“Oh, Chaz.” Lev shook his head, holding Chaz’s hand.
“Some days she knows who I am, and some days she just rambles on and on about ridiculous stuff. I try to see her at least once a month and if I’m going to be hiding out from mobsters, I need to visit her while I can.”
Lev nodded. “Okay, you want me to stay out here?”
“No, I want you to come in with me. If…if that’s okay?”
Lev framed Chaz’s face with his hands. “I will do whatever you want me to do.”
“Is that a promise?” Chaz wiggled his eyebrows.
“Yes, it is.”
Lev followed Chaz to the sign-in desk and smiled as all the nurses and staff hugged him. They followed one of the nurses down a long corridor and stopped at the end. The nurse turned to Chaz with a sad smile.
“She’s been restless the last few days.”
“Thanks.” Chaz took her hand, holding it. “I know you guys take good care of her.”
She nodded and then padded off.
Chaz opened the door slowly and peeked in. His mother was sitting up in bed looking out the window.
“Hi, Mom,” he said, quietly.
The woman turned to face them and Lev sucked in a breath of surprise. She had to be in her late seventies, but her hair was so blonde it fairly glowed. Blue eyes regarded them curiously.
“Hello?”
Chaz took Lev’s hand and pushed through the door. He went to the side of the bed and sat down. Taking her hand, he searched her eyes.
“It’s me, Mom. It’s Chaz.”
“Chaz?”
“Yes, and this is Lev.” Chaz glanced over his shoulder. “My boyfriend.”
“You have a warrior at your side.” She smiled at him. “I knew they would protect you. Orin and I gave up so much to have you, Chaz, and we did our best with what we had left to hide you.”
“What? Mom, you’re not making sense.”
“We wanted a child so badly, but were not allowed to have children. When they placed you in our care, we protected you, shielded you from the bad, and now look at you — all grown up, with a warrior at your side.”
“Okay, Mom.” Chaz nodded, trying to placate her ramblings. “How are they treating you?”
“They treat me well; it’s the fairies who make the mess.”
“The fairies?” Chaz repeated.
“Yes, they are so bad, always causing mischief.” She chuckled. “I can still see them, but they can’t.” She palmed Chaz’s face. “They took my wings, but I got you.”
“Oh, Mom.” Chaz wiped at his eyes. She was getting worse.
“Don’t cry, Chaz, I still see your father now and then. He comes by to visit me and one day, we’ll be together again. He still watches over you.”
Lev took Chaz’s hand. “What’s her name?”
“Breena.”
“Breena.” Lev sat down on the chair next to the bed and smiled at her. “How do you know I’m a warrior?”
“Chaz has been touched by the supernatural.” Breena’s face became grave. “They tried to hurt him and you saved him.”
Lev’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
“They can’t see him,” Breena giggled.
“How do you know what happened?” Lev asked.
“Orin watches over all.”
“Orin?” Lev glanced over his shoulder at Chaz.
“My dad,” Chaz provided.
“You have to take care of him.” Breena squeezed Lev’s hand. “You have to make sure they can’t find him!”
“They?” Lev asked.
“The bad,” she whispered. “Chaz is my warrior. He must not be taken from the fight.”
“I will protect him with my life,” Lev vowed.
Breena caressed Lev’s cheek. “You love him.”
“With all my heart.” Lev nodded.
Breena fell back on the bed with a sigh and closed her eyes. “Good.”
“I’ll be back soon, Mom, okay? You be good.” Chaz kissed her forehead. “I love you,” he whispered.
Chaz wiped at his eyes and pulled Lev gently toward the door. They were out in the hallway and Chaz leaned against the wall with a sigh.
“She’s getting worse.”
“I don’t know about that, Chaz. She seems to know quite a bit.”
“You can’t be serious.” Chaz’s eyes widened.
“Really? She said you were attacked and I saved you. Doesn’t sound like the ramblings of a confused woman.”
