“He’s getting better,” Robin said. “Go on.”
“I’m so exhausted, Robin. I doubt I’ll be successful, even with your help,” Jay admitted, his voice breaking.
“No fucking way! You won’t let your mate, my brother, die!”
“I already let my dad die,” Jay whispered.
Tears welled up in Robin’s eyes, blurring his sight. A lump lodged in his throat as he struggled to speak. Peter rubbed his face over Robin’s neck, a gesture from which Robin received new strength.
“You will not let Tim die. Please, Jay! Don’t give up,” Robin said. “I’ll help you for as long as it takes, just don’t give up.”
Peter swiped his tongue from Robin’s neck over his back before he pulled away. Robin’s resolution hardened. He turned his attention back to Jay and asked, “Ready?”
Jay nodded, and Robin sent a fresh wave of energy into Jay’s hands. As Jay worked on his brother, Tim’s weak energy line brightened up and thickened. Robin darted a glance to his and Peter’s web-like structure. The turquoise lines were dimmed while flashes of blue pulsed frequently, feeding Robin’s lines.
Thank you, Peter. Thank you.
A LONG time later, Tim was awake, his energy lines restored and his abdomen closed. Slowly, Robin stopped feeding Jay’s energy lines, swaying when he cut their connection.
Tim reached out for Jay to cup his face in his hands, a small smile appearing on his face. They kissed briefly before Jay’s eyes rolled and he collapsed next to Tim. Jay sprawled along Tim’s side, one limp arm draped over Tim’s chest, and his mouth open in total exhaustion.
Robin didn’t fare much better. His stomach churned, making it impossible to speak out of fear of vomiting all over the place. Peter stepped away from him, tearing a whimper from Robin’s throat. How could Peter leave him now?
Robin stretched out his left hand in a silent plea for Peter to come back. Peter gave a short rumble, then began to shift. Robin’s hand fell back onto his lap as he transferred his gaze to his brother. Tim’s eyes were troubled while he ran his fingers through Jay’s light brown hair.
Even though his eyes were riveted to Jay, he asked Robin, “Is he okay?”
“I think so. Just terribly exhausted.” To verify his statement, Robin glanced at Jay’s and Tim’s energy lines. Jay’s colors were dimmed, but here and there Robin could see a spark, probably from Tim’s link to him.
“Your mate will heal physically. You don’t need to concern yourself about his health,” Peter said.
Tim’s eyes widened as he stared at Peter, who stood there looking all solid and grim. Tim withdrew his hands from Jay’s hair and wrapped his arms around Jay. Tim shot a questioning look at Robin.
“Just believe him,” Robin answered the unspoken question. “He just sounds odd.”
“Who is he?”
“My mate.”
“The one who attacked Jay?” Tim asked.
“Tim, not that again. I’m too tired to move, and I really don’t feel up to arguing with you now.”
“Why are you tired? Didn’t I tell you not to come here?” Tim snarled as he sat up with Jay in his arms, wincing.
“Your brother came here despite your and my objections. You wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for his stubbornness,” Peter cut in, his voice clipped and authoritative. “I suggest we go upstairs, find clothes, and barricade ourselves until help arrives.”
“Help?” Tim and Robin echoed.
Peter stooped and lifted Robin into his arms. The sudden skin on skin contact threw Robin so much he didn’t know what to feel. He laid his head onto Peter’s shoulder and waited to be carried upstairs.
“Do you feel strong enough to show the way and carry your mate? Or you could explain the way, and I will come downstairs again to retrieve you both.”
Robin closed his eyes to keep the acid bile inside while Tim hissed at Peter. “Don’t you dare touch Jay. I feel fine.”
“Lead the way, then.”
Peter, Tim is extremely jealous and possessive of Jay, which means he doesn’t like it—at all—when someone touches him. Can’t we stay here? What if Tim carries Jay and rips something open again?
“You’re right. We’ll stay here. Where do I get clothes?” Peter sat Robin down next to Tim, who looked pale as he rubbed his abdomen.
“Upstairs. The two rooms to the left are Tim and Jay’s, and mine. Borrow some clothes from Tim. They should fit you except in length,” Robin replied.
