by Carol Lynne
“Afraid to challenge me?”
Bly laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Then why are you afraid of a fair fight.”
“Because I’ve absolutely no interest in proving myself to you. My goal is to burn every inch of your skin to the point of death. I want to watch Suni cry before I kill him. And what better place than Suni’s own bed to do it?”
Jarek blinked. How had he missed the utter madness in the shifters eyes? The few times he’d been in Bly’s presence, the man had refused to make eye contact. Jarek had taken it for a sign of weakness; he’d been mistaken.
“He loved you,” Jarek told Bly, hoping to stall for time.
“He tried to kill me!”
“No, he didn’t. He gave you a sign of his devotion, that’s all he was guilty of. Maquay’s the one who twisted the truth into something ugly.”
Bly’s eyes narrowed as he stalked toward Jarek. “Don’t you dare say that about him. Maquay’s always been there for me, even after I strayed.”
“You’re as crazy as he is.”
Bly chuckled. “Maybe.” He pulled a hot iron out of the fire. “He’s dead, you know.”
Jarek’s heart lurched. “Who?”
“Maquay. Happened about thirty minutes ago. I felt our connection break.” Bly glanced from the fire red tip of the iron to Jarek before placing the poker back into the hot coals. “He was my mate. Something unheard of in nature, but the Gods saw fit to ridicule my brother and me by giving us a love so taboo we’ve spent a lifetime hiding it.”
Jarek bit the inside of his cheek. He refused to feel an ounce of pity for Bly or Maquay, but maybe he could use Bly’s feelings for his brother against him. “I’m sorry. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re planning to kill Suni after I’m dead. I can’t imagine the kind of torture he’d go through living every day without his true mate.”
Bly blinked, showing the first crack in his armor.
“I mean sure, he’ll feel pain when you kill him, but that’s nothing compared to a lifetime of that kind of torture. I know if something happened to him, I’d want to die in the quickest way possible. Although I doubt I’d have the inner strength to kill myself. That would take a much stronger person than I’ll ever hope to be.”
Bly glanced down at the gun in his hand. Yes! Jarek knew his plan was working. Bly was starting to think of his life after vengeance.
“I know if someone killed my mate, I’d probably make that person’s life a living hell for them. No way would I give them the easy way out. I’d make them suffer to the point of madness, but I can see you must still have feelings for Suni. Otherwise, you wouldn’t give him the easy way out. Thanks.”
“If I let him live, he’d still have Mica,” Bly spat.
Jarek shrugged as much as the chains would allow. “Sure, but he really only has Mica because of me. Hell, I doubt Mica would even stick around for long. So you see, not only would he have lost his true mate, but his imaginary one as well. No, you’ll be doing the right thing by killing him.”
Bly reached down and picked up the hot poker once again, then dipped the end into a small pile of gold dust on the floor. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, but unfortunately, either way you’re going to die.”
Jarek closed his eyes as the glowing iron was thrust toward him. He felt the searing heat as it plunged into his abdomen. Jarek screamed as the poker was pulled out.
“Shhhh, you’ll attract attention,” Bly giggled. He carried the bloodied shaft back to the fire. “One isn’t nearly enough to kill you. Although, I bet your guts feel like their liquefying as the gold eats away at your insides. Am I right?”
Yes! Jarek wanted to scream at the madman. The process was repeated three more times before the pain became too unbearable. Jarek felt himself slipping away. His eyes closed for, what Jarek knew, was the final time.
As he welcomed death over the continuing torture, he heard Suni shout his name. He only hoped his plan had worked.
Suni charged into the cave he’d once called home as Bly plunged a poker into Jarek’s shoulder. “Jarek!”
Bly spun around and laughed. “You’re too late, it seems.” Bly glanced down at Jarek’s lifeless body. “I’ve dealt you the same fate you dealt me. Only I’m smarter.” Bly raised the gun to his mouth and fired.
Before Bly’s brains had a chance to land on the floor, Suni was at Jarek’s side. He tried several times to break the chain shackling Jarek’s wrists together with no luck. Knowing time was of the essence, he looped the chain around his neck and scooped his bleeding mate into his arms.
