by Lisa Oliver
“You have the mark of Bastet on you, young shifter.” Jason’s voice was deep but not unkind.
“My late mother used to speak of her often,” Orin ducked his head. “I think she used to be as fanciful as I’ve been known to be.”
“And yet you sit here in a Manhattan penthouse, with two gods and an ancient sphinx in the flesh. Sometimes fanciful thoughts are simply our mind’s way of preparing us for seemingly unbelievable truths.” Jason’s lips twitched upwards and Orin smiled.
“Touché. And, I believe, I’m now about to be taken to Poseidon’s lair, to meet yet another ancient being.”
“Don’t let my father hear you mention ancient around him,” Lasse laughed, reaching for his free hand. “Close your eyes and hang on tight. It won’t take a moment.”
With Thor’s hand anchoring him on the other side, Orin embraced his fanciful side and closed his eyes.
/~/~/~/~/
Thor had been to Poseidon’s palace under the sea countless times. He barely gave the ornate treasures a second glance anymore, but he found himself fascinated by Orin’s appreciation of everything he could see. Lasse was more than happy to play host, telling Orin the special stories accompanying each piece as they wandered through the cavernous halls. If Poseidon was in residence he was known to shift the walls and doors around, just to confuse his visitors, but the walls stayed in place this time, meaning he must have been with his mate.
“Artemas will be in the library,” Lasse said. “If you think this collection of objects is amazing, you wait until you see the reams of papers, documents, scrolls and books he has in there.”
“You’ll have to drag me out of there,” Orin, still holding Thor’s hand, twisted his neck, looking first one way and then the other. “Does anyone know exactly how many things are in here?”
“Artemas.” Thor knew that much because Lasse told him. “He catalogued everything when Lasse was still a teenager. How many items are down here, Lasse?”
“Oh, shit, I think he said forty two thousand plus, but you can ask him yourself.” Lasse stopped in front of two huge ornately carved doors, pushing them open. “Artie, are you in here? Guess what? Thor’s found his mate. They wanted to visit you.”
“Another freaking mate? The Fates have been working overtime.” Thor always believed Artemas to be the refined version of Lasse and Nereus. His hair color was similar, but Artemas preferred to keep his short. He wore glasses over his baby blue eyes, although Thor knew he didn’t need them and yet the body under his shirt and pants was as firm and built as both his brothers. If he wore a bow tie, which Artemas was known to do, he’d look like a geek on steroids.
“I need to add this to my charts,” Artemas said, clearly distracted as he fossicked through a huge pile of papers on a large table that dominated the center of the room. “This has totally thrown out my calculations. Name. Species.” He looked up and Thor knew the moment he spotted Orin. “You’re Thor’s mate?”
“We’re still negotiating the details, but yes.” Orin dropped Thor’s hand and pulled his pride around him like a cloak. “I see you’re working on one of the parchments from the library of Eumenes of Pergamon. Do you mind if I take a look?”
Artemas took a step back. “By all means. Tell me what you think of it.” Taking off his glasses, he pulled a soft cloth from his pocket and started cleaning them.
Thor pulled up a chair. This was going to be good. The air around Orin seemed to glow as he bent his head and tilted the document slightly, apparently scanning the scribbles on the tatty piece of what was probably animal hide-based considering it’d lasted as long as it had. Thor could see the marks were more hieroglyphic than actual text, but that was as far as his knowledge went.
“Someone had a sense of humor,” Orin said after less than a minute of studying the scroll. He ran his fingers up and down the document, reading as he went. “Curses abound on those who follow not the teachings of the deities. Pestilence, bleeding of the gums, and numerous sores were noted on the afflicted individuals causing alarm for many until Magus loudly declared those afflicted were not ignorant of the teachings of their gods, but instead had been found consorting in the pleasure house with various slaves from dubious sources. Recommendations were suggested to close the pleasure house until further notice, however that decision caused such an outcry, it was decided the sacrifice of two goats and four chickens would be made to the gods at sunset three days hence instead, to alleviate the afflicted individuals’ symptoms. The scroll ends with the suggestion that the animals, unlike the infected peoples, be blemish free to avoid causing further offense to the gods.”
