by Erin M. Leaf
He’s still hiding something. Theo watched him walk out, and then he sighed and ran a hand over his face. “I did not see that coming.”
The door cracked open, and Rose peeked in. “Theo? What’s up?”
He held out the papers wordlessly.
Rose took them and scanned them, then whistled. “Wow. Old man Brechek set this up?”
Theo nodded. “I told him that I was going to apply for his position, and he presented me with those.”
“Huh. I didn’t think he had it in him to be that sneaky,” Rose said, smiling. “You want me to take care of this?”
“Just a second.” Theo pulled out a pen and signed the papers. “There. You know what to do?”
Rose snickered. “I know that I’m going to enjoy listening to the howls of dismay when they find out you’ve slid into Brechek’s position.”
“They still have to ratify it,” Theo pointed out.
“They will. You have Brechek and Linda in your corner, and they both have other supporters.” She shrugged. “Plus, you’re an Empath. They’ve all been listening to you for the past few months already, even if they haven’t realized it.”
“You noticed that?”
She laughed. “Yeah, it’s been pretty obvious to us aides. I think that’s part of the reason you’ve met with so much pushback. They all already know that you’re the Head, and they’re cranky about it. And don’t forget, requiring an Empath as Head is in the Council Edicts that everyone has been so conveniently ignoring for a century. You’re not going to have too much blowback, and if you do, all you need to do is wave the old rulebook at them. You’ll see.”
Theo sighed. “Well, maybe it won’t be as bad as I thought, then.” He allowed himself to be cautiously optimistic as he gestured to the doors. “Shall we? I want to call Guy and let him know the news. This affects him just as much as it affects me.”
“I hear you. I think he’ll be okay with it, though. He might give you a hard time, but he won’t mean it,” Rose said, leading the way out of the chamber. “That’s what boyfriends do best.”
“How would you know? You’ve never managed to keep a boyfriend longer than six months,” Theo said, disgruntled.
Rose chuckled. “I know from watching your disaster of a love life. Thank God that’s over. I couldn’t take the trauma anymore.” She flashed a thumbs-up to Mary, the receptionist, who grinned and stood up.
“Congratulations, Empath Fraser. I’m pleased you’re going to be the new Head,” she said.
Theo shook his head. “It’s not official yet.”
Mary smiled wryly. “All of us support staff knew it would be coming. The security people have been taking bets on the timing.”
Theo rolled his eyes. “Great.”
“I won the pool,” Julio said, walking down the hall. Nick followed him, grinning.
Theo sighed. “You guys suck.”
“No, we don’t. Your soulmate is the one who does that,” Nick quipped, winking at Theo. “I had my hopes up, but the moment you met him, it all went to hell.”
Theo groaned. “It would be inappropriate to date my bodyguard. I told you that when we first met.” He’d known that Nick was bi, but he also knew that the man hadn’t been serious when he’d asked Theo out. “Anyway, I have a new job for you.” He glanced at Rose.
She rustled in her bag and drew out the folder with the murder details. “There’s been a murder. An older Craft soulmate couple. The Council wants you to act as a liaison to the police investigation.”
Nick took the folder, frowning. “I quit the FBI so I wouldn’t have to do this sort of thing anymore.”
Theo felt the man’s dismay at the task. “I know. And I’m really sorry to have to ask you to do this, but you’re the only one with the right skills who can represent the Craft community.” He tapped the papers. “And this murder could mean that anti-Craft sentiment is rising. We need to make sure it’s not, or if it is, that it doesn’t happen again.”
Nick paged through the papers. “It looks like a simple smash and grab gone wrong.” He looked at Theo. “There’s no indication that this has anything to do with anti-Craft sentiment.”
“I know, but we need to be certain. I’m sure you understand that,” Theo said.
“Shit.” Nick sighed.
He gets it. Theo could clearly sense the man’s resignation. “Can you do it?” Theo asked, just to be sure. It was always good to use words. He might be able to sense emotions, but no one else around him could, and it was never a good idea to rely solely on Empathy instead of communicating clearly.
