Interspecies Public Relations Officer [Milson Valley 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove)

by Jo Penn

  Mason’s lips twitched. “I’m sure your magic can help with showing them what ‘best behavior’ means.”

  Cas glared at the man. “I feel this is a punishment for me, not them, and I am sure placing them with my wolf mate will only cause me more problems.”

  “You’re smart.” Baron pointed at another shifter. “This is Steven. He will remain as a guard and is well able to deal with my brother’s antics. Mostly Marco will lie around being lazy. Feel free to get him up and working.”

  “And this is Carol. She is a high-level witch and can assist with any problems Laurie may cause, and yes, he is proficient in magic and making a mess. He is also some relation of mine, though I can never remember.”

  “Third cousin.” Laurie grimaced.

  Mason frowned. “Really?”

  “We’re related.” the wizard mumbled.

  “Huh, like inbreeding?” The young shifter, Marco, grinned.

  “Shut up, cub.” Mason rolled his eyes. “So, how is Luka?”

  “I’m good. Ready to go out and have some fun.” Luka was standing on the front porch leaning against a rail.

  Cas ignored the shifter. “What if I do not accept these creatures?”

  “Well, Luka is the expert on public relationships.” Baron grinned. “What do you think, pup?”

  “Oh, not a problem. We’re never bothered with creatures rejecting our help and dismissing a show of alliance.”

  Cas sighed heavily. He was screwed. “Fine. But they are under my rules and if they step out of line meet my reprimands.”

  “Fair. Come on, Baron, we have a meeting. Have fun, third cousin or whatever, and Laurie, no testing your potions without a protection shield on the room, you know what happens.”

  Laurie flushed. “That only happened once.”

  “Eight times.” Mason hurried away.

  Baron just slapped his brother on the back of the head before leaving. Cas stood there while fae helped transfer all the bags and boxes inside and Marco, Laurie, and Luka went into the house happily laughing and chatting.

  Hell, he was now in hell. Somehow the coven and Sanchez pride had dumped him with their nuisances when he already had enough to deal with.

  He turned in time to see Marco lazily wrap a thick arm around Tudor’s neck and pull the wizard inside, Tudor stumbling, eyes wide. Cas was unsure whether to be concerned or grateful. His other mate had so far ignored Tudor, so perhaps his friends could help with this.

  * * * *

  It took time to settle everyone in. Tudor he placed in the room beside his, with Luka across the hall between them. On the other side of the house he put Marco and Laurie in rooms next to each other and the guards had their rooms on the different floors where there were available ones. Fortunately, it was a big house.

  Returning to the front living room, he found Marco and Luka on one of the sofas, Luka’s head resting on the tiger’s lap holding up a leg. Luka now had black hair spiked up and green nail polish on his toes while the tiger was chatting on his phone.

  Cas growled. “What are you doing, Luka?”

  Before he got his answer there was a quiet bang and smoke. Sighing, he hurried over to the back sunroom and opened the door. Laurie and Tudor were coughing and waving their hands around.

  “What did you do, Laurie?” Cas just knew this would happen. Luka was a trouble magnet.

  “Err, ah, well, I tripped when I was adding some of the mercury—

  “Enough! Come with me, Tudor, Laurence.”

  Back in the living room, the pair there were still in the same position. Cas fumed over that for a moment then let it go. He pointed to seats and Tudor and Laurence sat down. Then he frowned and brushed hair back from Tudor’s ear.

  “Where is your hearing aid?” he signed.

  “I couldn’t find my spare.”

  “Oh! I didn’t want it broken so I put it in my pocket.” Laurence dug around in his pants pocket and removed a dozen things along with a container he held out to Tudor.

  Tudor took it but hesitated. The wolf snickered, and Marco smirked. Cas glared at the pair. Visij walked in, brows raised.

  “We have a meeting in twenty-five minutes with that pack alpha over locations.”

  Cas waved a hand at Tudor. The wizard took a deep breath and put the hearing aid in. Cas waved his hand again and, with a look, Tudor turned it on.

  “Good, now you are able to recognize me as your mate.”

