by Carol Lynne
Ryker shrugged out of the backpack and took the indicated seat, pulling Daniel down beside him. He produced the cloth-wrapped journal and handed it to Hakan. Daniel began to fidget beside him.
“You okay?” he asked the small man.
Daniel glanced at Hakan. “Can you slide closer?”
With furrowed black brows, Hakan moved his chair to within two feet of the swing. “That better?”
Daniel sighed and sat back as if exhausted. “Much. Thank you.”
Ryker wished he knew what was going on with Daniel. Their sexual liaison at the base of the mountain had him feeling proprietary. It took all his inner strength not to slip into one of his shifter skins and tear Hakan to pieces.
As Hakan studied the pictographs in the ex-Hunter’s journal, Ryker wrapped an arm around Daniel and pulled him closer. Daniel’s head rested against Ryker’s chest. The climb and mysterious pain evidently had taken its toll on the coyote king, because he was soon asleep.
Several times Hakan made surprised noises as he deciphered the journal. “Anything?” Ryker asked.
Hakan glanced up. “It mostly talks about Aquene’s disgust at his own people and the atrocities they committed on the Roanoke colonists.”
“Aquene?”
Hakan nodded. “William Fenton’s real name. Anyway, it tells of his first meeting with Sara, the woman who eventually changed his life. He ran from The Hunters in the middle of the night and traveled back to Newfoundland to be with Sara.”
Hakan’s gaze went back to the book as he continued to read. Ryker watched as Hakan’s face became more animated. Hakan shook his head and flipped back a few pages, evidently rereading a passage.
“Find something?”
“I think so, but pictographs aren’t like written words. I can’t be positive, but I think I’ve figured out what’s going on with Daniel.”
Ryker tensed. How could Daniel be in a book that was older than he was? “What’s it say?”
Hakan suddenly looked uncomfortable. “There’s a legend among The Hunters that until the day the bridge is formed between Earth and Sky, the curse can be undone.”
“And what does that have to do with Daniel?”
Hakan shook his head. “I’m not sure, but don’t you think it has to be more than a coincidence that you guard the shifters of the earth, and I guard the sky shifters? Yet Daniel’s the only one who feels pain when the two of us are separated? I mean, think about it. The Hunters are shifters who’ve lost the ability to shift. Since you arrived, I’ve felt you. I felt you try to mate Daniel, and the disappointment you felt when it didn’t work out.”
Hakan rubbed his eyes and gestured to Daniel. “The answer’s right in front of us. We just need to figure out how it works.”
Ryker gazed down at Daniel. Did the lonely shifter hold the key? What would be the benefit of joining him and Hakan? Ryker smoothed the hair out of Daniel’s eyes. “I need to go talk to Mother. Will you watch him?”
Hakan looked uncomfortable. “Watch him?”
“Yeah. Hold him. Care for him while I’m gone.” Ryker was surprised he’d said it. Why did the idea of Hakan holding Daniel no longer upset him?
With the journal still in one hand, Hakan opened his arms. Ryker scooped Daniel up from the swing without his little shifter stirring. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be,” Ryker explained.
When he placed Daniel in Hakan’s arms, the three of them touched for the first time. Ryker was almost knocked on his ass by the jolt of sexual electricity that flew through him.
Hakan’s sharp intake of breath and Daniel’s answering sigh signaled that Ryker wasn’t the only one affected. Ryker stared into Hakan’s eyes. “Yeah, I definitely need to have a talk with Mother.”
Still half asleep, Daniel reached down and rubbed the noticeable bulge in his jeans. “What happened?”
Ryker knelt between Hakan’s spread thighs and placed a kiss on Daniel’s cheek. “I’m not sure, sweetheart, but I’m going to find out.”
Daniel opened his eyes, noticing for the first time that he was now in Hakan’s lap. “Where’re you going?” Daniel asked Ryker.
“To the trees to talk to Mother. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Hakan will take care of you until I get back.”
Hakan grunted, and Ryker wasn’t sure which part of the statement the gorgeous man had a problem with. After giving Daniel a gentle, but open mouthed, kiss, Ryker stood.