As he picked his way carefully down the side of the mountain, he prayed to Mother Earth. “Save him. I’ll be everything you’ve asked of me if you save him.”
Suni was answered by a flock of birds overhead. He gazed up into the dark cloud. “Please, help me.”
Two large golden eagles landed on a rock a few feet from Suni. In the blink of an eye, Hakan and Enapay appeared.
“He’s dying,” Suni explained.
Hakan nodded. “I know. Mother said to take him to the healing spring.”
Suni shook his head. “He won’t make it that far.”
“Have you forgotten what I am? Trust in your Gods, Suni.” Hakan stepped to a clearing and transformed into the biggest prehistoric-looking bird Suni had ever seen.
Enapay stepped forward. “Lay your mate down and Hakan will take him to the spring.”
Hakan’s words came back to Suni. Trust in your Gods. He did as the man asked and carefully deposited Jarek onto a large bolder. Suni stepped back as the large bird took flight. “Where’s he going?”
“Watch,” Enapay said, pulling Suni further away from Jarek.
Hakan swooped down and snatched Jarek from the rock, cradling the lifeless body in his talons as he once again took to the sky.
Knowing Jarek was on his way to the healing spring, Suni turned to Enapay. “Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome.”
Suni shifted and took off toward the spring he’d heard Jarek speak of. With the Gods on his side, he knew his mate had a chance.
* * * *
Daniel and Hakan were holding Jarek between them when Suni lowered himself into the milky-colored water. Hakan relinquished his spot when Suni placed a hand on his new friend’s shoulder.
“He should be okay,” Hakan informed Suni.
Using one arm to support Jarek’s back, Suni ran his hand down his lover’s cheek. “Baby? Can you open your eyes?”
Daniel reached out and squeezed Suni’s arm. “He can’t. Not yet anyway. Ryker’s gone to get Mica. The love of all three of you will be required to wake him.”
Suni looked down at Jarek. “But he’s alive. I can feel him breathing. I can hear his heartbeat.”
Daniel nodded. “The water has kept his body alive, but it will be love that revives his soul.”
Suni was relieved when Mica came barreling down the path toward the spring. Although Mica’s complexion appeared ashy, Daniel must’ve had laid his magic hands on his shoulder. He couldn’t help but smile as Mica walked into the spring fully clothed in an effort to get to Jarek as fast as possible.
Still holding tight to Jarek, Suni leaned over his mate to kiss Mica. “I love you.”
Mica chased Suni’s lips and kissed him again. “I love you, too.” Mica gazed down at Jarek before glancing up at Daniel. “What’re we supposed to do?”
Daniel smiled and climbed out of the spring and into Ryker and Hakan’s arms. “Just love him.”
The threesome turned as one and walked away, leaving Suni, Mica and Jarek alone. “But we already love him,” Suni mumbled.
“What happened?” Mica asked, running his hand over Jarek’s wounds.
Suni had been so intent on getting Jarek help, he hadn’t had time to process earlier events. “Honestly? I don’t know. I was searching Bly and Maquay’s house for a clue as to where Bly would’ve taken him when I heard Jarek in my head. He t
old me he was at home. I shifted and raced back to your house, but came up empty. It was then that I realized he was talking about the cave.”
Suni looked over his shoulder and gestured with his head. “Let’s take him to the shallow end.”
Mica led the way to the grouping of smooth rocks and sat down, taking Jarek from Suni and settling the smaller man on his lap. “Go on.”
“I ran into the cave as Bly was pulling an iron rod out of Jarek’s body.” Suni closed his eyes. He knew he’d never get the image out of his head. “Jarek was so still. I thought he was dead. I called his name, but he didn’t move. Bly turned and laughed. He said something about being smart. He put a gun in his mouth and blew his brains out.”
Mica’s eyebrows drew together. “He killed himself?”
Suni nodded. He bent and rubbed his cheek against Jarek’s. “Come back to us, baby. We need you.”