“Only a quarter of that scroll is legible.” Artemas put on his glasses and hurried around the table, his lips moving as he silently picked out the text he could read. “How the hell do you do that?”
“I take it my lovely mate is correct in what he says?” Crossing his leg, Thor beamed with pride.
“Right down to the four chickens.” Artemas shook his head. “I’ve never… how? Please tell me.”
“It’s a gift. It’s why I work with ancient manuscripts, or at least I did.” Orin’s face fell, but then it was as if he physically shook off any negativity and fixed a smile on his face. “I can look at any document, scroll, etching, or even the carvings on a coffin or pyramid, and through my eyes, I see it in its original form, when it was created. I can often get a sense of the author of the piece and even their emotions as they were inscribing their messages.”
“A scriptural empath. Do you have any idea how rare that is?” Artemas ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe one person every five thousand years is blessed with that gift. Oh, Thor, your mate, he was given to you for a very good reason.”
“He requires protecting?” Jason asked.
“You have no idea. It beats me how he’s managed to walk around unscathed up till now.” Artemas shook his head. “The human academic world would be bad enough if they caught wind of him, but governments, conspiracy theories, all those hints dropped by the gods to keep mortals guessing – your mate could crack them all. Paranormals knowing of his gift wouldn’t be any better. Ancient prophecies, magical spells. There’s some information that’s meant to stay hidden and don’t even get me started on codes and hacking. Your mate could look at a series of dots on a password and know what it was, instantly.”
“I resent being spoken about as though I’m not here.” Orin’s cloak of pride was back again. “I’ve spent decades living in the human world and keeping my gift hidden.”
Thor was struck with a worrying thought. “Did Foggerty know what you could do?”
Orin shook his head. “No one at the library did. But now you mention it, Artemas, secret books. That’s why we’re here.” He glanced over at Thor, as if seeking reassurance. Thor nodded and smiled.
“It’s okay, I give you my solemn word. You’re among friends and no one here is keen on another Great War.”
“War?” Lasse, Jason and Artemas all looked at Orin with shocked expressions.
“I stole a book,” Orin said haltingly. As he explained to the others the story of how he got his hands on the book, where it came from and the powerful implications of its existence, Thor tuned out of the conversation. Orin’s fingers were so delicate, yet they moved forcefully as Orin got more involved with his story. His body trembled with passion and his face glowed – it’s his aura, my gods, it’s pure light, Thor realized.
Suddenly, Thor understood what Jason had told him the night before on a visceral level. His mate was truly special, not just because of his gifts or even because he was created as a mate for a god. The weight of his responsibilities to the precious man hit him hard, but instead of that dreaded feeling of being shackled or contained by matters that didn’t concern him, Thor felt his powers rise to the occasion. The Fates trusted him to care for and protect Orin. Jason was right – it wasn’t a curse, it was an honor.
“We need to see it! You have to hand it over now!” Thor tore himself ou
t of his “aha” moment to see Orin cornered by three large and tense men. His muscles bulged with a surge of power and jumping from his chair, he shoved Artemas and Lasse aside, pulling Orin into his arms.
“Get away from him. Can’t you see you’re scaring him? Since when did you become a pack of bullies?” Thor roared, his anger causing books to fall from the shelves. Orin stayed sheltered in his arms, but the others were visibly shaken.
“Thor, I’m sorry,” Lasse said, stepping back into Jason’s arms. “I was just stunned. The revelation. I never imagined a book like this existed. Can you imagine what could happen if it fell into the wrong hands? The danger it poses to any of us?”
“Why do you think I brought my mate here? I thought you three of all people could be trusted and we could come up with solutions, not this intimidation.” Sweeping his hand over the top of Orin’s head, he said in a lot calmer tone, “Are you okay, little one?”
“I understand why your friends are so interested, and I would have happily let them see it.” Orin lifted his head and Thor was concerned to see he looked paler than usual. “But I was thinking this morning, my uncle was a crafty evil man. If the book was written to summon a god, then surely, its core protective wards would prevent a god from touching it. What if one of your friends get hurt by it?” Orin’s bottom lip trembled, and Thor didn’t stop to question his actions.
