Fueled by Lust: Caelius (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Celeste Prater

  Cato lost it. When he’d completed a good two minutes of belly laughs and avoiding the daggers flying out of Maxim’s eyes, he twirled around in his chair and pounded on his keyboard for several minutes. He swung back around and wiped his eyes.

  “I’ve placed a directive in the system to not allow any notices of interest unless they meet the following criterion—must be a bacon lover, can speak car, good listener, and thinks Bruce Willis is a god. Proof of positive answers will be required. Happy now?”

  Maxim tilted his head and smiled. “Yes.”

  “Good, but I warn you. There may never be another notice of interest on your dating profile. You just narrowed your search grid to the width of a hair. Now what did you have to tell me that was so urgent?”

  Maxim’s eyes widened. “Fuck! I almost forgot. Nikos and Chiron are on their way home and finally decided to check in. They haven’t been in Florida. They’d been driving to California this whole time. They’re sick of the road and miss us. Go figure.”

  Kallon looked up at the announcement. “That’s good news, but what about Caelius?”

  Maxim grimaced. “That’s the weird part. He decided to skip the last two clubs and head straight into Los Angeles. I wouldn’t have been so concerned about that, but they told me he’s been totally weird since leaving Austin. They hit about fifteen clubs and finally noticed he wasn’t touching any of the women. He began drinking heavily and kept rambling on about a female that smells like jasmine and has beautiful eyes. Last night the little shit had a set of gray eyes peering out from a foggy mist tattooed on his back. He had the word ‘Renovatio’ placed underneath it. Chiron says it’s a badass tat.”

  Cato’s chair squeaked, and Kallon glanced over to him. His brows drew together before he spoke. “A total rebirth. That’s a profound statement to make. Who’s the female?”

  “They just learned it last night. Her name’s Rhia. He believes she’s his mate even though Chiron confirmed his necklace was cold. He saw a picture of her and said she’s very beautiful.”

  Cato’s eyebrows rose. “Rhia? Petrus told me about a female that called the club last night looking for him. That’s the name she gave. At first he thought she was the girl that wrecked her car, but apparently this one was in his cooking class. Caelius left her a message, but his phone’s full so she couldn’t get back with him. She called locally.”

  Maxim grunted. “Well, that makes sense now. He’s got a stalker that wants him and a female that he wants, but can’t have. Damn, I’d be parked in a chair and drinking my ass off, too.”

  Cato leaned back and drummed his fingers on his belly.

  “No shit. I was scared to death to test Luna, but to actually know that the one you love isn’t compatible had to be a shock to the system. Fuck. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. It was all theory in my head, but that poor male is living it right now.”

  Kallon watched Cato’s big body shudder as if a freezing wind had passed across his skin. A lost mate, through death, incompatibility, or disinterest, was the most horrendous feeling in the universe. He knew that haunting loss and shivered in sympathy. Maxim jumped up from the couch and thankfully got his mind off the cold that had already sunk deep into his bones the minute Ulixes had flipped personalities.

  “I need to pack. I’m going to catch a plane and bring our boy back. It’s too late in the day to get there in time for his show, but Nikos said he was planning to stay afterward. They weren’t sure if he meant a few days or permanently. Chiron made him agree not to drink like that again. However, if he’s as devastated as I think he is, then he may break that promise when he doesn’t have anything left to do but mope around. He needs to be with his brethren or he’ll never get through this.”

  Kallon stood up and clapped Maxim on the shoulder. “I’d go with you, but I’ve got some things to discuss with Cato. If you get there and need me, just let me know and I’ll fly in.”

  “Thanks, doc. See you, cuz.”

  Kallon turned to Cato after Maxim closed the door. “I’ve got some very exciting news for you.”

  Cato leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised. “Lay it on me. I could use a distraction from this dating program. It’s been driving me nuts all day. I was about to chuck it and head home before you got here.”