“Of course.” Nick glanced at Julio, then back at Theo. “You’ll be down one bodyguard.”
“I know. That’s fine. I’m not convinced I need bodyguards, anyway,” Theo said.
“You had threats,” Nick reminded him.
“That was months ago.” Theo started walking towards the elevators. “I haven’t received any more since I was first chosen as a Delegate.”
“Hmm.” Nick held the elevator doors open for him. “Maybe you should go stay with your guy for a week or so. Get out of DC until things calm down.”
“We don’t even know yet if things are escalating,” Theo pointed out. “That’s why we’re sending you to Massachusetts. And anyway, I haven’t had any problems here in DC.”
“If I found my soulmate, I wouldn’t be two states away,” Nick said. The elevator dinged, and the three of them made their way across the foyer. “You’re safer when no one knows where you are. You’re safer when no one knows who you are.”
“I’m not going to wear a bag over my face,” Theo said wryly. “And it’s not like I had much choice to come here.” Theo waited until Julio nodded before walking forward. “The Council called an emergency session.”
“That’ll be your job, now that Brechek has stepped down. You’re going to get all the alerts and have to decide whether it’s an emergency or not,” Rose told him. “And you could’ve brought your guy with you. I’m sure Guy would’ve been cool with that,” she added.
“No, he wouldn’t. I’m not at all sure Guy is ready to be in the spotlight,” Theo said, thinking about his soulmate’s wariness. They still had a lot to work out before they went public with their relationship. “He’s still grieving his wife’s death. And he was supposed to be having dinner with his son tonight.”
“He’s a widower? That sucks,” Nick said.
Theo nodded. It did, indeed, suck, but life wasn’t all lollipops and rainbows, even when you met your soulmate. He sighed. He’d have to be very patient until Guy got used to being bonded. But he’s worth it. He’s my soulmate. There is no other option.
“Congratulations, Delegate Fraser,” the guard at the front desk said.
Theo stopped short. “How does everyone know about this already?” he asked Rose, half amused, and half exasperated. He knew he sounded irritable, but he couldn’t help it. He’d just signed the damned paperwork.
“It’s not me.” She raised her hands innocently. “I can’t help who Mary talks to.”
Theo shook his head in resignation. “I’m not officially the Head of the Council just yet, Thomas. In fact, it might not be official for a few weeks, yet. The other Delegates have to ratify the position.”
“Yeah, well, we all know who really runs this place,” the guard said, smiling.
If I really ran this place, I’d know what else Brechek is hiding from me. Theo snorted. He’d sensed their loyalty, but he hadn’t interpreted it as anything more than goodwill towards the newest Delegate. And that’s the problem with empathy. I can sense emotions, but I can’t always suss out the motivation and thoughts behind them. He smiled at the guard. “Thanks, Thomas. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem, sir,” the guard replied.
“I’ve got tickets for a late train back up to New York,” Rose said as they exited the building.
“Wait, what? Why?” Theo looked around. A sudden foreboding had him rubbing at his chest. Was Guy okay? �
��It’s already late. A train won’t get in before midnight. We’re going to be exhausted when we get home.”
“You need to spend time with Guy. And I need to spend time in my own damned bed,” Rose said. “The condos we have here are nice, but I hate that stock furniture.”
She has a point, Theo thought, glancing around again. “Nick, are you sensing anything?” He knew the man sometimes acted on his hunches, though he denied having any sort of strong Craft power.
“I’m a bodyguard, not an Empath,” Nick said, but he looked around nonetheless.
“Where’s Julio?” Theo asked.
“He was just here,” Rose said, and then she gasped. “Theo! Watch out!”
Theo pivoted sharply, but not sharply enough. A terrible, sharp pain hit him right in the chest, and then he was falling. Nick’s face twisted in horror as he tackled Theo to the sidewalk. “Shit! He’s been shot! Rose, call nine-one-one. Where the fuck is Julio?”
Theo tried to speak, but the pressure on his chest felt like a giant hand shoving him down into hell. Nick’s face was the last thing he saw before darkness took him away.