“You are too damn sweet. If it had of hurt them, it would have been their own damn fault,” he growled. Hooking a hand under Orin’s butt, Thor lifted him up and using his other hand to hold Orin’s head in place he mashed his lips over his mate’s sweet mouth.
Chapter Nine
If Thor could read his thoughts in that moment, then he wouldn’t be calling Orin sweet. Thor’s mouth on his was like adding a match to bone dry kindling, causing Orin’s usually quiet animal half to yowl and stretch, wanting to get closer. Ignoring their audience, Orin pressed closer, wrapping his arms around his mate’s neck so he couldn’t get away. A powerful need surged up inside of him – the need to bite, to mark, to claim. Usually a creature of magic, Orin was thrown for a moment, but the urge persisted, and he rode it.
Thor’s lips reminded Orin of the sun in the desert – hot, persistent and arousing feelings in Orin he long thought suppressed. He wasn’t a virgin exactly; there had been times when the attention he got was welcomed, in part. But Thor’s big hand on his ass had him thinking that his pants were a damn nuisance and why wasn’t his mate using his godly powers to remove them?
“THOR!”
The yell penetrated Orin’s lusty fog. Damn it, that’s why, but this time as Thor gentled his kiss and finally pulled back, the bigger man was definitely affected. Slashes of red painted his cheeks, and Thor’s eyes were almost black. The hand fell from Orin’s hair, but Thor didn’t let go – he simply turned his body slightly, so Orin could see their audience too.
“Again, with wrecking the moment, Lasse? I’m starting to think you don’t get enough loving at home and you’re jealous.”
“I get all the loving I need, thank you very much. The point is, you came here to speak to Artemas. Claiming your mate in a library under the sea probably isn’t one of your best ideas.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Thor gifted Orin with a lust-filled smile. “My mate is passionate about books. It could be the perfect setting for all you know.”
“I will not have sex stuff and smut around my collection,” Artemas huffed. But Orin noticed his cheeks were tinged with red as well and the arousal he could smell wasn’t only coming from Thor. “You came to see me about a book. I want to see it.”
Realizing showing the book was the only way he and Thor could leave and go someplace they could claim each other, Orin tapped Thor’s shoulder and indicated he wanted to get down. Sliding down Thor’s body was a torturous exercise, especially when he encountered the bulge in his mate’s pants. In a fit of daring, Orin patted it once his feet hit the floor. Yep. My mate’s affected. Taking one last look at Thor’s hungry expression, Orin turned, leaning on his mate as he fished out the necklace still hanging around his neck.
“The cage the book is in is enchanted,” he explained, holding it up for the others to see. “But all I did to the book was minimize it, so it would fit.” Setting it on the palm of his hand, Orin broke the magic seal holding the metal of the cage together. He looped the necklace back over his head and then laying the book on his palm, he imagined it full sized again. For a long moment no one said anything.
“It looks very plain.” Jason leaned over Lasse’s shoulder and sniffed at it. Shaking his head, he grimaced. “A shifter would never go near this thing. It reeks of bad magic. I’m surprised you can bear to be close to it, Orin, let alone wear it around your neck.”
Orin shrugged. “I’m more magic than cat and the magic has a familial feel to it. That’s how I knew where it came from. It was as if the book’s magic recognized me. I don’t notice the smell at all.”
“Can you put it on the table?” Artemas pulled a pair of rubber gloves from thin air. “My curiosity is killing me. I have to touch it.”
“Those gloves aren’t going to do a lot against a magical backlash,” Orin warned as he left the heat of Thor’s body and stepped towards the table. Laying the book down, unopened, he edged away. “I can open it and read it. I’m not sure….”
“Oh, tosh,” Artemas snapped. “I was handling magic-bound books before you were born.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Orin took another step back and Thor’s arm wrapped around his middle.
“I like you here, where I can feel you,” Thor whispered against his hair. Orin shivered. He rather liked “here” as well. His magic bubbled and welled up as Artemas reached out with a rubber-clad finger hovering above the plain notebook cover. Then Orin felt it, a black pulse coming from the book.
