Wen

by Laurann Dohner

All three of them said yes.

  Gerri reached up and ran her thumb over Wen’s lip. “Are you okay?”

  “I am. It’s actually a relief,” he admitted.

  “Really?” She didn’t look convinced.

  “I thought it would end in bloodshed. It didn’t. I’m disowned. I can live with that. Best of all, I don’t have to worry about them coming after you.”

  “I feel guilty.”

  “What did you tell me about it not being my fault that they’re this way?”

  Gerri smiled. “True.”

  “There are no regrets when it comes to us. I love you, G.L.”

  “I love you too, honey b―”

  Wen lunged and kissed her lips to mute her. She laughed against his mouth and he pulled back, winking. “Only when we are alone.”

  Tymber leaned forward. “Honey what?”

  “Forget about it.” Wen shot him a warning look.

  Trayis returned carrying beers. “Honey butt?”

  “Maybe honey badass?” Tymber paused. “Honey badger? He can be kind of grumpy and mean. Come on, Gerri. Finish that endearment.”

  “Fine.”

  Wen tensed but she turned her head and winked at him, then faced his two friends.

  “I was saying I love you too, honey, but I lust for you as well. Wen is my everything.”

  Tymber opened his beer. “I’m calling bullshit. Honey bee? His punches do kind of sting when he lands them.”

  “Here’s to the mated couple.” Trayis held up his beer. “Cheers to you two. The start of your mating was a bit rough but it’s all good from here.”

  Wen opened the beer and lifted it. “To happiness.”

  Gerri clinked her can against his. “To love and lust.”

  “I’m going to figure out what you call him,” Tymber promised. “Honey beehive? Because you don’t fuck with those.”

  “Drink your beer and shut up,” Trayis ordered.

  They all took a sip at the same time. A phone rang and Trayis reached for his back pocket. His smile faded when he glanced at the screen, and he answered it. Then he was on his feet and down the hallway so fast, it was hard to see him.

  Wen tensed, hoping it wasn’t something about his parents. He hoped his troubles were over with them. The door down the hallway closed, so he couldn’t hear a thing being said.

  Trayis returned a minute later. This time, he appeared highly amused.

  “What is it?” Tymber stood.

  Wen stayed where he was. He had his mate on his lap and had no intention of moving her. She was right where she belonged. “Want to share what’s so funny?”

  Trayis glanced at his enforcers. “That was Lord Aveoth. He heard from Decker. The bastard wants to make a deal with him to come home. I’m guessing the Vamp Council gave him the boot.” He grinned. “You did it, Wen and Gerri. I’m guessing Horton must have done or said something that messed up their little alliance.”

  Wen laughed, his night suddenly getting a hell of a lot better. “We do make a hell of a team.”

  Gerri tugged on his shirt. “Why is everyone so happy that Decker, a.k.a the boogeyman, wants to return to Alaska? Isn’t that a bad thing?”

  “No, G.L. It’s fantastic. Lord Aveoth is going to kill that bastard.”

  She slowly smiled at Wen. “Never mess with a fur bat.”

  Tymber choked on his beer. “Did you just call Lord Aveoth a fur bat?”

  Wen downed his beer and set it on the side table. He lifted Gerri. “That was your imagination. My mate would never do that. I’m taking her home. Good night.”

  Gerri clung to him. “Night. We’re going home to do that whole love-and-lust thing.”

  Trayis opened the door for them. “Think girl!”

  Wen carried her outside, heading toward her cabin. “What in the hell does that mean?”

  She buried her face against his neck. “He wants us to have lots of sex.”

  “That’s a weird way to put it.”

  She laughed. “He’s a VampLycan. What do you expect? You’re all kind of crazy.”

  He growled low at her, knowing she was playing with him. She could always make him laugh. “Seriously, what does ‘think girl’ mean?”

  She threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged his ear closer. “He wants us to have some girl babies for the clan.”

  Wen came to a stop and stared into her eyes. “For real?”

  “Yes. He believes mind over matter might work. So we have to think the word ‘girl’ every time we have sex. It’s going to be easier for you than me, since I am one. Me on the other hand…I guess you’re going to have to do things that make me totally mindless so I don’t accidently think anything with the word ‘boy’ in there. Like, ‘boy, is he good at that’. Are you up for the challenge, mate?”

  He began walking again. “Accepted. Step one. Get her naked in a bed.”

  Gerri threw her head back and laughed. “But I’d totally do you in the mud, honeybun.”

  He stopped, sniffed, his gaze roaming the dark. “We’re alone. I’m not scenting anyone nearby. How do you feel about dirt?”

  She grabbed his face and kissed him. “I’d love to get dirty with you. Anywhere, anytime.”

  He left the path and hunted for a nice soft spot to make love to his mate. “You’re about to be eaten by the big bad wolf, golden locks.”

  “You never get your fairy tales right,” she teased. “That’s the three bears.”

  “I got my fairy tale ending. That’s all that matters. I have you.”