by Jo Penn
Vine, his younger brother, eased further into the room and held up a phone. “I had Tudor’s phone. You may want to see some of the old messages on here, brother, they are…rather explicit. Whoever sent them has it bad for your wizard, and not necessarily in a good way.”
Caspar snatched the phone and flicked through. Vine could do amazing things with his magic and technology. Caspar’s skill lay in other areas. Vine showed him the messages with Luka peering over his arm and growling when they read through a dozen.
“What?” Laurie asked nervously. “The Renegades?”
“No. How the fuck did Tudor get past you, Visij?” He’d used up so much magic and energy the last few days he knew he had to rest soon but he needed the house locked down tight to ensure safety.
“He can do more than fix things and make potions.”
“Of course he can, wizards can do lots of things,” Laurie said, confused.
“I mean he has a few skills at a higher level. He can make himself invisible and he stuck me to a wall.”
“Really? But he’s really crap at most things a first level wizard can do and his potion making is worse than mine when I was a kid,” Laurie exclaimed. “Hmm, maybe that explains it. Some who have higher levels of magic in areas lack the fluency in other areas. From what I was told of his old coven, they do things in the old archaic method. Use their witches and wizards up until they are exhausted, let them rest a little, then put them back to work. They don’t go anywhere without permission. Their skills and lives basically belong to the coven leader to use as he or she wants.”
“That sucks.” Luka frowned. “But you guys don’t do that. Lady Delia and Mason, though he’s a stickler for rules, are pretty open and free.”
“Yeah, there are only a few of the old style covens left and Mason is working hard to eliminate their ways. He and a few other covens are appealing to the Witch and Wizard Council. Anyway, what I’m saying is, if Tudor has higher level skills the old coven would have used him for those and not bothered helping him even out the lower level ones. I can help with that. I wonder if Aunt Delia knows about the hiding magic.”
“Hiding?” Caspar asked.
“Yeah, it’s not invisible, it’s hiding in plain sight. Objects, people, whatever. Few have that one until they are higher level. And the sticking thing is pretty much a part of his fixing magic, just used with a little twist. He pretty much just fixed Visij to a wall.”
“Cool.” Luka smirked. “I could use that.”
Caspar growled. “There will be no more of this behavior. Marco, thank you for stopping Tudor. Now everyone the house needs to be shut down for the evening. Tomorrow I will speak to Tudor about these text messages. Vine, can you work out where they came from?”
“Maybe, may take some time.”
Caspar picked up Tudor. “Come, Luka. Everyone, either rest or guard.”
Luka trailed after him, surprising Caspar as he thought there would be a complaint, some attitude, and maybe Luka would have wanted to hang out with his friends. Caspar was not going to gloat his good fortune his mate was doing as he wished.
After what they had shared, Cas had felt and seen a very different side of Luka, not just the joker, the sharp creature who needed to have sex. There was passion inside that had nothing to do with the fertility wolf. And there was unimaginable sweetness. Luka truly cared about others and Cas was humbled and honored to have felt that with his mate, to have been shown and to have been on the receiving end. He would never take this gift for granted and he would do all he could to make their bond strong forever. He was desperate for more of Luka’s sweetness, in every form.
Depositing Tudor on the bed, he had to explain to his wolf that they must respect Tudor’s request not to be pushed into mating and given time. Luka just rolled his eyes, turned a hand to a claw, and sliced up Tudor’s clothes.
“Was that necessary?” Cas asked, exasperated.
His wolf was very much his own person and did things in his own way and his own time. Cas actually admired that. And he enjoyed the fact there were no hard edges to Luka. He was cheeky and fun, sweet and caring, smart as all hell and very much a rascal, but there was nothing mean and harsh.
“Yeah, they were basically rags anyway. I’ll take him shopping tomorrow for a few essentials then in a few weeks go to Boston to shop.” Luka grinned. “I need to make a stop at a few packs, prides, and covens and release some pheromones.”
Cas growled. “You will not!”