Tim wrapped one arm around his shoulder and pulled him in close, pressing a kiss to his temple. “It’s all true, isn’t it? It wasn’t just a nightmare?”
Robin leaned back into the offered embrace. “No.”
Fourteen
TIM SHUDDERED, and his grip on Robin and Jay tightened. Even in his state of total exhaustion Jay gave a small grunt of pain.
“Tim, stop squeezing so hard. You’re gonna leave bruises.”
“Walter is dead. My God, Robin, they killed Walter,” Tim whispered.
It was Robin’s turn to shudder. “I know. We found him.”
“They… they mutilated him. Walter thought he could convince them to leave Jay alone. He thought he could protect his son and paid for it with his life,” Tim choked out. “He just wanted to protect Jay.”
Robin wished he’d stop. His stomach clenched, and the acid burning in his throat intensified until it was intolerable. Just when he couldn’t take anymore, a bowl appeared in front of his face, and a large hand squeezed his neck.
“Let go of the poison,” Peter instructed.
Robin vomited, his nausea seemingly never-ending. Pressing his hands against his spasming belly, he rode out wave after wave.
“What is this? I’ve never seen anything like this!” Tim said.
“He overexerted his power to help your mate heal you. He gave more energy than he should, and his body is reacting. He almost lost his own life earlier tonight, and using so much of his power was a bad idea,” Peter said while he held Robin close, his arms locking around him like a vise.
“Wait, you don’t approve that he helped me survive?” Tim asked.
“Your mate was very weak, Robin wasn’t at his full power, and he could have died during his attempt to help you.”
“He’s obviously more powerful than you thought.”
“He is, but he only succeeded because of me.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Tim replied in a stiff tone of voice.
“I’m quite sure you don’t.”
“Aren’t you an arrogant prick.”
Robin gasped for breath and interjected, “Shut up. Both of you. I’m grateful for Peter’s help, and I’m grateful it worked out. You’re alive, that’s all I care about.”
“Sorry,” Tim said.
“I am sorry too. My outburst was uncalled for,” Peter conceded.
“You were worried. Tim isn’t one to be overly polite if he feels someone threatening Jay either, so there’s no need for you to apologize.” Robin gazed up at Peter and said, “Peter? I think I’m done.”
“Good.”
Peter took the bowl from him, disappeared, and quickly came back with a wet washcloth and towel. He cleaned Robin’s face, then lifted him to his feet. Robin blinked when Peter shook out some clothes for him.
When Peter pulled a shirt over Robin’s head, he protested. “I can—”
Peter cut him off. “Please allow me to dress you. I need to reassure myself you’re fine.”
Robin stared down at Peter, who was crouching in front of him, holding a pair of briefs in his hands and looking up at Robin with pleading eyes.
“Okay,” Robin said.
Peter dressed him, and each brush of his fingers on Robin’s cool skin soothed Robin in a way he didn’t think was possible. Robin snatched one of Peter’s hands when Peter reached for the pack of clothes he’d brought for himself.
“I would like to dress myself now.”
“Okay,” Robin said as he tightened the grip on
Peter’s hand.
“It would be easier and faster if you let go of my hand.”
“Let go of your hand?” Robin echoed. He stared at their joined hands and tried to relax his grip. Heat shot to his cheeks when he admitted, “I can’t.”
He dropped his head, sure Peter would mock or belittle him. Instead Peter pecked his cheek and said, “Then you might have to help me a bit.”
Robin’s head snapped up, and he almost knocked their foreheads together. “Really?”
“Of course, my angel.”
Robin cleared his throat before he helped Peter dress.
When Peter was done, he asked Tim, “Do you wish to dress your mate yourself, or shall I help?”
Tim’s canines dropped, piercing his lower lip, a slow trickle of blood flowing down his chin. Peter raised an eyebrow while Robin clutched Peter’s hand with both arms.
Obviously unfazed, Peter declared, “I assume you will dress him yourself, then.”
