by Jo Penn
“Hold up there, speedy.” Uri took his mate’s hand and walked through the pack house. “Tris is in no way ready. We need to spend some time with him and build the connection between us—”
“He rejected you, huh.”
“No, not rejected. It was just too soon.”
Finn snickered. “He rejected you.”
“Fine!” Uri snapped. “Let’s just get our grouchy bear fed and spend the afternoon and evening together.”
“And don’t you sound happy about that.”
Urian shot his seer a glare. Inside though, he was happy. He couldn’t wait to spend the afternoon and evening with his two men.
Chapter Eight
Who knew there was a vegan restaurant in Milson City.
Google, that’s who. Tristian had immediately Googled the restaurant as soon as Finn and Urian caught up with their mate after the cafeteria disaster and said they would go out for lunch.
Finn sat with his chin propped in his hand while toying with the food, if that’s what you could call the limp things on his plate that were supposed to be noodles. He’d suffered through five mouthfuls before he gave up. He didn’t mind vegan food, but whoever cooked this needed to go back to culinary school. Meanwhile, Uri had choked on his lentil burger the first few mouthfuls then seemed to get into it. The wolf even ordered another, with extra spicy sauce.
“This is good.”
Tristian was the slowest eater in the known universe, Finn was one hundred and ten percent certain. While Urian demolished two burgers and Finn fiddled with his limp noodles, Tris was only just finishing the tofu salad he’d been so adamant he needed.
Finn didn’t mind really. During the long lunch, he’d be able to spend time with both his mates, and he was enjoying the differences between them all. And yet, he was finding similarities. While those weren’t obvious, they were fundamental and gave them something solid to work on.
“We’ll come again soon.” Finn smiled and reached his hand over to stroke his mate’s fingers that rested on the table. “So, can I claim you now?”
“Finn.” Uri shook his head, smiling. “Anything in particular you want to do now, Tristian?”
“I wouldn’t mind a tour of the city.”
Considering they had a dozen security personnel with them, Finn didn’t see a problem with taking a walk around the village or shopping district. Unfortunately, Tris wasn’t interested in the shopping area, nor the cafés and restaurants. He wanted to wander around the historical and then take a tour of the business district. As Finn had been through each a dozen or so times, he wasn’t all that fussed with the tour, but he liked hanging out with his mates. When he was with Tristian before they hadn’t shared moments like this, it had been full on, a lot of jumping each other, and was over a few days later.
And it was fun to argue. Uri wasn’t one to argue. If he was right, he was right, and that was that. With Tris, Finn was able to disagree, defend and slander a little. It was also fun to rile up his gorgeous little bear who threatened to cut Finn’s balls off if he ever said chocolate was better than strawberry again.
Finn would take the risk.
They left the Milson City Information Centre with the customer service officer scowling and Uri ushering Tristian out. Their bear had let loose with a tirade about Google being a better provider of information than a supposedly well-trained information officer which had caused a loud argument. Finn figured the manager there would have banned Tristian for life if it weren’t for Urian. As they walked along, a stabbing pain ripped through Finn’s head.
“Karma will get you, you incompetent cretin!” Tristian yelled.
“Shush,” Urian ordered. “Witches hold grudges, baby. She’ll probably turn you into a book.”
“Yeah, they’ve got no sense of humor.” Tris poked Finn in the arm. “What’s wrong with you? Your face has gone all scrunched up like you’re constipated.”
Urian spun around, the sudden move causing Tris to snap at being jerked about. Uri ignored their bear and pressed a hand to Finn’s cheek.
“Vision?”
“Yeah, nasty one…” Finn groaned as another wave hit. Bending down he rested his hands on his knees and tried to breathe through the terrible pain that felt like his head was being split in two so the images he was seeing could escape.
“Don’t just stand there, do something,” Tris grouched, waving a hand between Urian and Finn.
“I am, Tristian, take it easy, our Finn will be okay. Sometimes our mate’s visions are painful.” Urian whistled, loudly.
