Healing Minds (The Shifter Chronicles 5)

by M. D. Grimm

  “Thank you for taking care of my pet,” Arcas said. He trailed one finger over Xavier’s head. The wolf shifter shivered, his body showing his submission.

  “Xavier!” Josh said, desperate. “Don’t let him control you! I know you! It’s Josh!”

  The wolf stared at him, but there was no recognition in his eyes.

  “Don’t even bother,” Arcas said, sounding bored. “I trained him too well. He belongs to me, Agency trash.”

  Josh glared at Arcas and focused on the chair he’d been tied to. With a deep breath, he flung it through the air. It slammed into Arcas, and the leader of the Knights stumbled into the woman. They both crashed into the door. The remaining man tried to aid him, but Arcas waved him off, cursing and snarling.

  He stood and glared murderously at Josh.

  “Talented little child, aren’t you?”

  Josh bared his teeth. “You murdering bastard.”

  “Me?” Arcas touched his chest. He regained his composure and straightened his suit. He made no move to help the woman. The other man ended up pulling her to her feet. “No, I don’t think so. I believe you mean my pet.”

  “He’s no one’s pet! Xavier. Don’t you hear me? I’m your mate!”

  Xavier shuddered. Arcas frowned down at him.

  “I need you, mate! Won’t you protect me?”

  Xavier whined. His eyes flickered, the darkness inside them lightening. Arcas slapped Xavier on the head, and the wolf shifter crouched away, submissive once more.

  “Xavier—” Josh started.

  “Shut him up,” Arcas said.

  The bruiser punched Josh in the gut, and he gasped in pain. The man held him up with one hand and punched him again with the other. He coughed violently, feeling as though his stomach rammed into his spine. A third punch landed on his mouth. Josh’s head snapped back before a fourth punched his chest. The knight let him go, and Josh fell hard to the floor, groaning in pain.

  “Stop,” Arcas said calmly. He stepped next to Josh, who cringed away, waves of agony flooding through him.

  Arcas knelt down. “Don’t you see how weak they are?” He gestured to Xavier. “Can’t you understand what I’m doing? It’s for the benefit of all. I’m only showing you and everyone what they are truly like.”

  His voice was so calm and reasonable, presenting his argument as if it was logical. Josh stared up at him. It was no wonder the man had so many followers. Even after the dismantling of the Knights, there would always be followers of charismatic leaders. For a moment, for the barest moment, Josh was almost hypnotized. Those eyes bored into his, demanding he submit and lay down the fight.

  Xavier whined, snapping Josh back to himself. He spat in Arcas’s face. Blood mixed with his saliva, and Arcas flinched, standing.

  “Disgusting mutt,” Arcas said, his voice colder than ice.

  “Psychopath,” Josh said, his voice quavering with rage.

  Arcas turned away from him and snapped his fingers. Xavier came over and sat next to him again, panting, his eyes still dark.

  “Lunch time, boy,” Arcas said. Josh’s eyes widened, and Arcas smiled at him. “Kill him.”

  Arcas stepped back, and the wolf looked at Josh, his teeth bared. Josh’s lips trembled, and his eyes blurred with his tears. The wolf stalked closer before stopping to stand over him.

  “Xavier,” Josh whispered and extended his hand. The wolf growled louder, looking rabid, saliva dripping from his jaw, and his fur standing on end. His eyes were insane.

  “I’m your mate, Xavier,” Josh said. “And I love you. Forever.”

  Josh stared into the wolf’s eyes as he touched the wolf’s paw, gripping it tightly. He didn’t know how to snap Xavier out of his trance, or whatever this was. But he knew his lover, his mate, was still inside there. Somewhere. He knew this wasn’t Xavier looking at him with pure murderous rage. He knew Xavier. He knew his kindness, his laugh, his smell and taste.

  Josh gripped the wolf tighter. “I’m yours, Xavier.”

  The wolf shifter stared down at the hand that gripped him. The growling stopped. Josh’s eyes widened when the wolf bent down and sniffed his hand, his arm, the snout working overtime as he traveled up Josh’s arm to his shoulder. Josh held his breath as Xavier’s vicious teeth paused inches away from his vulnerable neck. He kept his hand on Xavier’s paw and prayed.