Suni sat back up and gazed into Mica’s eyes. “Tell him. Let him know we’re both here for him.”
Mica’s large hand smoothed the wet hair back from Jarek’s face. “Did you hear that, Jarek? Your King wants you to wake up. I want you to wake up.” Mica glanced at Suni. “We’re going to make sure you have the home you’ve always dreamt of, but that can only happen if you fight to come back to us.”
“I can picture the three of us fighting over the porch swing you’ve talked about, green wasn’t it?” Suni asked.
“Yep, green to match the shutters,” Mica added. “And we can build a swing big enough for all of us. Would you like that, Jarek?”
With Jarek’s lifeless body between them, Suni realized how much others had helped him and the men he loved in the previous few hours. The actions of his friends had gone a long way in healing him of the bitterness that had taken root in his own soul. “Yes, your king needs you by his side if he’s to take his rightful place.”
Mica’s head jerked up to stare at Suni. “You’re going to step up as Alpha?”
Suni nodded. “It’s time. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure something like this never happens in Refuge again.”
Mica reached over Jarek and pulled Suni into a deep kiss. Suni opened for his lover, feeling his own fear and resentment dissolve away in the healing waters. He felt movement against his stomach and broke the kiss. Pulling back, he gazed into the heavy-lidded amber eyes of his mate.
“Hey, baby.” Suni lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on Jarek’s lips before making way for Mica to do the same.
Jarek looked around. “How’d I get here?”
Suni chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. The important thing is you’re going to be okay.”
Jarek wrapped his arm around Mica’s neck and pulled himself into a sitting position. “What happened to Bly and Maquay?”
“They’re both dead. I killed Maquay and Bly killed himself.”
Suni was surprised at the sadness in Jarek’s eyes as they filled with tears. “Hey.” He wiped away the trickle of tears as they began to roll down his mate’s face.
“They really did love each other,” Jarek said. “Bly told me he was going to kill you after he killed me. I told him you would prefer that to living a life without your mate. I hoped it would convince him to spare your life to torture you. I knew Mica would take care of you.”
“I would have,” Mica agreed.
“I know.”
“So why are you crying?” Suni asked, wiping away more tears.
“Because Bly loved Maquay so much that dying was easier for him than living without him.”
Suni felt his own eyes begin to burn. Not out of grief for Maquay and Bly, but at the unbelievable heart of his chosen mate. He knew the unending depths of Jarek’s kindness would go a long way in helping to heal the cougar shifters.
“Remember when we first met, and you asked what possible reason Mother could have to choose you for me?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I think I’ve figured it out.” Suni placed his hand over Jarek’s heart. “This. Despite everything you’ve been through, your heart is still full of compassion, even for those as vile as Maquay and Bly. We’ll need that in the coming months. There are a lot of wrongs to be undone.”
Jarek smiled. “I wouldn’t have been able to cry over love if you and Mica hadn’t shown me what it meant.”
“See? We’re all perfect for each other, because I never thought I’d be good enough for someone to love, but here the two of you are.” Mica leaned in and kissed first Jarek and then Suni.
“Uhhh, why are you wearing clothes?” Jarek asked, unbuttoning Mica’s wet shirt.
“Because when I saw you in the water, all I wanted was to hold you.”
“And now?”
“Now?” Mica handed Jarek off to Suni. He reached up and pulled his shirt over his head, heedless of his earlier injury.
Suni reached out and ran his fingers over the fresh round scar. “Does it hurt?”
Mica shook his head. “Just one more to add to my already impressive collection.”
“What happened?” Jarek asked, leaning forward to kiss the injury.
“Maquay shot me, but it’s okay. We don’t have to worry about them anymore.” Mica stood and pushed the clinging uniform pants down and off before diving into the center of the spring. He came out of the water and smiled. “You guys coming?”
“Not yet,” Jarek answered as Suni carried him into the deeper water.
The three met in a frenzy of kisses and licks. At some point in the erotic exchange, Mica ended up with Jarek’s legs wrapped around his waist. Suni leaned in and sucked the lobe of Mica’s ear while probing Jarek’s hole with two fingers.
