by Lisa Oliver
“I didn’t,” Myka gasped. “I was bluffing. Bullshitting. You know how I am.”
Leaning over Cass’s shoulder, Wes glared at Myka. His cute face was now almost purple. “Do you know where the red wolves are being held? Honestly.”
“Yes,” Myka squeaked.
“Okay, babe, you can let him up now.” Wes trailed his fingers over the back of Cass’s neck. “You and I will have something to eat and then Myka can take us to where the wolves are being held, yes?”
“Yes.” Myka pounded the floor with his fists. How he was still breathing amazed the crap out of Wesley.
“Come on, babe. I know you’re angry, but Myka’s going to help us now. You need to let him get up.”
Wes wasn’t sure if Cass would listen to him, but after a long moment punctuated with heaving shoulders, Cass got to his feet. Then he picked Myka off the ground and threw him into the wall so hard, Myka went halfway through it, his arms and legs protruding at weird angles.
“Stay there,” Cass warned pointing his finger at the struggling demon. “If you move so much as an inch while Wes and I eat, then I will find you. I’ll rip your head from your shoulders and hand it to mama on a silver fucking platter with a list of the wrongs you’ve done. I’ll dump your carcass in Hades Hall of Reckoning and I’ll see to it that you’re punished for a thousand lifetimes for your crimes against kiddies. Not one of those wee souls deserve the crapshoot their young lives have turned out to be, and the fact you knew about it and did nothing, makes you just as responsible as the dark ones themselves. Don’t you dare move!”
There was a tense silence, Myka watching his brother carefully, but it seemed he accepted Cass meant what he’d threatened for now. Wes had to wonder who this mysterious mama was, who could coach her son about the rituals of courtship one minute, and yet the mere invocation of her name struck fear into the hearts of her sons the next.
“Babe? Breakfast, lunch or whatever?” When Cass didn’t move, Wes sidled past the bristling demon and shuffled his way out of the room. He would have liked some clothes and he needed to use the bathroom. The one the kiddies used will do for now, and Wes was fairly sure there were still some clothes in the laundry that would cover him. Then he’d see what was in the kitchen. It seemed like an age since Cass had so lovingly fed him. Wes reached up and touched his collar. It’s okay. He’s not rejecting me. He just needs to work through his anger.
Chapter Fourteen
By the time Cass had calmed down enough to return to his human form, Wes was in the kitchen. Whatever he was cooking smelled wonderful and Cass heard and felt his stomach rumble approvingly. But it was what Wes was wearing that had Cass scratching his head. “Hi, babe, did you need any help with anything?” He asked, trying so hard not to look at the sweet swell of butt cheeks that were peeking out of the bottom of the shorts Wes had on.
Wes turned around, frying pan in one hand and spatula in the other. “I’ve got it covered. Take a seat. Food will be served in a minute.”
You have not got things covered! The front of the shorts didn’t hide anything more than the back of them did. Cass could see Wes’s ball sack poking out the bottom of them. Oh fuck, Cass gave a mental whimper as he pulled out a chair and sat down. Is it bad of me that I really want to fuck him over the kitchen table?
“Er… that’s an interesting choice of wardrobe, babe.” Cass tried for the casual approach. “Don’t you think you might need a bit more on, if we’re heading out of the house after eating this wonderfully smelling meal? From what you’ve said about Raff and his ex-home pack, they might be a bit prudish.”
Wes chuckled as he deftly turned out bacon and eggs onto a huge platter. “You think I put these on by choice? These shorts were the only thing big enough to fit me in the laundry.”
“I did buy you clothes. I think they’re still in the living room.” Cass eye’s widened as Wes put the platter on the table. It was heaped with food – sausages, bacon, ham slices, eggs fried and scrambled, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and fried potatoes.
“I wasn’t sure what demons liked to eat,” Wes said with a shy blush as he caught Cass’s stare. “I figured, if I went with a bit of everything, then I could learn what you like.”
That deserved a kiss. The only person who ever considered Cass in any way was his mama, and now, on their very first morning as mates, even after Cass demoned out and threw Myka against a wall, Wes was thinking about his needs. I’ve got such an amazing mate, he thought as he tugged Wes towards him.
