by Kelex
“And yet you did.”
Reese met the guy’s stare. “I’m sorry. It comes out of my mouth before I can stop it sometimes.”
Colm seemed to relax a little.
“So… what do we do now?”
“We lay low for a while,” Colm said before going to the window and peeking outside.
“You asked me to stay so I could see Midnight. Not hang out in your apartment.”
“We need to make sure no one saw me bring you out of the station, first.” Colm eyed him again, that illumination growing. “Hungry?”
“I could eat,” Reese murmured. “You do have regular food here, right?”
Colm chuckled. “Not craving some Eye of Newt?”
Reese groaned. “Please no.”
“I wasn’t expecting company,” Colm said as he walked over to the tiny kitchenette. “Nor do I do breakfast. I’ve got bread, turkey, and swiss. How’s that sound?”
“Perfect,” Reese said as he sat on the edge of the bed. It was closer to the kitchenette than the rickety looking table and chair near the door. “You never told me what emotion you were feeling on the elevator.”
Colm gave him a look over one shoulder, but then went on to making the sandwiches silently.
“Or about that mate thing at the terminal. You called me a shifter’s mate. What is that?”
Colm sighed. “You’re not going to believe me, even if I tell you.”
“Try it anyway,” Reese said, an odd sensation coming to his gut.
Colm finished up the two sandwiches, put them onto plates, and handed one to Reese. “Beer?”
“Nothing harder?” He felt like he might need a stiff drink to handle what was to come, even if it was like six in the morning.
“Nope,” Colm said. “It’s that or water. Or I could brew up some coffee?”
“Beer sounds good,” Reese answered.
Once a good brew was put into his hand, he took a long swallow. When he was done, he set the bottle on the floor and took a bite of the sandwich.
“You’ve hunted shifters before,” Colm said. “So you have an idea what they are.”
“Werewolves and creatures… human during the day and animal at night.”
“Yes… and no,” Colm said. “I can shift whenever I want.” He took a drink from his beer but left the sandwich untouched. “And weres aren’t full shifters—but something in between.”
“Oh.” Reese had hoped to sound a little less stunned than he was. He’d sensed Colm was a paranormal being… but being confronted with the truth suddenly made it really, really real.
“Some shifters only mate with humans… some only with their kind. Some either. It depends on the race of shifters. Each has their own rules and customs, but for the most part—things are pretty similar.”
“And you?” Reese’s voice squeaked a little. “You? What kind of shifter are you?”
“Bear. Brown bear, if you want to get technical. Bears mate in triads—three men.”
Reese’s lips grew really dry. “Three? Men?”
“Bears are homosexual by nature. It’s just who we are.”
“But… but… are you guys made into bear shifters?”
“No. We’re born this way.”
“Born? But you said you’re homosexual.”
“Two bears can impregnate a man… or another shifter,” Colm said, as calmly as if he were stating the sky was blue. “I had three fathers.”
Reese sat there, staring at Colm as if the man had sprouted feathers.
No, he sprouts fur. Right?
For some reason, he was able to accept that this man was a bear shifter better than he was handling male pregnancy. “You’re pulling my leg, right?”
“Nope,” Colm said before taking a bite of his sandwich.
“Can I see it?”
Colm chewed a second. “See what?”
“The shift. What you look like as a bear.”
Colm finished the last bit of chewing and swallowed before his face began to contort. Fur sprouted all over the guy’s arms and face, his muscles and limbs twisting around. And he grew… taller and taller… wider… until he filled the tiny room.
A roar came from his mouth that shook the walls around them. An old picture on one wall fell, shattering the glass as it hit the floor.
Reese should’ve felt panic.
He’d felt panic when he’d seen the glows coming from those redneck gators’ eyes, but now… he only felt curiosity.
Interest.
Desire.
After sliding the plate to the bed, he rose to his feet and closed the tiny gap between them. He lifted a hand and ran it over Colm’s fur. The feel of it on his hand tickled some. It was so soft. Silky. He trailed his hand again, luxuriating in the feel of this man.
This beast.
A beast that was wearing a uniform. Somehow, Colm’s clothes had grown with him. He chuckled slightly. An animal in human clothes just looked humorous.
He took a step back, worried he might’ve crossed a line. Reese hadn’t asked permission to touch the bear—he’d felt compelled to do it. And now he’d laughed.
“I’m sorry… but a bear in a uniform is making me think of Richard Scary books.”
Lifting his stare, he met the bear’s and saw the same light swirling in the depths.
“Can you understand me like this? I mean… is it still you in there?”
The bear’s head nodded slightly as a paw came up. Reese froze for a second, only to watch as Colm caressed his cheek with the back of his paw.
Lust fired up in Reese…
“Why do I feel… like this around you?”
I’m his mate.
The realization crashed into him.
“I’m yours… aren’t I?”
Colm slowly shifted back into his human form. “Mates know one another upon meeting them. An innate drive propels them together. A force of nature.”
“Physical need,” Reese whispered.
Colm stepped closer, resting inches from Reese. “That… and more.”
“More?”