Finn winced at the ear-piercing sound and managed to weakly slap a hand against Urian’s leg. “Shut up!”
“Sorry, babe. Lesley, call for the car to be brought around. Let’s get you off the street, angel.”
Finn was all for that. The images he was receiving were nothing short of psychotic and the pain that went along with it was becoming harder and harder to deal with.
He hated being vulnerable and next to helpless. It made him want to strike out to prove he was still able to cause damage if he wanted. But it was petty, and Finn was well above that…sometimes. He felt Urian’s arms wrap around him and he was half carried, half fought to walk, into the office building they were in front of. He heard Uri order Tristian to follow.
“What’s Finn’s psycho brother’s name?” Tris asked as Finn was put into a soft, comfy chair.
“Bastion. Why?” Urian sounded in Alpha mode.
“He’s here. Close.”
“What? Where?” Urian demanded.
Finn flopped back and because Tristian was so close, grabbed his mate’s hand and toppled the little grouchy bear onto his lap. Tris grumbled, but instead of trying to scratch Finn’s eyes out, he made himself comfortable.
“Vision finished?”
“Yeah.” Finn felt like one of those disgusting limp noodles from the vegan restaurant.
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks, baby bear—”
“Stop calling me that!” Tristian exclaimed.
“Oh, come on, you’re just so cute in your little-shifted bear form—”
“I’m fully grown,” Tristian growled. “I’m a sun bear, we don’t have big lumbering asses like grizzlies, polars, and browns. So what’s the deal? What’d you see?”
“First, how do you know Bastion is here?” Urian asked.
Finn was curious about that also and managed to open an eye and peer at his beautiful bear mate. He just adored the creature. He loved the snap and snarl, the grouchiness, and how Tristian hadn’t lost his true nature, that inquisitive need to know everything and despite the horrors, he still cared and took care of others. Huh, that was probably why the bear was so hooked on Google, Finn realized. He liked to know everything.
“Can feel his energy.” Tristian pulled a sweet out of his pocket, unwrapped it and held it out to Finn. “Eat this. The sugar will help.”
“What do you mean feel his energy?” Urian demanded.
“Has pretty much the same feel as Finn. I can tell the difference, everyone is just a bit different, but because they’re triplets, it’s like feeling a second Finn. Jude was the same, but he has this whole other side to him that’s like a rush of adrenaline. Finn has waves of energy floating in technicolor. Bastion is crash, then sky high, but Jude is always blocking and fluctuating. I didn’t get a vibe of his seer gift which was weird.”
Finn struggled and got both eyes open and bugged them at his mate. He took the candy and sucked. “What the fuck? When did you meet my brothers?”
“I haven’t met Bastion. Jude turned up in Seattle a few months ago. I think he wanted to tell me off for some perceived slight against you, but once he realized it was all your fault, he was cool. Very skittish.”
Finn jerked his mate forward so their noses were touching. “First, not all my fault. You can take seventy-five percent of the blame, baby bear, since you didn’t hang around to work things out with me. Second, when were you in Seattle with Jude and what
happened?”
“The car is here, let’s go.” Urian scooped Tristian off Finn’s lap then helped Finn up, supporting him as they made their way out of the office building. Once in the large SUV, Urian turned in the front passenger seat to face Finn and Tristian. “Now, how are you feeling, angel?”
“Like I drowned and had to be revived. Got any more sweets, baby?”
“Yeah.” Tris pulled some out. “Your phone is ringing, Urian.”
Just then, Uri’s phone rang. “What the hell? How did you know, Tris?”
“Just know things, part of my gift.”
“Huh. I don’t get premonitions like that,” Finn gripped. “Who is it?”
“Drax.”
Finn sighed, knowing Urian would have to answer. He understood Urian had enormous responsibilities, and he understood that Drax wasn’t just an Enforcer for the pack, not just a unique and extremely powerful wolf, and not even that he was one of Uri’s best friends. Drax was family. Normally he wouldn’t have a problem with Drax interrupting—well unless he and Uri were in the middle of something, then he’d be tempted to give Drax a migraine with his seer touch. But right now, he wanted to know what his bear had said regarding feeling Finn’s triplets’ energy.