“I really will, Caspar. Because I’m the only fertility wolf in this part of the states, maybe in the entire country and numbers need to increase. We’ve lost a lot of shifters and W&Ws throughout the last five years of fighting Renegades. I don’t have sex with them. I just mingle.” He gave a wolfish grin. “Though that gets me steamed up. Man, Tu needs to put on some weight, but still.”
Yes, still, the wizard mate was delicious with all that creamy white skin and a splattering of freckles. Cas couldn’t help but touch, helpless not to when presented with his mate spread out naked care of their wolf. Lust and pheromones filled the room, lust from both Cas and his wolf.
Tucking Tudor beneath the covers he took Luka’s hand and led his mate back to his bedroom, theirs now. It didn’t take more than a moment to strip and have his mate over him, licking, nibbling, growly. He gave Luka what they both needed, burying himself deep in his mate’s tight heat over the side of a chair.
After, he was shocked that Luka curled up next to him and kissed him senseless. It appeared his mate now enjoyed kissing, and Cas couldn’t be happier. Luka’s kisses were pure sex and sweetness.
Chapter Six
Ambling along the shopping district where all the stores and most of the trendy cafes and bars were, Luka kept his head down and eyes fixed on his phone. He was having a serious debate with Ran over the merits of ransacking the pack’s supply shed for Halloween decorations. Uri said it was too early to put up decorations but hells, Luka loved Halloween. It was one of his favorite holidays, as was Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July, okay, every holiday was Luka’s favorite.
Uri’s mate, Finn, was stirring both up instead of taking a side. Luka liked that about Finn. The seer was a shit stirrer when he wanted to be, which was often.
They had already stopped in a number of shops and were loading Tudor up on much needed supplies. The wizard seemed to be lacking in any sort of style and wore clothes that must be decades old, plus he had no accessories and proper toiletries.
Luka didn’t bother guarding, not when there were a few fae here. Plus, Steven, Marco’s guard, and that witch chick from Laurie’s coven were here watching over their charges, but that didn’t mean Luka wasn’t aware of those around. He could sense trouble so wasn’t worried about being too alert.
He frowned, glancing back to see Marco once again wrap a big paw around the back of Tudor’s neck and pull the man along. He didn’t give it much thought as Marco was always pulling others along. He was a big protective tiger, also lazy and full of mirth. And felines were always manhandling others.
“Okay, bro, you need to be paying attention to your mate.” Marco snatched Luka’s phone and waved it under his nose. “Plan the storage raid later.”
Luka quirked a brow and glanced back to Tudor, surprised to find his wizard two stores down from them peering into a window.
“He keeps doing that. I have to move him along. It’s like he’s never been out shopping before.” Marco frowned briefly over that, then shrugged. Not much bothered the big tiger.
“Maybe he hasn’t,” Laurie said quietly. “That old coven of his probably didn’t let him out except to do commissioned jobs then he would have had a guard with him.”
“That sounds pretty crap.” Luka ambled over to Tudor and glanced in the window. “Like shopping?”
Tudor didn’t remember much about last night. He’d flushed with embarrassment when Caspar explained how Tudor had gotten a little upset and Luka did the zipping of the mouth motion to th
e fae mate who frowned at him but didn’t say anything more. No point in upsetting the wizard again, they all had moments when stressed out, Luka knew that well.
Tudor nodded. “Yes.”
“Good, we’ll do this often then.” Luka held out his hand.
Tudor ignored it and stepped around him, keeping distance between them like he had all morning. Luka was beginning to think he may have some sort of disease that Tudor didn’t want to catch. Or the wizard could be embarrassed after what happened last night. Then it began to wear thin. He didn’t often put himself out there and with the constant rejection his wolf was beginning to get pissed their mate wasn’t giving to them.
He wasn’t big on the whole wolf hierarchy and dominance, he was a different type of wolf, one the pack knew wasn’t going to submit and follow all the rules. They respected this, kept him safe among them, protected and let him roam when necessary. Uri was a good Alpha and Luka respected him, he was one of Drax’s best friends and had always been a mentor and big brother to Luka, so he did show deference and respect, he just didn’t always follow the rules. Ha, he rarely followed rules!