Colm lowered his head, almost close enough to kiss Reese’s lips. “There’s more to the drive than simply sex. It’s a need to protect … to claim … to become one.”
Reese released a breath, his stare focused on those lips that were so close, yet so fucking far away.
“But I thought there is supposed to be three?”
“There’s another,” Colm whispered, his lips growing closer.
“There is?”
Colm nodded before the faintest of touches crossed Reese’s lips.
His eyes closed in a pleasure so great, it nearly crossed the line into agony. The kiss was barely there and not enough. He pushed up onto this toes and gave the bear a true kiss. Starving for the caress, he fisted his hands into the front of Colm’s uniform and dragged himself as high as he could go to take what he wanted.
Colm’s head came down and plundered his mouth.
Reese moaned against the bear’s firm lips. When the man’s tongue swept in again, he opened without question, yielding to the desire pumping through his veins.
Bang-bang-bang went the beating of his heart.
It took him a moment to realize it was a knock at the door. Colm moved away, leaving him cold. “Get in the bathroom,” he whispered, pointing to a door.
Reese quietly raced to the bathroom and closed the door. He leaned into it, listening and hoping they weren’t about to drag him away from Colm.
It might take heaven and earth to do it.
****
“Where is he?” Eilam demanded as he pushed through the door.
“Who?” Colm asked sheepishly.
“Don’t play games with me,” Eilam said. “The station guards have been searching for the human for almost an hour now. I went to review the tapes for them and what do I see? You… smuggling an illegal human into the city.”
“He’s my mate,” Colm said.
Eilam paused, silent. “Fuc
k.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Before I left, the King’s Guard was coming on the case. You don’t want those hunters tracking you and this human down.”
“I couldn’t let them wipe his mind and send him on his way. What other choice did I have?”
“He’s still illegal. He’s unclaimed. You know the rules by now, Colm. You should’ve let him go and left the city if you wanted him.”
“And when would I have time to do that when I’m trying to help you?” Colm scrubbed his face. “What would you have done in my shoes?”
Eilam shook his head. “You have two choices. You claim him and fast—or—”
“I can’t claim him alone,” Colm interrupted.
“Then get him to Theis and talk that bastard into doing what you need to do—or else, get the human out of the city. That’s it. All or nothing, Colm.”
“Theis is… complicated right now.”
“Uncomplicate it… or get that human out of here. Fast,” Eilam said before heading for the front door. “I can only protect you but so much.” A knock came to the door before Eilam could reach it. He looked over his shoulder. “That would be the King’s Guard,” Eilam whispered. He pointed to the window.
Colm opened the bathroom door and grabbed Reese’s wrist. He dragged the human to the window and carefully slid it open as the pounding at the door grew. He climbed out onto the fire escape and helped Reese out before Eilam slid the window closed.
As they began to climb down, Colm saw Theis round the corner outside the building.
He glared at Theis—wondering which way he should go. Did he go out and confront the guard—and show Theis their mate, begging the male to help them, or run?
Theis helped make his decision.
The panda shifter jumped onto the bottom rung of the fire escape and pulled himself up. As soon as he was back on his feet, he pulled out a blade from his hip.
Colm grabbed Reese’s hand and ran up toward the rooftop.
He could hear Theis following and knew they needed to get Theis away from the other guards beginning to swarm underneath them if they were to have any chance of getting away.
The Midnight PD added to the melee, their cars, sirens, and bullhorn bringing undue attention. Onlookers stared up at them as they raced to the roof.
A blast of something hit the side of the building. Colm paused and looked down at a warlock cop. Pushing Reese on, they continued for the roof, Colm putting his body between the warlock and his human.
They reached the roof only seconds before Theis jumped off the ladder to join them.
“I knew you were trouble,” Theis growled.
“He’s ours,” Colm said to Theis.
Theis’ expression changed slightly, his stare going to Reese.
“This is Reese. He’s our mate.”
“This is the other guy?” Reese asked incredulously. “The one with a knife on us?”
“I couldn’t let them wipe his mind and send him away,” Colm said. “He’s ours, Theis.”
Theis glared between them before he put his knife back in its holster. He took a step closer to Reese and inhaled—and then his eyes began to glow.
“If we claim him, he can stay.”
“You broke the law,” Theis said. “He’s unclaimed and therefore illegal.”
“And how were we supposed to get the time to make him legal?”
“You know… I do have a choice in this matter, right?” Reese asked. “I’d really like to stay and see the city, but I’m not quite sure I’m ready for all this. The price is mighty high.”
“See?” Theis asked. “You went too far, Colm. He doesn’t even want to be here.”
“I didn’t say that,” Reese spat. “I said I didn’t know.”
Theis eyed Reese. “You’re illegal and need to leave the city immediately.”
“Theis!” Colm cried.
“The law is the law,” Theis said before he grabbed the front of Reese’s shirt and dragged him close.
For a kiss.
Colm nearly moaned at the sight of it. Theis hungrily kissed their human, just as hungrily as any of the kisses he’d shared with both males.
Theis pulled himself away.