He was halfway to the forest before he heard the first moan. Ryker stopped and glanced over his shoulder. Daniel was once again clutching his stomach. Ryker glanced toward the trees and then back to Daniel, torn. Was finding answers important enough to put Daniel through whatever pain he appeared to be experiencing? Maybe the answers lay within the rest of the journal.
Ryker turned back around and returned to the porch. Running his fingers through Daniel’s hair, he kissed him. “Is it bad?”
“Yes and no. It’s different.”
“How so?”
Daniel scratched his head. “Seems more emotional than physical for some reason. Like when you walked away, I just wanted to curl up and cry.”
Ryker looked at Hakan. “Mother can wait.”
Hakan nodded his head in agreement. Thunder cracked overhead, and Hakan looked up as if listening. After a few moments, he grinned. “Father says asking questions isn’t the only way to discover answers.”
Ryker huffed. “Does Father Sky always talk in riddles?”
Hakan smiled affectionately. “Yes. He says it keeps me on my toes.”
Daniel’s stomach growled, surprising Ryker. “Wow, you’re finally hungry?”
Daniel nodded. “Starving.”
Hakan stood with Daniel still in his arms. “I made stew earlier. Does that sound good?”
Daniel nodded, and Hakan carried him into the house. Ryker made sure he stayed close to the two men. It was obvious that whatever was going on, it was easiest on Daniel if they moved as a unit.
The small cabin was nice. Ryker could tell that Hakan had built and furnished it by himself. The only piece of store-bought furniture he saw was the brown leather sofa.
Hakan set Daniel down on the handmade kitchen countertop, which was nothing more than a large slab of sanded lumber. He turned on the stove and gave the stew a couple of stirs.
Ryker used the opportunity to study Hakan from behind. He bit his lip as his gaze wandered from the broad shoulders to the tightly muscled ass. Licking his lips, he couldn’t help but wonder what that ass would feel like in his hands.
Daniel giggled, snapping him out of his lustful thoughts. Ryker looked at the mischievous coyote shifter and grinned. He shrugged his shoulders, hands out to the sides. “Couldn’t resist.”
Daniel smiled knowingly. Hakan turned around and glanced from Ryker to Daniel. “What’s going on?”
Ryker shook his head, too embarrassed to tell Hakan he’d been staring at his ass, but Daniel had no such trouble.
“Ryker likes the way you look.”
One black brow rose on Hakan’s chiseled face.
Ryker shrugged innocently. “Sorry.”
Chapter Two
Sitting on the opposite end of the couch from Ryker, Hakan’s hand idly rubbed Daniel’s foot as the small shifter slept between them. He didn’t begrudge the fact that Daniel chose to rest his head in Ryker’s lap. The two men had not only known each other longer, but they’d also fucked earlier in the day.
Hakan was on his second pass through the journal. He didn’t know if he’d pick up any more useful information, but he didn’t want to voice what he’d discovered, at least not yet.
“So what do you usually do all day?” Ryker asked.
Hakan grinned. Ryker had given him hell earlier for not owning a radio or a television. “Work usually.”
“On silver stuff?”
“Yes. I design and make jewelry. Sometimes I’ll get a commission piece to work on.”
“How often do you go into town?” Ryker asked, running his fi
ngers through Daniel’s hair.
Hakan didn’t think Ryker even knew he was doing it. One thing he’d picked up on in the short time he’d met the two men was how they always seemed to be touching.
“A courier meets me at the gate once a month to pick up and drop off. I prefer the quiet.”
“But don’t you get lonely?”
The way Ryker asked the question spoke volumes for the man’s own feelings. Hakan had been a Guardian for almost a thousand years. He’d been through the lonely phases many times, and it never got easier. He’d tried living among people on and off during his life, but it had never worked out.
“Yeah, it gets lonely, but unless I want to pack up and move every ten years, I’ve got little choice. Just like you, I don’t age. If I went to town people would begin to notice. Besides, I’ve witnessed some of the bloodiest periods in this nation’s history, I’ve pretty much had my fill of civilization.”
Ryker stretched his arm across the back of the sofa and touched Hakan’s shoulder, eliciting a moan from the still-sleeping Daniel. “I’m not talking about civilization as a whole. I’m talking about the need to be held.”