His wolf was beginning to feel a connection…and hells, so was Luka. So far since they’d been out he hadn’t once felt the need to go hit on someone. It was peculiar…and something of a relief. Strange that, it’d never bothered him before. He was all for having a good time and there were so many creatures out there to enjoy.
Now the thought didn’t even stir him. It actually made him flinch inside.
So when he grabbed Tudor and wrapped an arm around the wizard’s chest, locking arms to the side and nipped his throat, leaving a little mark, it felt right, needed. He wanted to claim the wizard, sink his fangs into him, mate. He wouldn’t even mind topping when claiming, felt good to him. Maybe…okay, the verdict was still out about the topping, but he was definitely up for claiming.
Tudor shuddered in his arms, eyes glazing over.
Marco grinned. Laurie smiled and looking away.
“Y-you can’t c-claim me,” Tudor whispered, trembling.
“No, I respect that, for now, but here’s the thing, mate.” Damn he was liking that word! He turned Tudor around and brushed his lips against his mate’s ear. “You wanted time for us to get to know each other but you’re keeping your distance. And not just physically. At least I haven’t done that. So you can stay real close to me now and talk.”
Tudor’s face showed panic a moment. Luka held him firmly, then his mate nodded.
“We’ve got the appointment Tudor wanted with Lady Delia now,” Visij said quietly beside them. “And we are being followed.”
“Yeah? Car? On foot?”
“Foot. And they’re after you, not Tudor. So stop with the pheromones and let’s go.”
Grinning, he turned Tudor around and snagged his mate’s lily white slender hand.
Marco laughed and rolled his eyes as creatures moved past them, snapping his fangs at a few.
Laurie was loaded down with bags, as was a fae. They tossed the bags into the back of a car and climbed in.
“I’ll drive if you want.” Luka wiggled his brows.
“We were advised by Enforcer Drax to never let you drive. And you have lost your license.” Visij climbed into the front seat.
Damn Drax. Marco climbed into the front beside Visij, Tudor between Luka and Laurie.
Laurie talked nonstop the entire way to the W&W coven. The wizard was excited to go home and pick up a few things.
“Just how long are we supposed to be keeping you for this punishment, which seems to me a punishment for us fae, not you and the shifter,” Vis grumbled.
Vis was a good guy. Luka got good vibes from Caspar’s second in charge. It was obvious though he was use to things going a certain way and with the arrival of Tudor, Luka and his friends, Vis was a bit testy. Luka liked that. He liked a bit of harmless disruption.
Tudor sat quietly between them not joining in. He didn’t comment or move though Luka had made sure to press their bodies close together on the back seat. He’d taken some good sniffs, loving the cinnamon and ice cream scent of his mate. Luka also received a nice whiff that Tu wasn’t unaffected by their proximity, but there was also a lot of nervous energy and fear which Luka wasn’t liking.
He didn’t like his mate being afraid. What Tudor was afraid of he hadn’t a clue. Luka didn’t think it was him, so they’d just have to figure out what was causing it and get the issue sorted out. Probably being out and about where Renegades could try and swoop on him again.
Or, it was to do with those sick fucking texts he’d seen last night. Luka still couldn’t think about them without his claws and fangs wanting to come out. That would probably startle his mate so he kept them in. But hells, a creature wanted to do a lot with Tudor when he got hold of the wizard, a lot of draining, fucking, and chaining up. And using that hide magic Tudor had. One thing was clear from those texts, the creature had lost his ever loving mind and he’d already done a few things to Tudor, unpleasant when not wanted. Luka was hoping Vine could trace the texts back to where they originated from, then Luka would be happy to go put the creature out of his misery.
They were admitted to the W&W coven and piled into the grand old building, passing a few witches and wizards, a fae, and other creatures. They were led into a large sitting room where Caspar, one of his men, Luka thought the guy’s name was Sterne or Stein or something, were. Mason was here, as were Lady Delia, Drax, and Xavier Dalton, Delia’s vampire grandson, a really gorgeous vamp who’d most of W&W always had a crush on, as admittedly had Luka. But the vamp, six foot one, slender and toned with gorgeous chiseled features had a mate as long as Luka had known him, which was only a year or so since Xavier moved to the area. Xavier’s mate was a cute human who caused a bit of mayhem and liked to run off when he got stressed.