“This is perfect,” Cass muttered against Wes’s lips. “You are so sweet to me already.” He couldn’t control his hands, not when Wes’s butt cheeks were on display. “We might have to keep these shorts to wear when we haven’t got so much to do. They’re giving me all sorts of sexy ideas.”
“You just being here is giving me a few too,” Wes admitted, squirming in Cass’s touch. “The food tastes better hot, and I promise I’ll change before we go out. Cass, those wolves…”
“I’m on it, babe.” One last kiss and Cass let his mate go. He could tell his mate was going to be the responsible one. “I’m curious though, why didn’t you just get the clothes from the living room or zap yourself up something to wear?” he asked as Wes sat next to him and reached over the table to pile his plate up.
“I don’t zap.” Wes stuffed a piece of bacon in Cass’s mouth. “Demons, Fae, and Djinns can zap, and the occasional magic user. Wolf shifters don’t zap.”
“Sexy wolves wearing shorts tight enough to cut off their circulation and mated to a demon like me, can zap up pretty much anything.” Cass said when he’d swallowed. Damn, that was good bacon. Within seconds his own plate was piled high and he forked some scrambled eggs into his mouth and groaned. “This is yum, babe,” he said loud enough for Myka to hear. Serves the bastard right. He can starve.
Then he noticed Wes wasn’t eating. “What’s up? This is amazing food.”
“You really mean I can zap things now like you can?”
Cass wasn’t sure why Wes was getting hung up about it. “Didn’t I explain about that when you accepted my stone? You have access to my powers now. You can zap. You just use my powers.”
“But…” Why was his mate looking so troubled? Cass didn’t understand. Most non-demon mates who were claimed by demons loved the idea. “Won’t that like drain you or something, or like what if I tried to use them at the same time you did? I don’t want to hurt you, or stuff anything up for you.”
Cass put down his fork and pulled his mate into a hug, dropping kisses in his hair. “Praise Hades. That is so adorable. You care about me already. No one has ever cared if I got hurt before, and you cook, and you’re sexy too. Gods, I’m so lucky.”
“Eat your breakfast,” Wes slapped him on the chest and moved away, but Cass could tell his mate was happy. The pink cheeks gave so much away. He waited until Wes picked up his cutlery and then both men ate in companionable silence.
“So, this zappy thing,” Wes pushed back his empty plate with a sigh. “How does it work exactly? If I don’t own an Armani suit, but I zap one up for me to wear, where does it come from? There’s not some dude walking down the Manhattan financial district suddenly finding himself naked is there?”
“No,” Cass swallowed his last mouthful and pushed his plate away. “It doesn’t work like that. You can zap your own things to you, or you can zap up something you don’t have, but you know exists. In those cases, the magic basically replicates the item. The only thing you can’t zap up is life, like a new baby sort of life. I can’t click my fingers and suddenly produce a kid, unless it’s one I know and I’m translocating them to me. Not a good idea by the way. Parents get very upset over that sort of thing.”
Wes chuckled. “Sounds like you speak from experience. Okay, so how do I do this then? Only these shorts are digging into my balls.”
“You can click your fingers, clap your hands, wiggle your nose, or your ears, wave your fingers about in the air if you want to. You c
an even use a wand which demons do not do. But basically, you need to be thinking with intent. So, if I was thinking about you in a suit…” Cass clicked his fingers and Wes was suddenly wearing a full three-piece gray suit complete with a pale pink tie and shiny black boots. “I can do that, and then, when I wanted you naked again… remember, I am thinking with intent, this doesn’t work on casual thoughts… then I would think, click, and ta-da, you’re naked. Now you do it.”
“On you or me?”
“I don’t mind either way.” Cass was wearing the leather pants he’d worn the day before. In the Underworld he didn’t wear much else and he was enjoying the sight of Wesley naked.