Chapter Eight
Guy shoved the folded-up pizza box into the recycling can in the mudroom just off the kitchen. The two slices of pepperoni he’d just eaten sat like boulders in his gut.
“Okay, Dad. Spill it,” Jonathan said, wiping his hands on a napkin. “You’ve been weird all through dinner. I can tell something’s bothering you, and I know this is about that guy you met hiking. You met for lunch today, right?”
Guy nodded. Lunch and other things, not that Jonathan needs to know every detail. His cheeks heated, and he busied himself with washing his hands until he was certain he had his embarrassment under control.
Jonathan balled up his napkin and tossed it in the trash. “You know I think it’s cool that he asked you out, right? And I think you’re a fool if you ignore what you did to the tree. This guy is probably your soulmate.”
Guy pressed his lips together as he dried his hands, and then he took his time folding and hanging the dishtowel on the handle of the oven. He was not at all sure he wanted to be having this conversation with his son. The small pouch in his pocket that held his soulmate rings felt as heavy as lead.
“You’re not going to ignore this, are you?” Jonathan let out a sigh. “Please, don’t. I know you miss Mom, but it’s okay to move on.” His son grinned. “Particularly with a young, hot Delegate. I looked him up online, you know.”
Damn it. He just had to go there, didn’t he? Guy fought it, but ultimately lost the battle with the blush that rose at the thought of Theo being young and hot. The last time he’d seen his soulmate, they’d just finished fucking on the sofa. His eyes flicked to the hallway, and then he forced himself to meet his son’s gaze. He was a grown man. He could talk about this without turning into a thirteen-year-old girl. “Uh.”
Jonathan snorted. “‘Uh?’” He walked over to the table and sat down. “You look like a teenager who just got caught nipping at his parents’ vodka. Please tell me you did more than eat at lunch today. I will be highly disappointed if you didn’t even kiss the guy.”
Okay, that’s it. I am not talking to my son about my sex life. Guy scowled. “Give me a minute, okay?” He sighed and sat down across from his son, debating how to spill the news. Maybe I should just show him, he thought.
Jonathan sat back, staring at him as though he already knew what Guy was going to say.
Not likely, Guy thought, reaching into his pocket. He drew out the small pouch holding his and Theo’s soulmate rings. He’d been carrying it around all day.
Jonathan looked at the bag. “Is that what I think it is?”
Guy spilled the rings onto the table. “If you think they’re soulmate rings, then that’s what they are.”
“Holy shit.” Jonathan reached out to touch one, but then drew his hand back. “Whose are they?”
Guy gave his son a look.
Jonathan’s eyes widened. “Whoa. Yours?”
Guy nodded, then blew out a harsh breath. “Believe it or not, your mother picked out the burl maple that I made these from.” He gathered them up and closed them in his fist. The wood felt warm to the touch. Alive. “Years ago. Before you were born.”
“Wow.” Jonathan looked at Guy’s fist, and then smiled. “Did you tell Theo? That’s his name, right?”
Guy shook his head. “No, I didn’t tell Theo.” He shivered as he imagined the joy on his soulmate’s face when Guy showed him the rings. “I wasn’t ready.”
“Jesus, Dad. I don’t know what the hell you’re waiting for.” Jonathan gave him an exasperated look. “And you said Mom picked out the wood?”
“Yeah. We were walking in the woods back before we were married, and she touched this tree, and the burl just came off in her hands.” Guy sighed. “Damnedest thing I ever saw.”
“If that’s not a sign of fate, I don’t know what is,” Jonathan said. He tapped Guy’s fist. “Give him the ring. You both deserve to be happy.”
“You don’t even know him. Hell, I don’t even know him,” Guy said, but even as the words left his mouth, he knew they weren’t true. He did know Theo. He knew Theo Fraser’s soul, and that was really the most important thing. All the rest would come in time. Guy slid the rings into the pouch and tucked them back into his pocket. He rubbed his chest. It suddenly ached, as if he’d been punched in the heart. He hoped he wasn’t having a heart attack, now of all times. Or it could just be the pizza giving me gas. Or this conversation. He eyed his son. Jonathan didn’t look at all disturbed by the prospect of his father hooking up with another man. “I just met him a few days ago. This is crazy. Aren’t you even the least bit freaked out? I mean, Jesus. Theo is a guy. I was married to a woman for most of my life.” He ran a hand over his face.