  Pulling up a chair, Kallon leaned forward and grinned. “I finally figured out the difference in Luna’s DNA from the other Insedi.” That got Cato’s full attention and his eyes widened.

  “No shit? What’d you find?”

  Kallon felt his heart accelerate. He always got this way when he spoke of the intense analysis that went into discovering something amazing. He tried to temper himself and keep his explanation simple. He could picture Cato popping him in the eye if he started wandering off into terminology that could make your head swim. Sometimes it even made him take a step back and call timeout.

  “Okay, for the sake of brevity, I’ll make this as simple as possible. She’s a product of gene mutation from exposure to low level radiation.”

  Cato’s eyes widened. His voice came out a little shaky. “Go on. Don’t hold back, Kallon. I’ll try to follow.”

  “Good. I’d hoped you’d say that. I’m about to bust at the seams to share my find. Stop me if I get too carried away. Okay, here goes. Our DNA constantly replicates itself. This is normal for humans as well as us. Sometimes, through this copying process a mutation may occur. It could be for any reason. Depending on what the DNA encountered when replicating, it could be a beneficial mutation or a harmful one. No matter the reasoning, the DNA may substitute genetic material with chemicals that are introduced, insert extra genetic code, or delete some to compensate for a deficiency.”

  Cato gripped the armrests of his chair, and Kallon realized his breathing had increased. He certainly didn’t want to frighten the male, so he quickly relieved the tension for him.

  “Obviously, in Luna’s case it was beneficial or she wouldn’t be here. Whatever was introduced did so in a way to allow for the survival of future generations. When I treated her for the major injuries, I discovered that she’s extremely healthy and structurally sturdy. This is what stumped me for the longest. I was so focused on studying her that I lost sight on how the mutation may have originally occurred.”

  “Where was that?”

  “Not where, but whom. The Unfortunate One Hundred. Our mutual ancestor, Diomed Aceso. This mutation had to have been passed through his sperm. DNA mutation can occur when exposed to low levels of radiation. The most common source would be low-dose gamma. Since there were obviously no nuclear plants around when the lost were trapped, and solar isn’t strong enough to produce this type of mutation, it had to be something external to Earth. It’s been proven that gamma is prevalent in star-forming galaxies trying to merge with other galaxies, or produced as a product of dark matter encountering other dark matter. Where are we most likely introduced to these types of occurrence?” He raised his brows in question. Cato didn’t disappoint.

  “The vortex.”

  Chapter 16

  Kallon nodded in approval. “Exactly. We’re unable to map the path of the vortex and it’s never been proven that it flows in a straight line. Who knows where the hell it leads before it drops us off? My theory is that passing through the vortex alters the sperm and allows for Earthbound progeny of the Insedi to live out their lives here without need for constant energy replenishment. They survive as any other human, but lose other crucial race capabilities like misting, extended life span, and the genetic marker at full strength. It’s almost like a trade-off with nature. Make sense so far?” At Cato’s quick nod, he continued.

  “The original ancestor obviously found a mate. I surmise that he was nearing the last reserves of his energy before he found his Occasio. The pure energy side was probably screaming out for assistance, so the genetic material of his sperm compensated to allow for future generations to bypass that need.” Kallon tried to school his features back to something close to professional. He knew he w
as probably projecting like a mad scientist.

  “You witnessed Luna reverting to full Insedi the moment she was recognized by the home world. It knew she was lacking critical factors. However, her DNA still carries the mutation even after Insedivertus did a ‘reset’ on her. I would’ve loved to have been there when she arrived. I’ve always wondered if she could’ve misted or heard your thoughts before she fully mated with you.”

  Cato’s eyebrows rose. “Are you suggesting that every Insedi that passes through the vortex will have children with this mutation?”

  “Yes. That’s exactly what I’ve theorized. Of course, I’ll need to test all of the children born up to this point. If each one has the same genetic mutation as Luna, then it’s no longer a theory, but fact. Again, I can’t test the transition to full capabilities since all the children were either born on Insedivertus or visited since their births. They’re all under the age of ten so I wouldn’t have a starting marker for baseline anyway.”

