by Lynn Hagen
“What exactly do you do?” Theo asked, his eyes grazing over every single bike. As a man, he appreciated the sleek and beautiful way all the bikes were made. As a smart man, Theo knew each one of those beauties cost a mint.
Nazaryth walked over to a panel that had wires sticking out precariously as he lifted the lid. To his amazement, Nazaryth began to punch in numbers. There was no way that panel should work. The damn lid was smashed and barely covering the panel.
“The code is seventy-five, thirty-six,” Nazaryth said as a wall slid open, revealing a narrow passageway. Curious, Theo stepped forward, peering inside to see lights lining the passageway. There was a set of steps that seemed to be carved out of the stone from the mountain.
“This is only the surface. The living quarters are above.” Above? He had to go up? Theo prayed up wasn’t too damn high.
What was with this guy and heights?
Theo hadn’t failed to notice that Nazaryth never answered his question about what he did for a living. He also hadn’t failed to notice that Nazaryth didn’t hesitate with giving Theo the code to his lair.
Glancing around the hangar once more, Theo felt as though nothing he was seeing was real, like he was dreaming all of this.
When he heard the panel sliding back into place, Theo hurried inside the passageway.
He saw Nazaryth right before the man disappeared around a turn, leaving Theo alone in the passageway. He placed his hand on the wall, feeling solid rock under his palm. This only confirmed that he was indeed inside a mountain.
“Here goes everything,” Theo muttered quietly as he began to ascend upward into the unknown. He took it slowly, his steps measured as he made his way up the stone stairs. As he reached the top, Theo blinked.
The passageway opened up, leading into a large, spacious room. It looked like a damn palace. The floors were made of marble, and the wide-open floor plan was breathtaking as he noticed the murals on both the walls and ceilings. There was great detail work in the stone pillars. He also saw modern things. There was furniture, a large flat-screen television, rugs, art decorating the wall, but no windows, only a balcony that he could see.
Was this real?
“You must be Theo.” A slightly muscular man jumped up from the couch with his hand extended. “I’m Silo.” As Theo opened his mouth to say hello, the man continued. “This is our home. Right over there”—Silo pointed to the left side of the room, to a door that sat on the right side of the wall the man was pointing at—“is the kitchen. Help yourself to anything in there. We have appliances, so don’t think you have to build a fire to cook, although I wouldn’t run the microwave and oven at the same time.” Silo spun around, pointing to an entranceway on the same side of the room. “And that’s the wing to our sleeping quarters.” His hands waved in front of his body as Silo continued. “We don’t sleep together or anything like that. We all have our own room, but you’re welcome to explore wherever you want. Just give a guy warning before you wander into any of the bedrooms.” Theo cocked his head, wondering what drug Silo was taking. The man reminded Theo of a nerd that tinkered with electronics as Silo stood in place bouncing. He probably paced manically, talked excessively, and could fix anything around here. The only contrast to that theory was that Silo stood taller than Theo and was broad in the shoulders. Silo was nothing like those small computer geeks that weighed about one hundred pounds.
“Uh, thanks.” Theo ran his hand over the back of his neck, wondering if he could explore the place just to get away from Silo.
The man seemed to radiate with untapped energy.
“Anytime,” Silo said as he clapped Theo’s back.
Theo’s head shot around when he heard a low growl. Nazaryth was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, his skin turning that funky shade of bloodred once more as he bared his fangs.
Silo’s hand quickly left Theo’s shoulder. “Shit, man. Sorry, I forgot.”
“Don’t forget again,” Nazaryth warned as he walked back into the kitchen.
“Forget what?” Theo asked.
Silo’s voice dipped low as he leaned close to Theo without touching him. “Nazaryth has found his zaterio. He has two days to claim you before the mating heat kicks in and he goes mad.” Well, shit!
Chapter Three
Nazaryth stood at the kitchen counter, trying his best to give Theo time to explore his new surroundings. He had let Theo come through the passageway on his own, and now his mate was in his home, their home, getting acquainted with the other winged beasts.