  Remember me. Please, my love, remember me.

  “Kill him!” Arcas said.

  Josh flinched, but the wolf snorted and continued to sniff. Then Xavier twitched and shook violently, like a wet dog. He nuzzled Josh’s hair and inhaled long and deep.

  “Mate,” Josh whispered. The wolf suddenly snapped back his head and howled. Josh winced at the high pitch.

  “Kill him!” Arcas said again, fury coloring his words.

  Xavier growled once more. He swung his head toward Arcas. Josh’s heart leapt in joy when his mate stepped over him and then lay right on top of him, protecting Josh with his own body.

  “Xavier,” Josh sobbed.

  Xavier snuffled and whined, glaring at Arcas. Arcas was livid.

  “I am your master!” he said. “You will do as I say! Abomination!”

  So that was the trigger word. Or used to be. Xavier didn’t move a muscle. Josh felt Xavier’s rapid heartbeat against his arm, but his mate made no move to follow the order.

  “I see how it is,” Arcas whispered. He snapped his fingers. “Kill them both.”

  “Xavier, run!” Josh pushed against his mate. Xavier didn’t move.

  Arcas’s three goons pulled out handguns. They all aimed at Josh and Xavier. Josh cringed and wrapped an arm around Xavier as the shifter laid more completely over him. Josh never thought he would die this way. But at least it wouldn’t be by his mate’s hand.

  A strange beating sound suddenly met Josh’s ears. He knew that noise. He knew it very well. A helicopter. The Agency.

  Screwing up his courage, looking past the three guns aimed at him, Josh stared at the bed. It would be the biggest thing he’d ever moved. It wouldn’t be mere levitation this time, like with the truck at the gas station. This time he would be moving it, throwing it. He gripped Xavier tightly and let out a long, slow breath. He took all the pain still radiating through his body and shoved it aside, forcing his mind to focus. Pushing his full strength at the bed, he made the entire thing rise up and slam into Arcas, the woman knight, and one of the men. They crashed into the wall with tremendous force. Josh managed to extend more energy to keep the bed pushing against them. The bruiser jerked in shock before whipping around and aiming at them once more. He never had a chance. Xavier was on him in a flash, and those wicked teeth sank into his throat. Josh heard the nauseating sound of ripping flesh but kept his focus on the bed. If he could just keep Arcas pinned for the Agency….

  Unfortunately, Josh couldn’t keep it up. The bed flew across the room, and Arcas stumbled forward. His eyes were like that of a serpent: cold, hard, empty. The two other knights stumbled to their feet. The sound of the helicopter grew louder.

  “Arcas, we must go,” the man said.

  Arcas hissed. His hands lashed out and gripped the arms of the two knights. He glared at Josh as a sudden wind rose in the room. A strange whirlwind began to sweep around the three knights and just before they vanished, the woman knight lifted her gun. She aimed it at Josh. A streak of black crossed his vision right before a shot rang out. The three knights were suddenly gone, and Xavier lay on the floor, whimpering.

  “Xavier!” Josh cried. He crawled to his mate as blood formed a sickening puddle under the wolf’s body. “Damn it, Xavier.”

  The front door suddenly burst open. Josh jerked his head up. Relief washed over him upon seeing Agent Genii. She wasn’t just a powerful psychic but also a talented healer. Amazonian in stature with long red hair, quick blue eyes, and reflexes any predator would envy, she was someone he wanted to have his back.

  “Genii!”

  She rushed to his side and detached a small bag fr
om her back. Her hands were quick, and she evaluated Xavier’s condition in seconds.

  “He’s been shot in the shoulder. Looks like silver.”

  Silver was toxic for shifters. Josh held Xavier’s head, watching the wound swell, and pus began to leak from it. He swallowed his bile.

  “He’ll live?”

  “If I can get the bullet out.” She flashed him a smile. “Never met one I couldn’t yank out.”

  Her smile reassured him like nothing else could. His aches and pains returned, and his stomach felt like one big bruise, his jaw throbbing in agony. He was surprised he’d managed to shove the pain away, if only for a few minutes. Must have been the adrenaline. He was relieved the bruiser didn’t break his jaw.

  It took him a moment before he noticed another agent in the room. His entire body snapped to attention.