Tim gathered Jay’s unresponsive body closer to his before reluctantly putting him on the floor. He grabbed the clothes Peter held out for him and dressed Jay and himself. Afterward he lifted Jay in his arms and attempted to rise to his feet. He groaned, almost losing his grip on Jay, and doubled over.
Without preamble Peter took Jay from Tim’s arms, cradled him securely against his chest, then pulled Tim up from the floor with his free hand. Tim’s responding snarl raised the hairs on Robin’s skin. Fur was already visible on Tim’s arms and neck, but Peter paid no notice, simply helped him sit down on the sofa.
Gently, Peter placed Jay on Tim’s lap. Tim immediately latched on Jay, sniffing at the juncture of shoulder and neck while he growled at Peter.
Robin’s mouth hung open. Peter tipped Robin’s mouth shut with a short flick of his fingers.
“He could have attacked you!” Robin burst out.
“What would he have accomplished with that?”
“What? You—you just took his mate from him. You can’t do that! Werewolves will always attack if they feel there is a threat to their mate!”
“I wasn’t a threat,” Peter said. He sat down on the far side of the sofa, pulling Robin onto his lap.
“But that’s how he saw it. You took his mate.”
“Only for a short moment and only because he might have injured himself.”
Robin replied, “I understand all that, but he was beyond reason. It was dangerous!”
“You pure werewolves are always so high-strung, always spurring into action when your emotions rise. It’s a serious flaw.”
“Robin, shut this guy up, or I will,” Tim snarled. “And if he ever dares to touch Jay again, I’ll kill him without forewarning.”
“I can see why you so desperately wanted to keep him alive,” Peter remarked.
“Shut the fuck up! Both of you!” Robin’s throat closed up, making it impossible for him to do anything else but croak his next words, “Walter died, Tim almost died, and Jay is still so deeply unconscious it’s frightening, and all you do is threaten each other. Get over your pompous egos, both of you!”
He pushed off Peter’s lap to slide to the middle of the sofa.
“Hey, kiddo, I’m sorry for upsetting you,” Tim whispered.
“So am I,” Peter added.
Robin didn’t care about how tearful his voice sounded when he asked, “Will you stop now?”
“Yes,” Tim and Peter answered in unison.
Robin gave Tim’s hand a squeeze before he scooted over until he perched on Peter’s lap again. Peter nuzzled his neck for some time, the hairs of his beard scratching and leaving a slight sting on Robin’s skin. Robin nuzzled back.
A horse whinnied, its sound carrying into the silent house, shattering Robin’s false sense of safety. All the horrors of today rushed back at once. Peter tightened his arms around Robin while he hummed low in his throat. Only this time the humming did nothing to ease away the mingled emotions burning inside him.
“We need to call the police,” Robin said. “We need to call my parents, and we need to cover Walter’s body, repair the porch door, and—”
“I already called some people. They should be here soon,” Peter interjected.
“When?” Robin asked.
At the same time, Tim asked, “What people?”
“My people. They won’t ask questions, but the place will be cleaned in a few hours.”
“Cleaned?” Robin echoed. “Cleaned? You’re not talking about a spring cleaning here! Who the hell are you?”
“Shouldn’t you have asked him that before you mated with him?” Tim threw in.
“I will explain everything at an appropriate time, my angel.”
“My angel,” Tim snorted.
“Shut up! At least he managed to protect me, which is more than I could say for you!”
Tim blanched and cradled Jay closer to his chest.
“That was uncalled for, Robin. I’m sure your brother did everything he could to keep his mate safe. He’s an alpha, a very possessive and besotted alpha. I assume he received his nearly fatal injury while protecting his mate.”
Robin flinched, and a flush crawled all over his skin as he gazed from Peter to Tim, guilt spreading out within him like an all-consuming flame. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”
Tim didn’t respond, instead busying himself with nosing Jay. Robin swallowed hard, remorse making it hard to breathe. He slid from Peter’s lap, received an encouraging pat on his hip, and carefully laid a hand on Tim’s shoulder.