“And fairies are normal?” Chaz snorted.
“I have no idea if they exist, but then again, I didn’t know werewolves or warlocks existed either.”
“You’re serious right now?” Chaz lifted his brows.
“Deadly.” Lev glanced back over his shoulder at the room. “We may need some security on her.”
“What? Why?”
“Because if she is telling the truth, she’s not safe either.”
“You actually think she made sense?”
“I’m going to ask Wayne about it, but yeah, I think she’s making perfect sense in a way.”
“Okay, well, let’s go then.”
Chapter Seven
Wayne leaned against the desk with both brows raised. It seemed as if the entire unit was in the office ready for orders. James sat in the chair wearing a look of confusion.
“Fairies,” he said, slowly.
Lev nodded.
Wayne glanced over at Chance. “Well?”
“It’s possible,” he shrugged. “Who knows? We have two hybrids and a shape shifter, not to mention Lucian, Cezar and Killian all have warlock in them as well, as does Loki. So fairies? Not so out of the realm of normalcy.”
“She said we had to protect Chaz, that he couldn’t be taken out of the fight,” Lev repeated.
“So there’s more to Chaz than we know.” Wayne nodded.
“I am standing right here,” Chaz drawled. His eyes fell on Chance, who was looking at him strangely. “What?”
“When I delved into your past, I couldn’t see before the age of fourteen. Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know, I don’t remember much of my past.”
“See? That right there tells me someone put a block on it.”
“A what?”
“It’s a magical spell. It hides everything.”
Wayne stepped in between and motioned to Killian and Cezar, the two shape shifters.
“I need you both to do what you need to do in order to become either one of them if need be.”
Killian nodded and regarded both Lev and Chaz. “Take Cezar’s hand, Chaz.”
“He’s not going to drain me, is he?” Chaz chuckled.
“Not unless you want me to.” Cezar licked his lips.
“I don’t,” Lev snarled.
“So touchy.” Cezar grinned.
“Lev, take my hand,” Killian instructed.
Once the four of them were holding hands, Killian closed his eyes, as did Cezar. Chance walked around them, watching them.
“I thought all you had to do was see someone?” Lev said.
“We’ve been working on this.” Chance placed his hands on Killian and Cezar. “This way, they can also speak like them.”
“It’s done.” Killian stepped back.
“Next time.” Chance observed Cezar. “No cheating, you’ll have to go by smell and sight alone. No touching.”
“What? Why? I need another warlock’s help; I don’t know how to do that by myself yet!” Cezar balked.
“You’ll learn.” Chance pointed at Cezar.
“Lev, you and Chaz are going to the Queets reservation. Sam and Troy, as well as Dakota and Sawyer, will watch out for you. Anya is … well, not in a good mood, so she will be of good use.”
“Anya?” Lev shivered.
Anya Romanov was a feral female werewolf, one who would kill you in an instant. She’d mellowed a tad after meeting her mate, John Quinton — father of the Quinton boys — but was still know
n to lose control now and then.
“Yes.” Wayne nodded with a grin. “Don’t worry, she’s been medicating herself.”
“Oh, well by all means let’s introduce ourselves.” Lev tried to smile. He turned to Chance. “Could you do me a favor before Chaz and I head out?”
“If I can.” Chance nodded.
“Can you put a shimmering spell on us? I want to take Chaz somewhere before we can’t go anywhere.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
“Where are you taking me?” Chaz asked.
“Somewhere special.”
“I can make it so it lasts a day or so if you want,” Chance said.
“For now, a couple of hours will do.”
~*~
‘Somewhere special’ was the Hawke’s Nest. Chaz smiled as they entered the establishment and he caught a look at himself in the mirror. He was short, maybe five foot eight with dark hair and deep brown eyes. It was odd to stare at himself in the mirror and not see his true self. Lev was a bit taller than him, with blond hair and grey eyes. They looked so odd together.