  Witches and wizards recognized their mates when they heard them speak for the first time. There was a sense, a tingle of their magic that helped direct the creatures to their mates, but it was confirmed when hearing a creature speak.

  Tudor’s eyes widened but he said nothing.

  “Luka, speak,” Cas ordered.

  The wolf didn’t. Tudor frowned at the man.

  “Stop being difficult and speak.”

  Marco suddenly flicked out a claw and slid it over Luka’s ribs on his left. The wolf jumped and laughed, swearing at his friend.

  Tudor winced and nodded. “Mates.”

  “Good. I will provide time for both of you to adjust, but do not expect too much time.”

  “Did you want the counter potion, Prince Caspar?” Laurie worried his bottom lip.

  “I do, yes. Now, I have a meeting to attend. Tudor is not to leave the house, as you are aware he is a Renegade target for what he and a few others overheard and they wish to eliminate him before he gives evidence at the tribunal. Here you are all protected. I do not trust any of you, I will make that perfectly clear, especially Luka. Laurie is banned from the potion room while I am not here. The guards will be on alert.”

  “Way harsh, man.” Marco shrugged. “I can understand Tudor, he’s in danger, and Laurie, he’s a catastrophe waiting to happen—”

  “Hey!” Laurie exclaimed.

  “And Luka’s just a horn dog, but me? I’m fine. I’ll be back in a while, got a few things to do in the city, if you get me.” The shifter grinned lazily.

  Cas glared at him. “I am not a fool, shifter. You remain. Any trouble and you will all see how a fae deals with nuisances.”

  How did he end up with two reluctant mates? Had he not waited long enough? Done his duty. Would he not put them first and longed for them? And now he also had two hangers-on!

  The wolf was staring at him, hazel eyes speculative with a little glint in them that could only be termed mischievous. What Cas would do to be able to get Luka in bed and fuck the creature until the wolf forgot all about sniffing around others and only thought of him. And Tudor. Gods, what was he going to do with Tudor? Beneath all that quietness, the touch of awkwardness, was a thread of steel. Cas would have to work on what it was that made Tudor reluctant to be claimed.

  “Hey, fae, I’m wolf, remember. Need to stretch my legs, don’t like to be coped up. Reaching my limit here and things happen when I don’t let the wolf out.” Luka gave a half smile. “He gets real damn agitated and things just happen. Like your lieutenant there is looking real tasty.”

  Marco groaned. “Shut the fuck up, man. I think the fae is at the end of his patience already.”

  “Is he?” Luka just smiled. “Are you, Caspar? Wanna dump the wolf outside the door and wave me off with a folded up newspaper?”

  Laurie choked, wincing.

  Caspar let out a deep breath. “Fine, you four will come with me.”

  “Is that a good idea?” Vis looked appalled. “Can I speak to you a moment, alone, Cas?”

  Cas waved a hand at the four creatures spread across the sofas. “No point, Vis, we’re stuck with them. If we leave them here, I’m certain the wolf will be gone, so will the shifter, the wizards will blow something up, and my fae guards will revolt.”

  Vis chuckled. “You may be right. Those covens and pride did a number on you.”

  “Wow, is this Ming dynasty?” Laurie was holding up an urn.

  Cas winced as Vis let out a cry of terror, which resulted in the wizard dropping the urn and it shattering into
a thousand pieces.

  “Oops. Yeah, you should probably put everything up high and away from where Laurie can reach. He’s a klutz.” Marco was still playing on his phone.

  “I am so sorry!” Laurie was hyperventilating.

  Vis just looked as shattered as the urn. Tudor looked around a little nervously then took a deep breath, said a spell and pointed at the urn. Cas was surprised to see the ornament fuse back together perfectly, as though never broken.

  “Impressive.”

  “Wow! That’s higher level magic, level four. I didn’t know you could do that Tudor, I thought you were only on level one magic.” Laurie gushed.

  “I’m all over the place. Fixing things is something I’ve always been able to do. And...” Tudor shut up real damn fast and looked around.

  “And?” Cas asked with interest. Always best to know.

  “Err, nothing, just a little potion making.”

  He didn’t believe his mate, not one bit, but they needed to go.