He knew Theo needed to take this in baby steps, but the mating heat was starting to make his skin feel heated, tight, and fucking itchy as hell. His cock was so hard that he could probably use the damn thing as a meat tenderizer right now. His fangs itched to sink into Theo’s soft flesh as Nazaryth held on to the counter with a death grip.
He wasn’t going to force his mate to have sex with him, but hell if Nazaryth couldn’t smell Theo’s scent all the way in the kitchen. It was thick, musky, and earthen, making Nazaryth want to run into the living room and throw his mate to the floor and show him just how a winged beast mated.
His damn wings were fluttering in the kitchen, ready to wrap around Theo for the claiming. Get a fucking grip!
That was a very tall order considering Theo’s scent was getting stronger by the second. He clenched his jaw as Theo walked into the kitchen, his classic good looks stealing Nazaryth’s breath in his current condition.
“I wouldn’t suggest coming in here right now,” Nazaryth warned with a tight growl. “I barely have control at the moment.” His mate stood in the doorway, his head cocked as he studied Nazaryth. “Is it the mating heat?”
Nazaryth nodded.
Theo snorted as he tucked his arms over his chest. “It can’t be because we aren’t mates.”
Nazaryth pushed from the counter, getting directly in Theo’s face as his fangs extended at his zaterio’s strong scent. “I wouldn’t push the subject, Theo. Not right now.” He didn’t mean to be so curt with the shifter, but Nazaryth had never in his life felt anything close to this. No wonder beasts had gone insane when they couldn’t get to their zaterios. It felt all consuming, and this was only day one.
The gods must be getting a good laugh right about now.
Theo swallowed as he backed away, giving Nazaryth a nod. “I’ll go into the other room.”
“Do that.”
As soon as Theo disappeared, Nazaryth stuck his head in the freezer, desperate to cool his heated skin. It wasn’t working. It was as if Nazaryth’s skin was in some sort of aphrodisiac state, tingling and hot, making his blood boil to the point his brain was frying.
“That bad?” Dog asked as he walked into the kitchen. Nazaryth could see the smirk his best friend wasn’t trying too hard to hide. He slammed the freezer closed as he walked over to the sink and grabbed a glass of water.
“Nope.” There was no way he was telling Dog that he felt like he was being put through a grinder. The man would have too much fun with that tidbit of information.
“If it gets too bad, I can always toss you into the deep freezer for a few days.” Dog snickered and then jumped out of the way as Nazaryth took a swipe at him. He was feeling aggressive as hell, and Dog was the perfect person he could take it out on. The beast could hold his own, allowing Nazaryth to rid himself of some of this aggression.
“Do you really want to go there?” Dog asked as he circled around Nazaryth. “Because I can spank that ass for you.”
“I highly doubt it, mutt.”
“Oh, using derogatory names, are we?” Dog taunted as he went in for the kill. The beast slammed into Nazaryth’s midsection, taking him down. But it didn’t last long. Nazaryth was back on his feet within seconds, placing Dog in a headlock.
“Bastard,” Dog growled as he swung his body around, breaking the hold and pinning Nazaryth’s arm behind his back. It was too easy.
Nazaryth had Dog up against the wall, his fangs extended and ready for atta
ck as his best friend laughed in his face. “Fuck if the mating heat isn’t eating your brain cells.”
It was true. Nazaryth wasn’t sure what was going on inside his body, but he wanted it to go away. Never had he felt this way before, and fuck if he wanted to feel it again. The beast inside of him was trying to emerge, and his throat was tight for thirst. He wanted to drink from Theo until the man begged to be fucked.
He shook his head, releasing Dog as he backed away. “I don’t think I can stay away from him.”
“You better think of something. If you force Theo, the mating won’t work. You know this.”
Nazaryth’s brain knew this fact, but his body was totally ignoring it. The gods had a fucked-up sense of humor. If Theo denied him in any part of the claiming, the bond wouldn’t hold. The gods had been merciful when creating the winged beasts by allowing them to have mates, but they also stuck that fucked-up ass clause in there.