The bar had changed since the first time he and Lev had met there. The floors were now bamboo and Seahawk jerseys lined the wall, signed by the players themselves. Chaz chuckled as they were seated at a table in the back.
“What so funny?” Lev asked as he ordered them two beers.
“This must be nice for you, being taller than me for once.”
“I like being shorter than you.”
“Really?”
“I’ve always loved that about us. I feel…” Lev ducked his head “Safe with you.”
“Do you still? I’m not a werewolf,” Chaz said quietly.
“Yes, I do. I think there is so much more to you, Chaz. I always did.”
Chaz looked around the crowded bar. “I’ll never forget the night you walked in here in your damn Giants jersey. Damn, you were so adorable!”
Lev’s nose twitched. “Adorable?”
“Yes.” Chaz reached for Lev’s hand and entwined their fingers. “Adorable and sweet and cute — ”
“Okay stop. I was not cute.”
“You so were,” Chaz chuckled softly. “I wanted you so much even then.”
“I wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you, Chaz. It was the first game of the regular season and you had just been drafted by the Seahawks. The second you walked onto the field, I was so gone. Then I watched you over the years, all your interviews. You were so intelligent and thoughtful. You never took full credit for anything; you always mentioned your teammates. Then you started working with at-risk youth and … well, from that moment on, I was so in love with you.”
Lev glanced up, meeting Chaz’s eyes. Even though he was looking into brown ones, he knew Chaz was under there. “As soon as Mario told me he knew I was gay, I knew my days were numbered. But I loved spending time with you.”
Chaz ran his thumb across the top of Lev’s hand. From the moment he’d set eyes on him all those years ago, he’d known there was something special about Lev Chirkoff.
“I loved that you allowed yourself to be vulnerable with me. I always knew what you were thinking because your eyes gave it away.”
The bartender came by and asked them what they were drinking. Chaz ordered two Schooners and a plate of Buffalo wings. As the bartender left, Chaz turned his attention back to Lev.
“So we’re off to hide on the reservation.”
“Yes.” Lev nodded. “I love it there, though. It’s peaceful.”
“What do you think my mom meant? I mean, I’m a good football player, but a warrior?”
“You were a good football player and you’re an awesome firefighter.”
Chaz started. “Shit! My job — ”
“Is safe. James spoke to your captain.” Lev assured him.
“Well, you super-secret macho men are pushy, aren’t you?” Chaz chuckled.
“I will do everything in my power to protect you, Chaz. I owe you that.”
Chaz swallowed hard and met eyes with Lev. “God, I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too. I wish I could go back and change the way I left things, but I can’t. I promise to make up every year I was gone.”
“I just want you in my life now, for however long that lasts.”
“The way I’ll age? I’ll be here for a very long time.”
“I might just join you,” Chaz said, quietly.
“You…you would do that?”
“For you? Hell, yes.”
Lev smiled. “Well, it seems we have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do.”
~*~
Sam Waters and his husband, Dakota, were waiting for them as they pulled up in front of Joe and Nadine Waters’ house — Sam’s parents. Dakota grinned as his son, Kane, ran across the dirt in his wolfpup form and came to a sliding stop in front of Chaz. He tilted his head and sniffed the air. He padded around both men, taking his time and assessing them. He sat down in front of Lev and looked up at him.
“Hey, Kane.” Lev crouched down, letting Kane sniff his hand.
“He knows it’s you.” Dakota walked toward them. “I can see your form behind the shimmer. It must be wearing off.”
“So I’m tall again?” Chaz chuckled.
“Getting there.” Sam crossed the driveway and extended his hand to Chaz. “Good to see you.”
“You, too.” Chaz nodded.
“We’ve set you up in Troy’s house. Since he and Sawyer live in Sawyer’s, that house is for guests.” Dakota shook Lev’s hand. “Heard you had some trouble.”
“Yeah, we did. I’m not sure if I’m comfortable bringing it to your doorstep,” Chaz said.
“Aw, hell.”