“I see that gleam in your eye, demon,” Wes smirked. “I’ll get some clothes for me first.” His face sort of all scrunched up, like he was concentrating really hard. Cass wanted to laugh, but he didn’t want to distract his mate from what he was doing. It wouldn’t take long, and Wes would be zapping all over the place. Then Wes clicked his fingers, and his naked body was covered in soft blue jeans, a pale gray Henley and black boots just like Cass had zapped up.
“These came out of my old wardrobe back in Cloverleah,” Wes did a wiggle in his chair. “Now you. I have to try you. Hang on. I have to think what will go best with your skin and hair coloring.”
“Just imagine me with different clothes on.” Cass sat back in the chair, his hands resting on his belly. Having never shared his powers before, Cass was thrilled to learn all he got from it was a slight tingle at the base of his neck. Another click from Wesley and Cass looked down. His leather pants had been replaced with jeans that fit so snug they looked like they were painted on. Completing the look was a white sleeveless t-shirt and a lovely soft black leather jacket.
“I like it. Classic bad boy.” Cass was so proud of his clever mate. He looked under the table. “You forgot my feet,” he said pointing at his bare toes.
“I thought you might have favorite boots like I used to have,” Wes said with a slight lift of his shoulders. “Or, who knows, you could be a sneaker kind of guy.”
Cass wrinkled his nose. “Boots protect your feet, sneakers are only good for running in, and demons don’t run from anything.” He looked at the mess left by their meal. “Shall we clean this up and go find some wolves? Afterwards, I’ll treat you to a dinner out wherever you want to go.”
He felt rather than heard the word “home”, and a hint of sadness crossed Wes’s eyes for a split second. But then the smile was back, and Wes said, “I’ll let you surprise me. Who’s washing up, you or me?” He got up and reached for the plates.
Cass clicked his fingers twice, once to do the dishes and have them put away clean and then once more to summon his favorite boots. “There you go sweet one. Zapping is also good for putting things away.”
“You guys must have so much leisure time, with all this finger clicking going on.”
That reminds me. I must call into Hades’ office. I won’t be working in the pits anymore, thank you mate.
Chapter Fifteen
The place Myka directed them to, him moaning and grumbling all the way, looked a lot like the area Wesley and the children had been kept in. Instead of one big house though, there were several small ones scattered around a rocky courtyard. One end of the open space was a huge hall, which Wesley guessed was for communal dining and meetings. It looked so much like the setup of the home pack he’d been born in, Wes had to stop for a moment and remind himself he was in the Underworld and as far away as he could get from that toxic place. The red sky and lack of sun helped.
“The last time I was here, they were a suspicious bunch,” Myka whispered from where he was hiding behind a rock. “Real, old time western style. Women and children ordered into the hall, the men all standing hunched together with rolling pins and knives looking to knock my brains out. I got a lot of curses thrown at me as I disappeared. It seems they don’t believe in demons or magic either.”
“It makes you wonder how they justify where they are living now,” Wes said thoughtfully. “Maybe I’d better go in first. They should be able to scent I’m like them easily enough.”
“Or they could be doubly suspicious, thinking you work for demons or the dark ones,” Cass warned.
“It’s all good, babe.” Wes patted Cass’s arm as he stepped out from their hiding spot. “I used to work for the FBI. I’ve been trained to deal with tense situations. Stay here and wait for my signal.” Ignoring Cass’s grunt of protest, Wes sprinted across the sand.
He could tell the moment he’d been spotted, and he slowed his pace to a walk, hands outstretched showing he wasn’t armed. “I’m looking for Raff’s parents,” he called out as soon as he knew the small group of men could hear him. “Raff, a young red wolf shifter about yay high. He said he had an ex-home pack up North Carolina way. Is that you?”
“We don’t know this Raff you speak of and we’ve got no truck with strangers. Rack off.” The older man, clearly the alpha of the group had a mean snarl.
Time to change tact. “I’m like you,” Wesley dropped his voice as he got closer. “I got taken by the dark ones, just like you were and was held captive for months. But the dark ones are dead now. Don’t you want to go home?”
“There’s no way out of this place. Don’t you think we’ve looked?”
“I thought the same thing.” Keep calm, stay professional. “I wore my paws to the bones looking, but help found me – stemming from the same pack Raff is living with now. They can help you too.”