Not that Nazaryth would force Theo, but if his mate got mad and said no, nada. There would be no bond. Nazaryth took a deep and steadying breath before he left the kitchen. It wouldn’t be so bad if Theo wasn’t fighting this. If his zaterio would just acknowledge that they were mates, then Nazaryth could forgo the heat and fuck Theo into the wall.
He wasn’t going to be that lucky.
Theo could see the stress lines forming on Nazaryth’s face as he walked over to a desk and sat down. There was no way Nazaryth was faking the funk. His skin was slightly red, and he was sweating profusely.
Could Nazaryth be his mate?
Theo wasn’t sure what to think. He knew that Dorian had been his mate. Hadn’t he? He growled at all the doubt now filling him. Never before had Theo doubted who Dorian had been to him, but seeing Nazaryth sitting across the room looking as though he were going to combust at any moment had him delving deeper into his memories.
There had been a pull. Theo remembered that clearly. He had been drawn to Dorian’s kindness, sweetness, and caring ways. The man had truly been a work of art. His lost mate hadn’t a cruel bone in his body.
Theo had loved everything about the man.
And there was also the fact that he didn’t feel any pull with Nazaryth, just lust. The guy was hot as hell, but Theo wasn’t drawn to him—other than wanting to have bone-rattling sex with the guy.
How could they be mates?
The only thing Theo felt was horny.
Just as the thought left his head, Nazaryth’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing at Theo as if he could scent Theo’s rising libido. The way the beast was looking at him made Theo feel achy and wanting.
Nazaryth raised his head and sniffed the air once more before his fangs slid further from their sheaths. Oh yeah, the man could definitely smell Theo’s lust. The guy cocked a brow at Theo, as if asking if he wanted to do something about his raging hard-on.
Theo looked away.
He could still feel Nazaryth staring at him.
“Get out.”
Theo stood at Nazaryth’s command until Silo shook his head at him. “He means us. You stay.”
Theo wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay by the lust-filled, guttural look blazing in the beast’s eyes. Had Dorian ever given him such a wanting look before? Theo would have remembered that because his skin felt as though it was coming to life, humming for just one touch.
“I can smell your lust, zaterio.” Theo didn’t even bother correcting the man. He was afraid to contradict anything Nazaryth claimed right now. Raw desire and lustful need were coming off of the man in waves. Theo felt rooted to the spot as Nazaryth crossed the room, his walk predatory.
“I–I don’t know what you’re talking about.” That’s right. Play dumb, you moron.
Nazaryth stopped a foot away, his hand lifting as the back of his knuckles grazed over Theo’s cheek. The man’s skin was so hot to the touch that Theo instantly jerked away.
“You feel what you do to me?” Nazaryth asked as he moved an inch closer. “It will only get worse the longer you make us wait.” He was blaming Theo for his condition? Theo twisted his lips as he knocked Nazaryth’s hand away. “Go take a cold shower, bub.” Nazaryth’s eyes narrowed to slits as a low growl left his chest in a rumble. “I could lie on an ice shelf right now and melt it. Nothing can cool me down except sinking into your tight ass.” Theo’s cock jerked at the crass words. They were turning him on big-time.
He glanced around, wondering if touring the bedrooms was such a smart idea, but he needed to get away from Nazaryth. The man was fucking with his head. Don’t feel sorry for him. He’s not your mate.
He’s the one that got you into this mess in the first place.
“That may be true, but I’m the only one who can keep you safe now.” Nazaryth growled as he took a step closer. Theo was stunned that Nazaryth was able to read his thoughts.
“How?”
Nazaryth tossed a hand up in the air as he shook his head. “As mates, we can talk to each other through a bond that is slowly forming between us. Now that you are here with me, it will only get stronger.”
“I can’t be your mate,” Theo argued weakly. He was starting to doubt a lot of things since coming here. Nothing made sense to him, but he couldn’t refute the evidence standing right in front of him.