Lev glanced over his shoulder to see Sawyer and Troy Bishop making their way over.
“We love excitement. Isn’t that right, babe?” Sawyer elbowed his husband.
Sam and Troy were part of the original Skull Blasters unit, along with Mateo Esposito and Josh Montgomery. Being on the reservation with these two was probably an excellent idea. Although Sam’s parents were mortal, they were well protected as werewolves John Quinton and Anya Romanov also lived nearby.
“How’s Anya?” Lev asked.
Troy shivered. “Holy hell, I’m so happy when they send me on missions! She’s so cranky.”
“Even when she’s medicated,” Sam agreed.
“Well,” Dakota motioned to the house down the path. “It’s ready for you guys. Fridge is stocked, and there are clean towels. If you need anything, just find one of us.”
“Thanks, Dakota.” Lev half hugged the other man. They were relatively the same height, unlike the other three men. Both Sam and Troy were over six feet tall, and Sawyer was as well.
“Meet us in the morning for pancakes at my mom’s.” Sam winked.
“Where are they, anyway?” Lev looked around.
“Shopping in town. We told them company was coming.”
“I hope they didn’t go to too much trouble,” Chaz began.
“Are you kidding me? When I told them Chaz Savage was staying here on the Res, my dad couldn’t wait to get a ton of bacon,” Sam laughed.
“I do love bacon.” Chaz agreed.
“Well, thanks,” Lev drawled. “What am I? The consolation prize?”
Chaz swept Lev into his arms and locked eyes with him. “Nope, you’re the first-place giant teddy bear that no one is good enough to win.” He kissed Lev’s nose. “Except for me.”
“Well, all righty then.” Sawyer eyed his husband. “Maybe we should make ourselves scarce?”
“I want to hear all about the implantation process!” Lev pointed a finger at Sawyer and Troy.
“You betcha!” Sawyer winked.
~*~
Lev took his time walking through the small house. It was beautifully decorated with Native American art on the walls and a comfortable tan couch with large throw pillows. An area rug covered most of the living room floor, but th
e rest was hardwood. The kitchen was cozy, with a large bay window overlooking the ocean.
“Wow.” Chaz stood by the window. “It’s a gorgeous view.”
Lev wrapped his arms around Chaz’s waist and leaned against his back, inhaling his scent. The spell had worn off and they were back to being themselves.
“So, maybe tonight we can get a little closer?”
“I’d like that. I’d also like to take a walk along the beach.” Chaz turned in Lev’s arms. He cupped his face and kissed him softly.
“Sounds good. The sun is going to set soon.”
They walked along the sand, holding hands. Lev couldn’t believe he was finally with Chaz Savage. It had been a dream for so long, one he thought had no chance in hell of coming true after he left Chaz without a word. When they were thrust together again at the outreach party, years later Lev had felt the rage rolling off Chaz in waves.
Warm fingers tightened around his and Lev glanced up at Chaz.
“You’re smiling,” he said.
“I am.” Chaz nodded. “I am so happy right now. I know that sounds weird after I got shot and all, but I am so damn happy to be with you right now.”
“I thought for sure you’d kill me that first night after I came back.” Lev thought about the very first time he’d been pushed back into Chaz’s orbit. “When they said the firefighters had arrived to the party, I thought they meant costume-wise — not actual firefighters! And then to see you standing there looking so damned gorgeous?” Lev chuckled, shaking his head. “And pissed!”
“I swore I was dreaming, and then the anger boiled over. I had spent so much time trying to figure out where I went wrong, and then one day I just had to let go. I was so damned miserable after you left.”
Lev turned Chaz to face him and gazed into his eyes. “God, I love you so much.”
Chaz’s arms came around him and warm lips devoured his. Lev’s head fell back as Chaz’s mouth covered his in a kiss so scorching, he felt sure he’d need a fire extinguisher; his body was positively combusting. Chaz raised his head and Lev licked his lips.
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