“He’s the devil’s temptation, seeking to sway us from our path.” a weedy, smaller man who looked to be the eldest, plucked at the alpha’s shirt. “You heard what those pointy eared angels said. We just live as we always have; give birth to plenty of pups, and the lord will reward us when we reach heaven.”
Wes couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Those pointy eared guys you’re talking about were dark elves – a product of demon rape against a female elf and born to be pure evil. They captured you, me, and eleven other shifter children, all for use in their own plans of world domination. They were masters at manipulating people, but their intent was never pure and neither you, nor I should have trusted them. But we did, leaving us stuck, but I’m not stuck anymore. I’m here to offer you a way home.”
“He’s not lying, Eli,” the alpha said, but he wasn’t talking to Wes, he was talking to the elder. “Lord knows I accepted this penance when it was found deviants and fornicators were rife in the pack. I dealt with them as a strong alpha should. But I miss the feel of the wind in my fur, and the sun on my face. If this chap says he can help us get home…”
“Home to what?” The elder hissed. “Living on scrag ends and skinny rabbit carcasses, hearing the young ones crying every five minutes because their mothers are too poorly to suckle them properly. Having to worry about human hunters every time one of us shifts. Everything we’ve ever wanted is right here. Warmth. Heat. Cabins that don’t creak under the weight of snow in the winter months. Indoor plumbing.”
“I never saw you offering to do any of the work, Eli.” Another man in the group spoke up. “The winters might have been cold, and there were times when there wasn’t much to go around food-wise, but we were free to howl at the moon whenever we wanted. Now we can’t even see the thing. I remember Raff,” he called out. “Did I hear you say he’s found a home in another pack? Other red wolves?”
Wesley shook his head. “Not red wolves, I’m sorry. Raff found true mates, and when he found them, he wanted to visit you, to see how you were all doing, and maybe help the pack in some way. But when he went to your lands, it was abandoned. He’s been worried about you ever since.”
“See. Now you have to know this devil’s advocate is lying.” Eli stepped in front of the alpha, shaking his finger in the man’s face. “Raff was one of the deviants you rightfully threw out. As a deviant, it means he’s never cared for anyone and there’s no way our protectors would allow someone like him to be claimed as a true mate.”
<
br /> “I’m not scenting any deceit.” The alpha pushed Eli aside and beckoned to Wesley. “Come closer so we can scent you proper. As much as I want to believe you, this world is a strange place and none of us can be too careful.”
Feeling the weight of Cass’s stare on his back, Wes did as he was asked.
/~/~/~/~/
“What the hell is he doing?” Cass hissed from his spot behind a rock. “And what’s all this about a signal? Is that the signal, or do I wait or what?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t fucking care,” Myka moaned. “My butt is numb, my back’s still aching from when you threw me into that wall, and don’t think I’m not going to tell mama about what you did to me.”
“Tell her anything and I’ll make sure she knows you knew about those little shifter kiddies and did nothing.” Cass kept his eyes on Wes. “You know mama has always had a soft spot for little ones.”
“Well, can I go then? I’ve completed the favor. I showed you where those mangy wolves are. Now let me go.”
“I’m not stopping you from going.” Cass’s eyes narrowed as the elder one who’d been doing all the original yelling was edging closer to Wes. “But if something happens to Wes and mama knew you led us here, and that you did nothing to help, those dreams you’ve got of ever going topside will crumble like the sand under my feet.”
“You can’t keep invoking mama to keep me in line,” Myka grumbled.
“Neither can you.”
The alpha and Wes were still talking, and a couple of the other men were joining in too. But the slimy one, the elder, wasn’t being watched. Cass roared as the slimy one jumped on Wesley’s back, his mate falling to the ground.
“He’s got a fucking knife in his back,” Myka yelled. “Do something. I’m not taking the blame for this shit.”
Cass transformed. There was no thinking about it, no fretting or worrying about the damned wolves’ sensibilities or any crap like that. Stomping over, smoke pouring out of his nostrils, he pushed apart the stunned wolves as if they were cardboard cut outs. No one was helping Wesley – the wolves were too busy freaking out.