In a whisper he repeated, “I’m sorry, Tim. I know you’d do everything to keep Jay safe. I shouldn’t have lashed out like that. It’s just…. Peter’s my mate. You know how these things go—you don’t ask a lot of questions before you mate, you just wag your tail and go with the flow.”
Tim chortled. “Wag your tail? Was that a metaphor?”
Rolling his eyes, Robin replied, “You got my gist, right?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Tim smiled down at Jay with so much tenderness and love he seemed to glow. A short spark of jealousy flared inside Robin. He squashed the spark, reminding himself he had no reason for any of these emotions. He had found his own mate. Maybe he and Peter would develop the same kind of obvious love as Tim and Jay. He really hoped for it.
“Friends?” Robin asked, his throat tight with emotions.
“No.”
Robin recoiled, shocked by the open rejection. Peter slid closer to his back, offering reassurance and a place to hide.
“We’re not friends. You’re my baby brother, and I’ll see you that way until the day we die.” Tim winked at him, rapped a knuckle on Robin’s nose, then said, “Just don’t say it again, okay?”
Robin nodded, sagging back against Peter’s chest. Peter wrapped one arm around Robin’s waist. Turning to Tim, he said, “Your mate is waking up.”
A minute later Jay stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. He looked up at Tim, his lips curving into a broad smile, then rested his hand against Tim’s cheek and inhaled deeply. “You’re alive.”
“Thanks to you and Robin and the odd one here.”
Peter inclined his head to show his appreciation for being included in Tim’s thanks. Jay cringed and tucked his legs closer to his body, scrutinizing Peter.
“He’s my mate. The bear, remember?” Robin asked.
“He looks different.”
“Happens to the best of us after shifting.” Robin tried for lightening the mood.
Jay and Tim blinked at him, then shook their heads in unison. Robin lowered his voice when he said to Peter, “They do a lot of things in unison. It’s freaky but you’ll get used to it.”
“I’m sure I will.”
Jay gazed around himself, plucked at the hem of his shirt, and frowned.
“I dressed you,” Tim offered.
Jay’s frown deepened as he looked around. “Where’s my dad?”
Robin’s breath caught in his throat. Tim turned pale, coughed, then asked, “Yo
ur dad?”
“Yes, where is he?”
“What do you remember, mate of Robin’s brother?” Peter asked.
Jay stared at Peter with a puzzled look on his face before tearing his gaze away and looking at Robin. “Does he always speak like this?”
“Quite often, actually.”
Jay hesitated before he offered to Peter, “You can call me Jay, or Jayden if you prefer.”
“I will call you by your given name. What do you remember?”
Jay tried to come up with an answer. “We wanted to get the horses to bring them in for the night. I remember an unknown smell… howling and—” Jay’s eyes widened. “Dad! I need to go to my dad!”
Jay shoved hard against Tim’s chest, loosening Tim’s hold enough to slip from his lap. He bolted toward the door with Tim close on his heels. Robin and Peter jumped to their feet as well. As they rushed after Tim and Jay, Tim pressed a hand against his abdomen, wincing in pain.
Peter got ahead of all of them and planted himself in front of the living room door, blocking their passage. Robin slid one arm around Tim’s waist, laid one of his brother’s around his shoulders, and helped him along.
Tim leaned heavily on Robin, sweat beading down his neck. Robin darted glances at Tim’s energy lines, which were all intact, but he could still easily find the one that had almost been ruptured. It flickered infrequently, sometimes shimmering in its usual brightness, then dulling to near blackness.
“Tim, you have to sit down and rest.”
“I don’t want Jay to see Walter.”
“I will prevent Jayden from going to see the remains of his father.”
“Remains!” Jay screeched. “Get out of my way! I’m a healer! I can help him!”
“No, you can’t. Robin, please guide your brother back to the sofa. I shall deal with your Jayden.”
“Don’t you dare hurt him!” Tim snarled.
“I might have to touch and to hold him,” Peter replied. Thwarting another outburst from Tim, he added, “It would hurt him much more to see what is left of his father.”
“That isn’t your decision to make!” Jay yelled.
“One of us has to make the decision, and you’re in too fragile a condition.”
Secret Energy (Shifters Book 2) Page 10