  “Fascinating.”

  “Yes, very much so. I’m going to be busy for quite a while. Happily, I might add. Do you see the possibilities if this is an accurate assumption?”

  Cato’s eyes widened.

  “Our search for the progeny of the Unfortunate One Hundred just got slightly easier.”

  “Exactly. We’ve got a DNA marker to compare against. However, where the problem lies is the odds that any of them have ever had their DNA stored in a database, or if any of the other original line were fortunate to mate before they perished. We may be chasing ghosts. I’m curious as to what methods the Trejani may be devising for location.” He was happy to see Cato’s shoulders finally relax.

  Cato chuckled. “He’s already tasked my mate to assist in finding the progeny. She came up with a fantastic idea. With her knowledge of tattoos, she’s going to pose as an author doing a study on unusual tattoos and birthmarks that resemble tattoos. She’ll devote an entire section to pigmentation anomalies located behind the ears. We’re just trying to figure out how we get the message out.”

  Kallon grinned. “Brilliant!”

  “Okay, let’s start with what we do have. I can crack into any of the databases and start running analysis. I’m assuming you brought me the strand sequence.”

  Kallon set a small disk on the tabletop. “Right here. Good luck.”

  Cato grinned. “This is going to be fun. I’ll be breaching every government and law enforcement system I can find. Some of them provide an exciting challenge. You want to hang around and watch the set up?”

  Shaking his head, Kallon stood and stretched. “I’d love to, but I have a date with the Trejani’s throne at Heat Seekers. I’m running low on fuel after burying myself in the lab for so long.”

  Laughing, Cato rose from his chair and followed him to the door. “Smart move to take the roped spot. Never sit at the bar. It’s hazardous to your health. Trust me.”

  * * * *

  Kallon leaned forward and tried to peer through the swirling mass of humanity clogging the floor of Heat Seekers. Eventually, the sea of bodies split down the middle and confirmed what he’d thought he’d seen. He couldn’t help the smile that tightened his cheeks. Makar and Baruch strode easily through the crowd and caught the eye of every female within ten feet of their path. It was like a choreographed dance and was beautiful to watch. The Insedi royal pilots moved in perfect harmony to one another. They looked completely different in their Earth clothes. More sensual, mysterious, even lethal. There was a female out there that didn’t even know how lucky she was yet.

  These two males had been mates for over ten years, and Kallon could tell that a synchronicity had fallen naturally into place. The only thing missing was their third. Despite the fluidity of their movements, Kallon knew that deep within, their core fluctuated and screamed for the balance that only one female could bring to their lives. They were here to find her and complete that unsettled loop of energy.

  Two sets of eyes, one of liquid gold and the other gray as steel, furtively searched the throng of women vying coyly, or aggressively, for their attention. These two knew the type and build of their preferred female and would settle for nothing less. Once spotted, she’d be surrounded and tested before she could give her name. They were on a mission, and it had nothing to do with a royal decree.

  Every male partnership missing a member of their triad had been of particular interest to him over the last several years. The loss of one carried a higher impact to the core energy shared between the remaining two than that of a single male with a similar loss. It was as if the energy knew that a significant gap had occurred, yet didn’t know how, or simply refused, to reconnect the living partners. Perhaps Insedivertus knew that they would never be happy without that additional energy source and forced them to continue looking for what was now missing.

  A singular male had what Kallon termed a ‘reboot’ back to square one, whereas, a paired couple still retained their mating bond with a stipulation that it must fill the spot, or forever be in fluctuation. It had to be maddening. He admired them for the fortitude it took to keep from going barbaric and stupid on their hunt. Kallon figured it was equivalent to a loss of a foot. You knew it was gone, but you found other ways to compensate to keep from falling over.

  Kallon gave them a little wave when they finally reached the velvet rope blocking the entrance to the solitude of his high-backed booth. Both easily stepped over the barrier and promptly punched him on the arm.