  Captain Hera.

  She could pass for Genii’s older sister. Fierce and ironfisted, she stood surveying the scene, her eyes flat. She had dark red hair styled in a military cut. Her green eyes were pale and bright with intelligence and courage. There wasn’t a single person in the Agency who didn’t admire and respect―and fear―her. Her muscles stood out starkly as her clothes were skintight and dark blue.

  He swallowed hard as their gazes met.

  “Seems you had all the fun.”

  Josh wouldn’t really call it fun. He’d nearly died. That, more than anything, made him realize he was never cut out to be an agent. They constantly put their lives on the line, not just against the knights, but also against rogue shifters. The life of an agent was hard, and he could only be thankful Xavier had changed his mind. He’d shown him another way to help shifters, one that didn’t constantly put his life on the line.

  Xavier whimpered. Josh stroked his face.

  “Easy, Xavier. They’ll help you. Just try to relax.”

  Xavier’s tongue lulled out and licked Josh’s hand. He sniffed, trying to keep the tears inside. Now that they were out of danger, his adrenaline was leaving him. He felt weak and sick. He realized he hadn’t eaten since last night. That was hours ago. He felt a little jittery.

  “I’ll need to debrief you,” Hera said.

  Josh nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He swallowed hard and turned his attention to Genii. “Where’s Poe? I would think he’d be here because of Xavier.”

  Genii’s mouth tightened. Her eyes were blank when she glanced at him. “He was put on another mission.”

  Josh blinked. “What could be more important than the Knights? Then finding Xavier?”

  Genii said nothing. Her fingers were quick, her hands steady. Josh continued to stroke Xavier’s head.

  “It’s going to be okay, mate. It will.” Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Hera’s sharp look. He ignored it. They were mates. He wouldn’t be ashamed of that. And nothing would change it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Xavier felt like shit and didn’t remember much. He woke in a soft bed, still in wolf form. He was nauseated with an aching shoulder and throbbing head. He knew the voice had taken over, and he remembered hearing Josh’s voice, a light in the dark, calling to him, begging him. His mate. Whatever he’d said, it had broken the voice’s hold on him. He’d returned to himself in time to shield Josh’s body with his own. Then Josh had used his whammy, and the agents had come….

  Xavier sighed weakly and curled deeper into the cushions.

  Someone moved near him. He popped his eyes open. A gentle, familiar hand touched his back. He chuffed. Josh came into his vision, lying next to him on the bed. He nuzzled his mate’s neck.

  Josh giggled. It was a beautiful sound.

  “Genii said you can’t shift. Not yet. Not until all the silver is out of your system. The bullet wasn’t in you long so you might just have a day of feeling like hell.”

  Just a day? Oh goodie.

  He whimpered and sighed in frustration. Josh sat up and scratched his ears. Xavier closed his eyes and tried to relax.

  “I’m right here, not leaving you.” He paused. “The debrief with Agent Hera went well, I think.”

  Xavier opened his eyes to stare at Josh. The lights were off. It was probably night. The room smelled expensive. Had the agents left already?

  “They kicked me out, of course.”

  Xavier growled.

  Josh smiled. “I expected them to, Xavier. But Captain Hera thought the counseling center had merit. I’m to write up a proposal, send it to her, and she’ll discuss it with the chief. She didn’t say the Agency would help, but I got the feeling she would, even if the chief didn’t approve it for Agency funds.”

  Xavier listened, fighting an uphill battle against nausea and pain. Too bad wolves couldn’t sweat. He panted heavily instead.

  “Apparently, the Knights had a small station in Las Vegas that managed to stay hidden from the Agency. Hera’s taken care of that, though. She flushed them out. But, well, Arcas is still loose.”

  Xavier managed to growl again, showing his fury.

  “Arcas. I never really considered what sort of man he might be. He just… everything about him was wrong. I tried to describe him to Hera, and I gave her all I could about what I witnessed. I think he was trying to hypnotize me or something. I have no idea. I just hope to God or your Fenris that I never meet him again.”

  Xavier whined and pressed his head into Josh’s chest. Josh fell silent and continued to stroke him.

  “You know, Xavier,” Josh said. “I’m not sad anymore that I can’t be an agent. I wouldn’t have been a good one.”