Colm caught the male’s stare.
“That changes nothing,” Theis said to Colm seconds before two king’s guards grabbed Colm’s arms and shocked him with a club.
“Take them to the king,” Theis said to the guards.
“How could you!” Colm roared at Theis before the shock club hit him again, sending him to his knees.
He roared, trying to shift, but the electricity in his system prevented it.
Finally, he fell to the rooftop, his body shaking from the strike of the club.
Chapter Eight
Colm felt himself dragged along a corridor. His body could barely move and was it not for the two guards on either side of him, he’d have been a lump of flesh on the floor. He lifted his head as much as he could and saw they were entering the king’s chambers.
The guards dropped him on the marble as soon as they were before the dais.
“The hillbilly spy. Now I add illegal smuggler to the names I have for you. That’s some impressive list you have there,” the king said as he looked down at Colm.
Colm tried to move his lips and make words come from them, but he wasn’t quite there yet.
“Ma—te,” he whispered, as it was all he had in him.
He cast a look around, searching for help, and could only look on in horror at his human in cuffs.
“The typical punishment for smuggling is exile—and a mind wiping for your human friend. But considering your stature—given the fact you were on your way to being a king’s guardsman—I wonder if I shouldn’t hold you doubly accountable.”
“I asked him to guard you,” Eilam spoke up.
“And it makes me second guess your place as head of my security,” the monarch cried. “Perhaps you should also be sitting beside Colm and receiving my judgment.”
“If that’s what you wish—then do it,” Eilam demanded.
“You think I won’t?” the king asked, rising to his feet.
Colm looked to Eilam, pleading with the man not to rile the king up even more.
“They’re mates,” Eilam said to the king. “He was trying to protect his mate.”
The king’s anger seemed to dissipate some.
“Mate or no, he broke the law,” the king said. “I could hang him for what he’s done.”
“No!” came a cry from behind them.
“Theis?” the king asked, frowning. “Stay out of this.”
“You can’t kill him,” Theis demanded. “Exile them… but don’t kill him or the human.”
“And why should I be lenient on these two?” the king asked.
“If I could have a moment of private audience,” Theis asked.
“No. I want to know—here and now—what reason would you have to save these two? And why you disobey me like this.”
Theis was silent a few heartbeats.
Colm’s stomach was in his throat. Would Theis be honest now, when it mattered most?
“They’re my mates. My triad,” Theis answered.
Colm’s eyes closed in relief.
“Colm smuggled the human into Midnight… because he’s our mate. He didn’t want to let the man go.”
The king was silent a moment. “This isn’t how we do things in Midnight,” he finally said. “We don’t bend rules on a whim.”
“He’s a good man,” Eilam said. “Who made a poor choice.”
“Isn’t that what many criminals are?” the king said. “Good men who make bad decisions? It doesn’t mean I should take their crimes any lighter.” He glanced at Eilam. “I can’t appear weak. Especially now.”
Why especially now? Colm lifted his stare to Eilam, who shook his head.
“I have been nothing but loyal to you,” Theis said. Colm turned and met the male’s stare and saw the desperation in Theis’ eyes… heard it in
his voice. “I beg you not to kill them. Colm didn’t have evil intent. He was not acting out against you. He only wished to claim our mate.”
The king lifted his chin and stared down his nose—and remained silent a few heartbeats. “I’ll consider your request. For now, they go to the dungeon.”
Theis moved closer to Colm and helped him back to his feet. Another soldier took Colm’s other arm, while a third escorted Reese out. His feet worked a little better this time… but he was still pulled on by Theis and the other guard.
He glanced at Theis as they walked, waiting for a sign, a word, something to give him hope. The panda shifter wouldn’t look at him.
They were taken down an elevator before coming to a set of stone stairs going deeper into the earth. They circled the round stone walls with torches lighting the way down.
Once at the bottom, he and Reese were shoved into a cell. The other two guards backed away as Theis shut the door. When it was locked, the two wandered off, as if they were giving Theis a moment to speak in privacy.
Theis lifted his head and finally met Colm’s stare.
“You could’ve stopped this from happening altogether,” Colm said.
“And how long would you have been on the run?” Theis said.
“If we claimed him, it would have been over.”
“No,” Theis said. “You still broke the law. You might’ve saved Reese and allowed him to remain, but you would’ve ended up right where you are.” Theis shook his head. “Stop blaming me for your bad decision.”
“And if I’d sent him away and come to you? If I’d told you we had a mate outside the city, would you have come with me to find him?”
“No,” Theis admitted.
“Exactly,” Colm said. “You barely tolerate me.”
Theis frowned. “Is that what you think? That I barely tolerate you?” He glowered at Colm. “I just put my career on the line to save you both. If I barely tolerated you, do you think I would’ve done that?”
“I shouldn’t have come,” Reese said. “I have completely screwed your lives up because I wanted to prove things of the paranormal world existed.”
Colm turned and looked at Reese. “This isn’t your fault. Had you not come here, we might never have found you.”
“Not a lot of good finding him has been,” Theis said.