“Watch out,” he yelled, throwing a magic suppression spell towards the table. Gray, foul smelling smoke filled the air, and Artemas fell back, coughing hard enough to burst his lungs.
Struggling against Thor’s arm, Orin stomped down hard on his mate’s foot when the bigger man wouldn’t let him go. If the book felt threatened and disappeared, there was no telling where it would end up and Orin couldn’t take that risk. As soon as Thor’s hold loosened, he ran forward, grabbing the book and running between some shelves.
“Containment, containment.” The book was still belching smoke like an old steam train and none of Orin’s spells were working. “Safe,” Orin tried something else. “You’re safe now.” Running his hand gently across the cover, sparks tingled against his palm and the smoke disappeared as quickly as it came.
“Is that thing sentient?” Orin looked up to see Thor glaring at the book in his hands. All at once he felt embarrassed at stomping on his mate’s foot.
“It can’t be,” Orin shook his head. “It’s not possible for elven magic to create life energy. It’s a puzzle though. Why did it allow Jack and Foggerty to open its pages, but it wouldn’t let Artemas touch it at all? Oh, my goodness, is Artemas all right?”
“Apart from taking a hefty punch to his pride, he’s fine, thanks to you.” Thor didn’t look happy and when Orin edged forward, he stepped back. The squeeze on Orin’s heart was sharp and painful.
“Thor, I….” He looked down at the book and then up at his mate. “I didn’t ask for this.” Please understand, please understand. But it seemed this time his prayers weren’t answered.
“Lasse’s worried about Jason. He inhaled some of the smoke. I’m going to hitch a ride out of here with them.”
“You’re leaving me here?” Thor’s retreating back was all the answer Orin needed. Clasping the book to his chest, all Orin wanted to do was curl up on the floor and cry his heart out. Thor’s kiss was the single most-hottest and best moment of his entire life. And now he’s gone. His cat’s yowl was mournful, but Orin shook his head, refusing to give in to his urge to change forms. We’re stronger than this.
Looking aroun
d, Orin’s magic tingled at the sight of so many books. But in his gut, Orin knew his answers weren’t going to be found in any of their pages, or it seemed, with the gods themselves. Thinking back on what he’d read about elven abilities, he called on his magic. Fingers crossed this works. Artemas’s shocked face coming around the corner of the shelves was the last thing he saw as he disappeared from Poseidon’s realm.
/~/~/~/~/
“That was a shitty thing you got me to do, Thor.” Lasse led Jason to the couch and got him a glass of water. “Are you sure you’re okay, babe?”
“Will you stop fussing over me.” Jason coughed, took a huge swig of water and kept going. “Focus on your shitty friend who just left his mate in a realm he can’t get out of and for what? No reason at all.”
“He kicked me.” Thor knew leaving was a dumb move the moment he did it, but he’d honestly never been so scared in his life than when he watched his mate pick up a book belching toxic smoke and run with it. “I needed a moment. Oh, for fuck’s sake, stop looking at me like that. Orin’s fine. He can’t leave Poseidon’s palace. No one can get him down there….”
“Unless Dad takes a fancy to him,” Lasse reminded him. “He might be mated, but both him and his mate like pretty things and your mate is prettier than most.”
“Stop trying to wind me up.” Thor swallowed down the jealousy that rose up in his throat. “Sei’s been faithful to his mate for what, months? It must be close to a year by now. The worst that will happen is Orin will get leered at and I’m sure he copes with that every day of his life.”
“Thor, you left him.” Jason glared. “You left your poor, scared, tiny mate – you walked out on him when he needed you.”
“Do I need to remind you, he kicked me. He stomped on my bloody boot. Look, it’s got scuff marks on it.”
“Thor, he was trying to protect Artemas,” Lasse sighed. “I don’t know many beings that would try and protect someone with more powers than he has. Orin warned all of us that the book might be wired to protect itself against a god who’d want to, oh, I don’t know, destroy it. Fuck, you laid a smoocher of a kiss on him when he shared the concerns he had for us.”