  Xavier didn’t agree. He licked Josh’s face, and his mate laughed. Josh curled next to him and stroked his hand over Xavier’s side. Shivering, Xavier scooted closer.

  “You and I can help shifters in a different way.” Josh tapped Xavier’s head. “And now that that is all taken care of, we can really start.” He paused. “I love you.”

  Xavier chuffed and nuzzled Josh’s neck again.

  “She said I needed to keep an eye on you, though.”

  Xavier met Josh’s eyes.

  Josh smiled. “Don’t worry. My evaluation of your condition was positive. You’re not a threat to anyone. Other than the bad guys.”

  Xavier laughed. It came out like several hard, panty breaths.

  Josh met his eyes, serious. “You scared me, though.”

  Xavier whimpered and licked Josh’s face. His mate sighed.

  “I know you were in control, Xavier, when you killed those knights. I know you were protecting me. But, you were so cold. So… I don’t know. I didn’t recognize you.”

  Xavier cursed his sickness. He wanted to speak, to reassure his mate. He wanted to hold him. But all he could do was lick his face, his hands, nuzzle him close.

  “I know, Xavier,” Josh murmured. “I know why you did it. I just don’t want to see that part of you again.”

  Xavier couldn’t promise that. If anyone threatened Josh, he would become that cold-blooded killer again. Without hesitation. Without regret. He didn’t mourn the knights he’d killed. He’d done what needed to be done.

  And now Josh was with him. Warm and alive and in love. Even with the sickness overpowering him, what could be better?

  Three weeks later

  Haven. Josh smiled. He’d read up about Haven, Montana, in the Agency archives. A town created for shifters, by shifters. Supposedly, a master wolf shifter by the name of Imelda had founded it in the late 1700s, early 1800s. The descendants of her pack resided there, ruling over it to a certain extent. There were other wolf packs, deer herds, and clans that made their home here. And now, he and Xavier would make this place their home.

  Josh stared at the house and smiled slightly. “Sure is a fixer-upper.”

  Xavier grinned wide. “Just the way I like ‘em.”

  Josh rolled his eyes but couldn’t get rid of his smile. He didn’t want to. He’d been smiling a lot lately, more than any time in his life. It only took a day for Xavier to rid himself of the silver poisoning and despite bein
g fatigued a few days afterward, his excitement about their new project never dimmed.

  The house they just purchased was a two-story with a solid foundation and charming picture windows. There was a porch with room enough for a swing. A chimney sat to one side, and Josh could envision how charming it would look when they were done with the remodeling.

  “How good are you with tools?” Josh asked. He wasn’t very competent, but he could paint.

  Xavier rubbed his hands together, eagerness in his eyes. “I can’t wait. Just give me some nails and wood, and our counseling center will be up and running in no time.”

  Josh chuckled at Xavier’s enthusiasm. The Agency had agreed to a loan for them to start the business. Hera sent them a message a couple of days after Xavier fully recovered. Genii had contacts in Haven and had spoken with the alpha of the ruling pack. They’d agreed to lease a house for their counseling center. It was a little on the outskirts of the town, jutting up against Sanctuary, the collected national forests and parks that covered most of Montana and down through Wyoming and up through Canada. Josh liked the setting. If they were going to treat emotionally and mentally damaged shifters, they didn’t want to be too close to the residents. But they didn’t want the shifters to feel isolated and unwanted. This was a happy compromise. Josh couldn’t wait to get started.

  “We’ll need some help,” Josh said.

  Xavier pushed up his sleeves. “Well, we have a whole town of shifters to choose from.”

  Josh laughed. “We still need to think of a name for the business.”

  “We will. It’ll come to us.”

  Josh savored the joy and eagerness in his mate’s eyes. The voice no longer affected Xavier. It didn’t seem to exist anymore. After Hera’s message, they’d gotten a visit from the sheriff of Haven, a wolf shifter named Jack. Josh had been scared at first, but Xavier remained friendly and greeted Jack with ease and politeness. Josh remembered how his legs had shaken as relief washed over him like a tidal wave. A shifter, a wolf shifter, had been in the same room as his mate, and Xavier didn’t even snarl. It had truly been the greatest day of Josh’s life.