremony is coming through town, isn’t it?” David nodded. The entire town was turning up to complete a full circuit of the sports complex, then load up onto floats and take the few miles into town, and finish up with a huge street party.

  “What do you think he may have done?” Skull asked, looking serious.

  “I don’t know,” Cullen replied, sounding frustrated. “But Ghost kept saying something about a grand finale.”

  “Geoff’s been interrogated by Rafe,” Skull said quietly. “I don’t think he knows what Ghost was up to, or at least he’s told us all he does know. Did Ghost talk to anyone else in town, somebody who might be hiding out in plain sight?”

  “We know he visited the mall and the sports center a lot,” Sketch interjected thoughtfully. “Maybe we need to think what he could accomplish in a wheelchair. He had help from Geoff to set the bomb in town, but he was able to plant the ones out at the ranch easily enough. If he’s talking about a grand finale, that possibly means another bomb.”

  “The school,” David said urgently, looking alarmed. “Ghost came to the school a few times, talking to the kids. But they told me, when we were out at the cross-country track, that Ghost was mean to them when nobody was looking. He gave those letters to Flint, too, so we know he’s capable of being mean. Candy even said that Ghost treated them as though they were a nuisance.”

  Skull already had his phone in his hand, and hit speed dial to call the sheriff. “Pace, have someone search the school again,” he said. “Cullen’s remembered that Ghost said something about a grand finale. David thinks that may mean taking out the school with all the little ones in it. Today, all the kids are in classes, ready for the parade tomorrow.” He listened to the reply, then nodded curtly and flipped his phone closed. “They’re evacuating the dorms, as well, now,” he explained. “Pace said that if Ghost was able to get to the school, he may have gotten inside the dorm rooms, as well. Let’s hope they’re not too late.” He looked at his watch. It was still pretty early, so maybe they’d be successful.