Xavier sat on a high back sofa, acknowledging them with an elegant nod, his mate Keeley on one side reading an e-book.
On the other sat big Prince Drake of the Sanchez pride, the eldest prince and Marco’s cousin. That prince was way hot and fiercely powerful. Marco grinned and gave a quick bow to Lady Delia before going to his cousin and flopping next to Drake who gave his cousin a head scratch and smile. Cats were always affectionate and touchy feely.
“Congratulations on finding your mates, Luka. Maybe this will stop you leading my cousin and Laurie into trouble.” Drake grinned.
“Thanks, Drake, I guess.” Luka nudged Tudor into the room while Laurie hurried away to collect a few things. “Sit.”
The look he received could wither, but Luka just grinned. He liked his wizard mate. There was strength beneath the surface of reservation and caution. Luka smiled when Vis and Caspar strode into the room.
“Good afternoon, Lady Delia, Prince Drake, Lord Xavier, Lord Mason, Enforcer Drax.” Caspar pulled Luka close and sniffed him deeply, smiled and kissed his cheek, before going to Tudor and sitting beside their mate. Caspar did the same with Tudor, eyebrows rising he stroked the back of a finger over the marks Luka had left.
“Just marking what’s mine.” Luka smirked and sat beside his brother, again noting that Drax and Mason were on opposite sides of the room, neither paying attention to the other.
Yeah, that was weird. Why the big secret? Those two had been together a very long time, yet Luka doubted anyone knew, except him, Marco, and Laurie.
“Strange, I do not appear to be marked.”
Luka’s brows shot up and his eyes fixed on the big fae. Caspar wanted Luka to mark him? Well, damn, he hadn’t seen that one coming. The fae was a big warrior and in line for the fae throne, and Luka hadn’t thought the creature would want to be marked, as that was sort of a sign of belonging to someone. Shifters wanted and expected this, but Luka had no idea about fae.
“I’ll get right on that.” Luka smiled, suddenly very happy.
Weird, this whole mate thing was weird. Who knew it would turn him into a creature that wasn’t much interested in others and actually sta
rted thinking of his frigging mates? Yeah, and it only took twenty-four hours. Now Laurie was going to do that “told you so” thing for the next ten years.
“Good to see, little brother,” Drax said low and surprised Luka by giving him a very brief little shoulder tap.
So affectionate. Luka sniffed.
“You smell like him. Not much, but his scent is all over you. The felines will smell that real quick.”
Drax tensed and discreetly sniffed himself, growling low before he cut himself off. “Excuse me a moment.” Drax strode out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Everyone was talking but Luka took note of the scowl that crossed Mason’s face, and was covered quickly by a bland expression. He stood back from everyone else on that side of the room near the windows, sunlight covering him and picking up the gold through the light brown hair that hung to his slender shoulders.
Drake sniffed the air and glanced over at Mason, brows raised, startled expression on the big tiger’s handsome face. Mason looked at the shifter and raised a brow, then inclined his head and grinned.
Wow, looked like Mason was ready for everyone to know. Luka had to wonder though. Considering the heat he’d seen between the pair the few times he’d caught them together, which they didn’t know about, were they lovers or actually mates?
“We would wait for Drax to return but as he knows most of this, we will begin.” Lady Delia, attractive and looking in her early twenties when she was way old, drew everyone’s attention. “The Renegades are taking out creatures whenever they come across them. They attack covens and packs, small groups, and lone individuals. We have strategies in place and, as we have unfortunately discovered, there are those on the High Council who are involved with Renegades. Tudor is due to go before the High Council and testify. We must keep him protected and able to do the duty he has expressed wanting to, which we greatly appreciate and respect Tudor’s strength and courage.”
Luka grinned at his mate.
Tudor flushed and lowered his head, giving that rusty, awkward smile. Caspar gently stroked Tudor’s back, and Luka thought that was nice. Caspar, he had found, wasn’t all that affectionate, but maybe he hadn’t had reason to be before Drax returned. He must have had the quickest shower in history, and he had his scent block on, something only a few wolves could do, cover their scent.