  “Hey, Cas?” Marco gave new meaning to the term lazy and insolent.

  Cas growled. “What?”

  “Just to let you know, Luka didn’t really betray you last night.”

  Cas frowned. “What do you mean? And do not think you do any favors by lying, tiger.”

  Marco shrugged. “You can ask my brother, Baron. He was there when I pulled Luka out of the hotel room, gave him a cooling down injection, and took him back to his condo and got him even more drunk.”

  “You did? Oh, thank the Gods!” Laurie exclaimed. “Wait, but he still reeked of creatures and pheromones this morning…err, maybe I was mistaken.”

  Laurie dropped his head, flushing.

  Cas focused on Luka. “Is this true, mate?”

  “Does it change anything?” Luka sat up, ruffling his now floppy black hair. “Honestly? Yeah, that’s the way it went down. I was fooling around. Marco and Baron came in to play heroes. At the end of the day I was still there with a few shifters ready for some fun— ouch!”

  Marco slapped Luka on the back of the head. “You are such a shit.”

  Cas said nothing. He’d think this over, give himself a little time to cool down, and see if Luka changed once the potion began to wear off. Technically, he may not have fucked others, but he’d still fooled around and had the intention to. That said a hell of a lot to Cas.

  Somehow he managed to get them all in an SUV, Vis and guards in another. When they arrived at the Alpha’s pack house, Cas took a few moments to look around and get a lay of the place. It was like a village in itself. There was a community playground with impressive children equipment, a clubhouse off to the side, low-set villas, and a row of townhouses and houses. There was also construction just down the road a little. Behind the large pack house was an old style manor house and all of this was set on hundreds of acres and only five minutes from the city limits.

  Cas made his charges all line up and follow him inside. He also had a headache. Luka, Marco, and Laurie had bitched the entire trip. He’d been tempted to ask Tudor to glue their mouths shut.

  Urian very nearly swallowed his tongue. “What the fuck? You’re sending them back?”

  “No, though I would like to. I decided instead of my temporary home falling down while I’m gone, I would bring these four along.”

  “You know, that’s probably wise. Luka and Marco, Ran is swimming with Trekk, so leave the pup be. Go run. Laurie, you know the rules, no touching anything. You may go cook.” Uri eyed up Tudor, seeming unsure what to do with the wizard. “You can stay with Cas. I find it easier to keep wizards still learning magic separated. It helps reduce accidents.”

  Cas took Tudor’s hand but the mate wiggled his away. “What is it, Tudor?”

  “It’s safe here, right?”

  The Alpha rumbled a soft growl. “Pack lands are impenetrable.”

  Cas quirked a brow. “That’s a big assertion.”

  Uri grinned. “Yeah.”

  “Then I might go stretch my legs.”

  “Luka, watch over our mate,” Cas ordered, only to find the wolf and feline shifters both gone. “Damn.”

  “I’m fine.” Tudor wandered off, hands in pockets of baggy pants.

  Cas watched his wizard mate walk off and was concerned with the hunched shoulders and dejected posture. He had briefly looked over the information Mason provided yet felt no closer to really knowing Tudor. There was nothing of the man’s personality, his dreams and desires, wants and likes. And that was what Cas truly wanted to know.

  He had been alone for a long time. Of course he had Vis, his brother Vine, relatives scattered around, and his guild. But not a deep connection that came from being with someone, knowing them on all levels, and feeling passionately about them. He craved that but had no choice to put it aside. Too many years of relationships that didn’t have true stamina and depth. Now Cas would have what he craved for so long. He just needed to find a way to relate to his mates.

  It wasn’t just them that were withholding, Cas was, too. He didn’t trust his wolf shifter mate and he was cautious of his wizard. They needed to get past the issues to be able to come together.

  Knowing that his security and the pack would keep an eye on the four, Cas joined Uri and a few others in the pack house to discuss locations.

  Luka walked in half an hour later without a shirt on, jeans hung low on his hips and eating a cream puff. Luka didn’t drip or ooze sex, he swam in it, every move sensual, his physique delectable and that cheeky smile mind blowing.