“I try not to think about it. Before my charges took to the sky permanently, I indulged once in a while, even had a pretty serious affair, but it left me feeling even more alone once they were gone.”
“The bird shifters never came back?” Ryker asked, wrapping a long strand of Hakan’s hair around his finger.
“It’s been over three hundred years since they last shifted. Occasionally a few of them return to check up on me, but they never shift into their human-skin.”
Ryker’s hand brushed Hakan’s cheek. “I can’t imagine not having my shifters to guard over. Do you think they’ll ever choose to shift back?”
Hakan shook his head. “Why would they? In their human form they were hunted, tortured, and killed because of the color of their skin. Now some of them have become a symbol to the very country that sought to destroy them.”
He’d learned long ago not to dwell on the things he could not change. “Now, I guard the sky. Just because my people have chosen not to live on the land doesn’t mean they don’t still require protection.”
“Of course, I’m sorry.”
Ryker started to remove his hand, but Hakan quickly caught it and held it in place. Without looking at Ryker, Hakan confessed his true feelings. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m glad you and Daniel are here.”
“Did you know about me?”
Hakan nodded. “I knew the day you were reborn.”
“How?”
Hakan shrugged. It was hard to put into words how he’d felt that day, or the day when he’d asked Father Sky about meeting Ryker. “I felt you.”
Ryker straightened, his hand pulling away. “And you never tried to get in touch with me? Until a week ago, I thought I was the only Guardian. It would’ve been nice to know I wasn’t alone.”
Guilt settled in Hakan’s chest. “I was told to stay away from you.”
“By who?”
“Father. He said the time would come, but the world wasn’t ready.” Hakan’s thoughts returned to the journal. “Do you think that’s what’s going on now? Is the world finally ready?”
Ryker sighed. “Ready for what? We don’t even know what the hell we’re doing.”
A bridge between earth and sky? Hakan thought, looking down at the sleeping bridge. Could the three of them be destined to be tied together?
He knew he couldn’t walk away from Daniel and Ryker, and he knew Ryker couldn’t get far from him and Daniel, but what about…
“Do me a favor. Get up and come with me to the kitchen without waking Daniel.”
“Why?” Even though Ryker asked the question, he gently removed himself from under Daniel.
“I want to see what happens.”
Ryker looked down at Daniel. “I don’t want to hurt him.”
Hakan took Ryker’s hand and led him into the kitchen. “I have a feeling it won’t as long as the two of us are together.”
Once in the kitchen, Hakan pulled Ryker into his arms. He’d never been this close to a blond man, and Hakan marveled at the strands of gold, white and light brown. Ryker returned Hakan’s embrace.
Moving slowly, Hakan pressed his lips against Ryker’s. It was a feeling unlike anything he’d ever experienced. The kiss went from zero to sixty in one breath. Hakan felt the prod of Ryker’s tongue and opened immediately. He wasn’t used to kissing in such a way, but it felt amazing.
With a grunt, Ryker’s hands slid down Hakan’s back to land on his ass. Hakan felt the press of Ryker’s erection against his own.
A loud moan came from the other room, breaking the two men apart. Hakan knew the difference between the sound of pain and that of pleasure. He smiled and led Ryker back into the adjoining room.
Daniel greeted them with his hand down the front of his jeans. “I felt you.”
“Which one?” Hakan asked.
“Both.”
Hakan glanced at Ryker. “Daniel’s the bridge.”
Ryker nodded his head in agreement. “So what does it mean?”
Sitting beside Daniel, Hakan regarded Ryker. “Go back into the kitchen for a second.”
With a worried expression aimed Daniel’s way, Ryker retreated.
Hakan placed a hand on Daniel’s chest. “Tell me exactly what you feel?”
“Sad,” Daniel whispered.
Hakan removed his hand and stood. “Okay. I’m going to join Ryker. Let me know if you feel anything different.”
Daniel nodded and Hakan joined Ryker. He wrapped his arms around the tall blond Guardian. “What about now?” he asked Daniel.
“Warm, safe.”