While Urian answered his phone, Finn turned his full attention to the bear shifter squirming on the seat beside him. When Urian had put Finn in the SUV, he’d physically lifted Tristian inside and strapped him in the seatbelt. Tris didn’t like seatbelts, but the man was apparently getting to know Urian and figured out their wolf wouldn’t like it if Tristian took the belt off. This was progress.
“Ignore the seatbelt.” Finn ignored the wiggling. “Tell me about Jude.”
Tristian huffed but stopped wiggling. Well, as much as he had been. “He was hyped up about being free. He doesn’t want to go back to Hell Island. He misses you but won’t ever admit it, and as for Bastion, Jude’s of the opinion the creature is in need of a lobotomy.”
Finn snickered. “Yeah, but we love the psycho.” He felt sadness mingled with the after effects of the visions. “Tell me about Jude.”
“He’s okay, Finn. He was defending you, was ready to use cutting sarcasm to defend your honor. You and your father, all your brothers, have to let him be. He’s different, and he’s shown he can take care of himself to an extent, so let him explore and find what it is he’s looking for.”
“What’s he looking for?” Finn asked sourly. “And how did he find you?”
Hell, Finn had been searching for Tris for a few months, and Jude just waltzes up to the bear shifter! That was so damn annoying. Just like everything between them, Jude always made everything seem so effortless—though the man was a bit of a ditz—while Bastion railed against everything and Finn sidestepped authority, swiped at anyone who got in his way and managed to smooth talk his way through situations. And then his brother up and snuck away like a thief in the night! Finn was so angry, hurt, and worried he just wanted to snap his fingers and have Jude chained up back on Hell Island.
Then again, he knew what it was like to yearn for something you didn’t understand. Finn had loved Hell Island, never wanted to leave, never even contemplated it more than exploring the mainlands they passed. But when in his ninety-ninth year all that changed and he was glad. Otherwise he never would have found Tristian and Urian. So while he hurt that Jude had snuck away in the dead of night, and never contacted Finn except through the very occasional useless untraceable e-mail, he did understand.
Except Jude was vulnerable. He wasn’t like other seers. Jude had skills, but not ones that would keep him safe for too long…then again, it had been over six months, maybe he was better than any of them had thought. Finn had to begin considering that, but the better possibility was Jude had an accomplice.
“How’s your head?”
“Feels like someone got a chainsaw and tried to open my gorgeous noggin up.”
“Hmm…I wouldn’t like that.” Tristian reached over and pressed a chastise kiss to Finn’s cheek. “It’s good to know you care.”
“I’ll show you how much I care when you put your lips down here.” He gripped his groin.
“You’re crazy,” Tris growled. “You don’t get the energy thing, do you?”
“Nope. But I believe you. All creatures are capable of so many different things my head often spins around like in that movie with the priest.”
“Ugh. With all the vomit? I hated that movie.”
“See, we have absolutely nothing in common but love and sex.”
“You’re delusional and probably mildly brain injured from those visions you suffer through.” Tristian smiled and snuggled close. “You okay? What did you see?”
“Death. Dear brother Bastion delivering our end.”
“You can stop that, you know it. I can help. And Urian will just trounce him.”
“Yeah…but Bassie needs help.”
“And here I thought you were bloodthirsty.”
“Sure, I’m a seer, we have to be. But not with family. Got any more candy?
Tristian cuddled into Finn’s side and massaged his hands. Finn had never had his hands massaged and found it actually relaxed him. Breathing in his mate’s distinctive scent and feeling that beautiful, lithe little body against him took away so much of the pain he carried inside him. He was beginning to feel better, his life not slipping away. The close contact with his wayward mate was restoring his health.
“We’re stopping in at the Armstrong coven,” Urian informed them.
“No, I want to go home and rest,” Finn snapped.