  Cas’s thoughts immediately went to spreading the man out on the table, stripping him naked, and smearing him with cream so Cas could lick the gorgeous creature clean.

  “Nah, you don’t want to take the old Robinson homestead.” Luka stuffed his face and sat on the edge of the table, ignoring the growls this caused from Urian.

  Cas waved a finger and covered his mate with a shirt. “And why not, mate?”

  Though Luka’s eye twitched at the mate comment, he didn’t say anything, just looked over the map and tapped a few places. “Either of those are good. How big is your pack, anyway?”

  “Most term us a guild. I have three hundred and twenty-three fae plus a few of their mates who are different creatures, even a little sprite.”

  “Sprite?” Uri grinned. “We have some of them around town. Skittish little things and dramatic. Fun though.”

  “Why are you moving, Caspar?” Luka crossed one location he had tapped off the map.

  The wolf was more relaxed now, perhaps the run had assisted. Wolves did like the freedom to run and roll around. And Luka had stated he preferred to call him Caspar. Was the wolf beginning to feel a connection despite the potion? Tudor may have been right regarding this.

  “Because L.A. is very populated. Where we are stationed is being encroached upon yearly. A few months ago a skate park was put up right next door.” That had been annoying, especially as fae kept sneaking out to go skating at all hours of the day and night. “We require more space and to be closer to other paranormals, especially during these Renegade times. Why did you cross that property off the map, Luka?”

  “Sprite don’t much like dirt and dust. Gets drier on that side. This property has some hills and even a few caves. This one.” He tapped another with a pen. “Has streams and a good amount of forest. Fae like forest. Up to you, both are good.”

  The feline shifter ambled in eating also and dropped a tray of food onto the table. “Finished yet? It’s like, real late. Luka wants to dance.”

  “Where is Tudor?” Cas demanded.

  Luka shrugged. “Dunno.”

  Marco just smirked. “Playing cards with that real cute little fae. He said he was your brother. Since you’re six foot six and he’s a tiny little thing, I had to take a couple of sniffs to confirm that.”

  “Do not sniff my brother. Do not touch my brother.”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t work with shifters.” Alpha Uri leaned back in his chair. “Luka’s right, he spends a lot of ti
me throughout the valley, knows it as good as any pack member. Both those properties are good. The one with the caves, the Cavern it’s called, needs a bit of work with the house and outbuildings. The other property, Minstral, has only been standing vacant a few months and was renovated just before placed on the market so it’s ready to go. It depends on what type of terrain you want.”

  Wolves and fae liked forest. “We will take Minstral. I will inform the sprites in L.A. there is a property here suitable if they wish to have a small outer gathering established.”

  “Sounds good. Minstral backs right onto our pack land here. It’ll be direct access, and if you allow our wolves to run in certain parts we can make an agreement to provide scouting to ensure your property is free of Renegades and others.”

  “That sounds good.” Vis nodded. “But let it be known I don’t want a pack of shifters wandering into the main house whenever they damn well feel like it.”

  “Now I’m hurt.” Luka clutched at his chest dramatically, pouting. “And I thought you wanted me, Vis, baby.”

  Vis rolled his eyes. Cas just shook his head, but Vis had a point. At the rate they were going who knew how many more creatures would end up on their doorstep?

  “How big is this house?” Cas frowned.

  “Here.” Alpha Uri tapped a few keys on his laptop then handed it to Cas. “Photos. Big spread, main house is three stories, grand old thing and fixed up nice, five smaller two story houses, and a big barn. No garages though and most of its forest.”

  “Not good for protecting,” Cas murmured studying the photos and aerial shots. “We can do something about that.”

  Luka leaned over Cas’s shoulder and began playing with the computer and messing up the photos. Cas had his work cut out for him, he could see it now. The wolf was sent to frustrate the hell out of him, his friends were sent to test his infinite patience, and the wizard was going to use most of his charm, which Cas severely lacked.

  He may be a prince and third in line for the royal fae throne, but he was a trained warrior and diplomat at times. Charming, he was not. Straight forward, his way or no way. Luka would probably wriggle his way out of anything whereas Tudor would retreat.