Nazaryth was sweating profusely, and his pupils were dilated. His fangs were extended, and his body was still slightly colored with that funky bloodred color. But there was one fact that he couldn’t let go of, one fact that stopped him from believing Nazaryth’s claim. “We are only allowed one mate, and mine died a long time ago.” Nazaryth grunted as his lip curled up. Theo could have sworn he could see right into Nazaryth’s very soul at that moment as the man waved a hand at him, spinning around and walking back toward his desk. “I’m tired of arguing the point. As sorry as I am to say this to you, Dorian was not your mate. I am, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner we can get past this.”
“How can you know this?” Theo asked heatedly.
“Because there is only one chosen one for each beast, and you are mine!” Nazaryth’s deep voice boomed off of the walls as his chest heaved heavily, his fangs showing clearly as his fist pounded the small desk, making it groan under his protest. “We are given only one. You could not have been mated before me. That’s impossible!” Theo was tired of the arguing as well. He spun around, heading for the steps that would take him out of this insane asylum. He wasn’t going to stand here and listen to Nazaryth belittle what he had with Dorian.
As Theo reached the steps, the door slid closed, blocking his exit.
He turned toward Nazaryth, scowling angrily as he pointed at the impossible man. “Let me out of here.”
“No,” Nazaryth said with no regret in his tone. “You are not safe to wander around down there. Do you forget that the hounds are after you?”
There was no way Theo could forget something like that. His skin still crawled thinking about that big fucking dog in the tavern. “I’d rather take my chances with Fido.” He could see the instant hurt on Nazaryth’s face and regretted his words, but Theo was pissed.
Nazaryth was standing there mocking what he had had with Dorian, and Theo wasn’t going to stand for it. The man had no idea what they had shared, and he wasn’t going to listen to Nazaryth tear apart his love for his dead mate.
“He wasn’t your mate.”
“Get the hell out of my head!” Theo shouted as he began to walk toward the sleeping quarters. He wasn’t sure which room he could use to lie down in, but he’d take his chances with the other beasts rather than stand here and listen to Nazaryth’s irritating claim for one more second.
“Last door on your left.”
Piss off, you arrogant bastard!
A haunting laugh followed Theo as he left the living room in search of the last door on the left. As Theo walked down the hallway, he noticed how finely decorated the place truly was. There were thick stretches of carpet lining the floors, decorative tapestries hanging on the walls, and thick mahogany wood
everywhere the eye could see.
If he hadn’t seen the outside of the place with his own eyes, Theo would never have guessed they were inside a mountain. The doors were ornately carved with strange symbols. Theo couldn’t resist. He stopped and walked to the closest door, running his fingers over the carvings.
“They are spells Nazaryth placed on this mountain to keep anyone from finding us,” a man with thick black hair said from across the hall. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Theo nodded. “What does it say?”
The man walked over to Theo, but kept a small measure of distance from him. The guy’s fingers traced over the dark wood as he smiled. “In laymen’s terms it says to stay the fuck away or untold pain will be brought upon the intruder.” Theo smiled at the humor in the guy’s voice. “I’m Theo.”
“I know who you are,” the man said with a wry smile. “Name’s Dog.”
Dog, really? “You don’t turn into one of those dogs I saw in my tavern, do you?” Because that would really freak Theo out. Seeing one of those hairy things once was enough for him.
Dog shook his head. “Nah, that was a hound of hell. I’m a winged beast, big difference.”
“What kind of a beast do you shift into?” Nazaryth hadn’t been too clear on that point when he had explained to Theo what a winged beast was and how they came about.
“You saw Nazaryth when he came into the tavern when Morbius and Rythicam came after you?”
How in the hell did Dog know this? “Yeah?”
“That’s his beast. Only you couldn’t see his wings. I myself turn into a funky-cool blue color.” Dog chuckled. “The coloring of our skin when our beasts are unleashed indicates not only our age, but our rank.”
Interesting. “What does red mean?” Dog laughed once again. “I thought Nazaryth explained all of this to you?”