Hakan reached down and groped Ryker’s cock, much to Ryker’s surprise. “And now?”
“Horny as hell. Although Ryker wishes you’d put a tad more force behind your grip.”
Ryker coughed and Hakan chuckled. Before leading Ryker back into the living room, he squeezed his erection. “That hard enough?”
“Yes!” Daniel yelled.
Before Hakan could remove his hand, Ryker’s knees buckled under him.
“No!” Ryker screamed, holding his head.
Hakan instinctively covered Ryker’s body with his own. He heard running feet and looked up to see Daniel rush into the room.
“What’s happening to him?” Hakan asked.
Daniel covered his mouth and shook his head. “I don’t know, but it’s bad.”
“Is he in pain?”
Daniel winced. “Pain and something else…anguish.”
* * * *
Daniel huddled against Hakan’s chest. He felt double the sorrow without Ryker in the house. Not only was the separation anxiety there, but the incredible pain of losing yet another shifter.
“Do you think Jarek suffered?” he asked Hakan.
Hakan held him tighter. “I hope not.”
Daniel wiped his eyes. “He was really excited, ya know? He said he felt his mate was waiting for him at Refuge.”
“Shhh,” Hakan soothed. “We don’t even know for sure that he’s dead.”
Daniel had a feeling Ryker wouldn’t have reacted so strongly if Jarek were merely hurt. And why did he have to suffer such pain just to be given the word?
“I don’t understand how Earth Mother could do that to Ryker.” It was only the second time in his life that Daniel had gotten angry at his creator.
“I don’t think she meant to hurt him. He’s still young in the grand scheme of things. Usually he has to leave his body in order to talk to her. Evidently she thought the news that The Hunters were once again attacking was important enough to risk it.”
Daniel shook his head. “I still don’t like it.”
Hakan chuckled and placed a kiss on the top of Daniel’s head. “You’re already feeling very protective of him. That’s good.”
Tears continued to run down his face. Daniel knew from their earlier experiment th
at it was Ryker being away from Hakan that made him feel so sad. He wondered what that meant for a future between the three of them. Was he simply some kind of vessel through which they could love each other, or would Ryker and Hakan grow to love him, too? And why him? He’d already let his own people down by not being the leader they deserved. Why had Earth Mother and Father Sky trusted him with their favored children?
His tears began to dry as if by magic. “I think he’s coming back.”
The front door opened. A tired and worried Ryker came into the room and collapsed on the sofa.
Hakan reached over and pulled Ryker against his chest. With the three of them wrapped in each other’s arms, Daniel felt Ryker shiver.
“We need to get going on the dagger. All hell’s breaking loose, and the dagger’s our only hope of stopping those sonsofbitches.”
With his head buried against Hakan’s chest, Daniel felt the kiss the two men shared. His cock started to harden as Ryker took the kiss deeper. Daniel could feel Ryker’s need like a physical touch to his groin. With the shifters in jeopardy, the last thing the three of them should be thinking about was sex, but with the dangers coming to a head, Daniel needed something to cling to. He was certain both Hakan and Ryker felt the same.
One thing he did know was that both men seemed more at peace in each other’s arms. He could feel the affection the two of them had for him, but Daniel wished their feelings went as deep for him as they seemed to for each other. Again, he hoped that someday they’d come to love him.
Ryker’s hands began roaming Daniel’s body, first his back, then his butt. Knowing it would be a splash of cold water for the two men if he asked Hakan to find some kind of lubrication, Daniel pulled away and stood.
“Lube?” he asked Hakan.
“Bedside drawer or shower. Take your pick.”
The bathroom was closer, so Daniel retrieved the bottle from there. Carrying it with one hand, he began pulling off his clothes with the other. By the time he returned to the couch, both men were in various states of undress.
Daniel watched the sheer beauty of the two muscled bodies as they ground against each other, locked in a passionate kiss. He tapped into the hearts of both men, and nearly came on the spot. It felt like their souls had already joined. Daniel knew that even mating didn’t cause the depth of love the two men felt for each other. He wondered if it was unique to The Guardians in front of him. Gods, how he longed for that kind of love to be aimed his way.