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “Dad. Stop.” He reached over and grabbed Guy’s wrists, squeezing for a moment before he let go. “No, I’m not freaked out because this is exactly how it works when you meet your soulmate.” He leaned back and snapped his fingers. “The connection is supposed to be instantaneous. And I don’t have to know him. He’s obviously a good man, or he wouldn’t be your man.” He smiled lopsidedly.
Guy flinched. He hadn’t really expected his son to say soulmate so many times, as if it were a completely done thing. But isn’t it? a small voice at the back of his head asked. “There’s more. I made another set of soulmate rings for a couple that visited the shop today. Theo witnessed it.” He rubbed his chest again. The ache intensified.
“Wow, Dad. That’s…” Jonathan trailed off, eyes bright. “That’s fucking incredible. You know how rare that is, right? I mean, you’re a strong WoodCrafter, but if you can make soulmate rings…”
Guy nodded. “Yeah.” He laughed, suddenly, ignoring the burn in his chest. “Gloria was not pleased about it.”
“Oh, for the love of God, that old woman is never pleased by anything,” Jonathan said, rolling his eyes again. “The only reason her shop is still profitable is because her daughter won’t let her or her asshole brother Jimmy work with the customers anymore. What could she possibly have found to gripe about over soulmate rings?”
Guy grimaced. “She didn’t like the fact that the two women I made them for were lesbians, and she didn’t like the fact that Theo is a man.” He didn’t come right out and say “soulmate”, but he’d as much as admitted it outright with those words. He flushed again.
“Ugh. Homophobic, much?” Jonathan said, so perfectly derisive that Guy had to smile.
“Yeah, pretty much,” he said, feeling better about the entire situation, despite the pain in his chest. I am so lucky he’s my son. “You know I love you, right?”
Jonathan made a face. “Yes, yes. I know, Dad.”
Guy grinned. “So, you think I should give Theo his ring?”
“I honestly don’t know what the hell you’re waiting for. If I found my soulmate, I’d claim her the moment we realized what was happening,”
Jonathan said, sounding wistful. “I hope I meet her, someday.”
Guy inhaled. His son was right. So then, why did he feel so shitty? He frowned, rubbing harder at his chest.
“What’s wrong now?” Jonathan asked him.
“I don’t know. Probably gas,” Guy said. The ache felt worse, like a sharp pain in his ribs.
“Hmm. You only ate two slices of the pizza.” Jonathan stood up and put a hand on Guy’s shoulder.
Guy felt tingling as his son used his gift on him. He might be a veterinarian Healer, but he could still sense minor ailments in humans. He waited, watching his son’s face. Jonathan frowned.
“You’re fine. Not even heartburn.” He grabbed his phone. “So, you said Theo is a Delegate, right?”
Guy nodded. “Yeah.” He took a sip of water, hoping that would help the pain in his chest.
“There aren’t that many Council Delegates, and it’s big news when something happens to one of them,” Jonathan said, tapping at his phone screen. “Didn’t you say there was some kind of emergency meeting he had to go to?”
“Wait. You think something’s happened?” Guy leaned forward, abruptly worried.
“I’m a Healer, and even though my specialty is for animals, I can usually sense when a person is sick, as you know.” Jonathan looked at his father, and the expression on his face told Guy he was worried. “You’re as healthy as a horse. I’d know if you weren’t. There’s only one other explanation for your sudden chest pain.”
“What do you mean?” Guy stood up, feeling off-kilter. Could something have happened to Theo? They’d only been apart for a few hours. “What’s happening?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Jonathan said, grimly.
Theo! Guy wished being bonded meant that they could communicate mentally, but that wasn’t how it worked. He pulled out his phone and texted his lover: Everything okay? Theo? He waited a minute, then another. No response. “He could still be in the Council meeting,” he muttered, gripping his phone so tightly the edge bit into his palm.