Jarek didn’t even flinch as Suni buried his two middle digits as far as they would go. “This water’s amazing,” Suni said as he added a third.
Jarek laughed. “According to Daniel, this spring is for more than healing. I didn’t really understand until now.”
Suni ran his other hand over the firm mounds of Mica’s ass. “You gonna let me fuck you, while you fill our mate?”
Mica moaned as Suni rubbed against his hole. “You’d better believe it. Of course, if we try to do it here, someone’s likely to get a mouth full of water.”
Suni knew the magical water was healing more than their wounds. It was bringing them together like never before. Suni knew he couldn’t explain it, but he felt something extraordinary was about to happen. He gazed into Mica’s big, beautiful eyes. “We need to be in the water.”
Mica stared back and finally nodded. “Okay.”
Suni removed his fingers from Jarek’s hole and guided Mica’s cock into position. Jarek wiggled his hips several times before his ass opened and swallowed Mica’s fat cock.
With his foot, Suni felt around until he found the perfect rock resting on the bottom of the spring. He led Mica to it and propped his lover’s leg up enough to open his ass without hindering Mica’s rhythm with Jarek.
He stepped up behind Mica and rested his foot on the same stone as he pressed the head of his cock against Mica’s hole. Mica’s moans joined Jarek’s as Suni inched his way into the root.
Once the three of them were joined, the milky water began to swirl around them. At first Suni tried to tell himself it was waves created by his and Mica’s thrusting hips, but soon the entire spring appeared to be alive, dancing at their union.
“What the hell…” Mica whispered, catching sight of the unnatural phenomenon. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know, but I think it wants us to finish.” Suni’s thrusts quickened as he held on to the two slick bodies. He ran his hand down Jarek’s back and entered his mate’s hole with a finger alongside Mica’s cock.
Jarek was the first to groan his release, followed quickly by Mica. Between the ass squeezing his cock and the one trying to pinch off his fingers, Suni didn’t stand a chance. He came harder than he ever had before, vibrating with the force as his seed shot deep into his lover.
Suni closed his eye
s and slumped against Mica’s back. Something began to tickle his skin and he chuckled. “What’re you doing?” he asked Jarek.
“What? I’m not doing anything. I thought you were doing that.”
Suni opened his eyes and stared at Jarek. At the same time, the three of them looked from each other to the water. Small bubbles began popping up around them, like the water had suddenly become carbonated.
Mica jerked, dislodging Suni’s cock from his ass. “It feels like hundreds of fingers are touching me.”
Jarek nodded. “I feel it, too.”
Although Suni didn’t feel hundreds of fingers, he did notice the tickling at his hip increase in intensity. He reached under the water and ran his hand over the old brand. The once raised and puckered skin was gone.
Amazed, he reached out and touched Mica’s lower stomach. It was as smooth as silk. “Submerge yourself,” he ordered Mica.
“Huh?”
Instead of taking the time to explain, Suni splashed Mica’s chest with the effervescent water. “Watch.”
Within seconds, the scars that had been touched by the water disappeared. Fuck! Me!
Suni chuckled. “I just did.”
Mica’s eyebrows drew together. “What?”
“You said, fuck me, and I said I just did,” Suni replied.
Mica shook his head. “I didn’t say that out loud.” Pinch my nipple.
Suni and Jarek both reached for Mica’s nipples at the same time. Suni stared into Jarek’s eyes. “You can hear him, too?”
Jarek nodded. What does it mean?
“That we’ve been given a gift.” Suni leaned in to kiss Mica. “You’re truly our mate.”
Tears filled Mica’s eyes. How?
It’s best not to question gifts from Mother. Now submerge yourself and let’s get out of here. Suni ended the thought with a smile. Mica was gorgeous even with the scars. He couldn’t imagine how devastating he would be without them, but he knew his new mate’s looks had nothing to do with the reason he loved him.
Mica started to hand Jarek to Suni, but Jarek shook his head. “Despite your opinions, I can stand on my own two feet.”