  Makar gave him a bright smile. “Hey, doc. Ferox said you were over here hiding. Can we join you?” Baruch flopped on the plush leather and slid to one side to allow his mate to settle next to him. His smile was a large as Makar’s.

  “I’d like that very much. It’s good to see you again. I thought I was imagining you both at first. I knew you were real when I got an additional punch of energy from that crowd. I think I’m charged up for another two months. So, please accept my thanks.”

  Makar scanned the club, his lips lifting into a sensuous smile. “No problem. Sotarios was right. The energy feels just like home, but I could do without the smoke smell. But hey, it’s a small price.”

  Baruch nodded in agreement. He was eyeing several females parading past to the restrooms, but soon lost interest and turned from their hopeful glances.

  Kallon pointed to the water pitcher. “Help yourselves. The glasses are fresh. I’m assuming you two are here to seek your third? I was wondering how long you would hold out before you felt comfortable enough to move forward.”

  Makar sipped his water and nodded. “You’ve assumed correctly. We’re here for two reasons. After that stint on Glaxon 8, we realized that life is entirely too short to waste it on looking back. Tianus is gone, and she’ll never return. We’ve come to terms with this. The emperor ordered all the elite guards to take time away, so here we are.”

  Kallon leaned forward. “And the other purpose?”

  Baruch chuckled. “You.”

  Eyebrows drawing together, Kallon set his water glass down. “What about me?”

  “Ulixes has returned to Insedivertus. We saw him with the emperor.”

  Stomach flipping in harmony to the rapid beat of his heart, Kallon pressed back against the cushion and tried to appear calm. He hoped his voice reflected the effort. “Why should that concern me?” He tilted to the side upon the shove to his shoulder. Makar smirked at him.

  “Give it up, Kallon. We know of your feelings for the male. Baruch was the first to notice the way you looked at him outside the Prometheus’s clinic. Don’t try to deny that the feeling remains. It was evident in your eyes the moment I spoke his name.”

  Deciding that any protestations would be a waste of effort, Kallon nodded. “It’s true, but the feeling is not reciprocated. I’ve tried to move on.”

  Baruch snorted. “How’s that working out for you?”

  “Not well. So, what do you propose? That I rush to Insedivertus so he can avoid me again? What would that accomplish? Nothing but pain lies down t
hat path, my friends.” He wasn’t prepared for Makar’s firm grip on his forearm.

  “You’ve grown comfortable with disappointment, Kallon. Let it go and start again. You may face a new outcome. Give Ulixes a chance. If you’d had eyes in the back of your head, you would’ve seen the way Ulixes looked at you before he bolted from any room you entered. Love, then abject fear warred on his features. That male went through the same thing we all did on that fucked-up planet. What Basilius did freaked me out. Imagine what it did to him. He’s floundering. Be there for him. Look to me and Baruch as your strength. We’ve survived the death of our mate, and we’re not giving up.”

  Kallon closed his lids and shook his head before he could look Makar in the eyes again. “I’m sorry, amici. You’re right. I have nothing to complain about, but Ulixes will return to Protonecis after he makes his report to the emperor. It’s too late.”

  Makar poked him in the ribs. “Who said that he was going back? He carried a duffel. Perhaps it’s for an overnight stay or longer. You’ll not know unless you see for yourself. Are you prepared to sit here on your ass and wonder for the rest of your life, or take a chance and finally know his mind? It’s your choice. Breathe, my friend. This is not a hard decision.”

  Releasing his breath, Kallon smiled and stared at Makar’s handsome face. “You’re a true friend, Makar. Both of you. I wish you and Baruch success in finding your mate.”

  “You, too. Now get the hell out of here. My mate and I need to jump back into the crowd. We have necks to touch.”

  Kallon laughed, and it was the first true euphoric feeling he’d had in weeks. Yes. It was time to nail that male down and finally get some answers. If he had to knock him out and drag the stubborn bastard into a dark corner to make it happen, well, so be it.

  * * * *