“And I want one of the healers to take away your splitting headache and help you recover quicker,” Uri retorted. “And Ran’s been rushed to the coven.”
“What on Earth for?” Finn asked, wincing at his own raised voice.
“Apparently, he’s ill,” Uri said, apparently worried.
Ran was like a brother to them. Urian had pretty much become a big surrogate brother when the pup joined the pack a while ago, and Uri often played babysitter. Ran was mated to one of Finn’s best friends, Deakin, and Finn had a soft, mushy spot for the calm little wolf who couldn’t stand to be hugged for more than thirteen seconds. He couldn’t imagine why Ran would be ill. The creature was a wolf shifter and mated to an immortal Avenger. That made Ran immortal and virtually immune to all disease and sicknesses.
Except for the common cold. That bastard hit everyone regardless of creature or human.
“Who’s Ran?” Tristian huffed, jerking away from Finn.
“Surrogate brother to Uri.” Finn rubbed his head. “Any more candy?”
It took fifteen minutes to get to the Armstrong witch and wizard coven, and by that time, Finn was glad they were going there. Though Doc Eric at the pack was great, the healers at the coven had gifts in healing that instantly took away the pain Finn was suffering.
Now if they could just take away the pain of having a brother who was frigging whacked in the head, that’d be awesome. And maybe they could give Tris a love potion so he’d hurry up and let Finn bond with him and relieve the ache in his balls and the need driving him crazy. The mate pull should have worked by now. Tristian should be all over Uri and Finn to mate and claim!
Man, that vision was brutal. Physically, yes, but also what Finn saw.
“Baby, how close do you feel Bastion’s energy?”
“He was within twenty-five meters.” Tristian handed Finn another candy. “I felt him just before you got freaky with the vision. Do you think he could have brought it on? Huh. I’ll Google whether that’s possible.”
“No need for Google this time, själ. There are ways to bring on a vision in another seer. I just didn’t know Bastion had reached that level. He’s erratic, doesn’t have the concentration to force a vision, so I thought.”
“May have to rethink. We adapt to what is needed to survive or get what we need. Your brother sounds a few bagels short of a pack. His ideal of what is necessary, and how he adapted will be unique. Jude
didn’t say much about either of you, but he has Daddy issues and was really jumpy like he was about to be caught at any moment. Bastion kept him on a short leash, I take it?”
Finn frowned. Had he missed that? Is that another reason their father always kept Jude close to him? Hell, maybe he should have paid more attention. He tried, he really did, but maybe he hadn’t given enough.
“I…should have protected him more—”
“Against what? Your triplet? I didn’t get the feeling he was afraid of Bastion, just tired of it and wanted a break, maybe just be a part of the world.” Tristian fiddled a moment before giving a gruff growl and scowling. “He said he was always fortunate to have you, Bastion and your family. And to have had Hell Island to protect you all. He felt sad inside, a bit lost, but searching for his place in this world. I told him to go to you and figure things out.”
Finn slipped Tristian’s hand into his and squeezed lightly. “Thank you, Tristian. Jude and I are similar. We don’t often do what others tell us, even if it is good advice. I’m sorry you didn’t have a place like Hell Island to keep you safe.”
Tristian’s blueberry eyes sadly met Finn’s. “Yeah, Hell Island sounds nice.”
“You’re part of the pack now, Tristian. It’s your home, and we take care of each other,” Urian crooned.
The gates swung open at the Armstrong coven, Finn relieved as his eyes were hurting by now. While he may not like to seek help, he sure did like the healing gifts some of the witches and wizards had. And he’d like to know what was wrong with Ran and see how Deakin was holding up. The part sprite went a bit OCD at times when he was stressed.
“Okay, let’s get you inside. While we’re here, we’ll have one of the healers take a look at Tristian and collect the custom-made vitamins Mason promised.”
Tristian argued about that all the way into the large Armstrong mansion until Finn wailed about the pair giving him a worse headache and to shut the hell up! Tris grumbled under his breath and blamed Urian, who decided to ignore the grouch.
