“Bonding takes sex, right?” Jeremiah asked, deciding to be just as blunt. “You’d need to fuck me?”
“I would,” Grateman confirmed. “I would fuck you, bite you, and drink your blood.” He held Jeremiah’s gaze as he added, “And you would do the same to me.”
Jeremiah tapped his forefinger against the nearly empty bowl, processing that. Could he have sex with this creature to speed up his healing? He felt his prick begin to stiffen at the prospect, so yeah, he was pretty sure the mechanics wouldn’t be the problem. The issue was whether or not it was right.
Could he tie Grateman to him when the gargoyle didn’t know a damn thing about him? The creature didn’t seem to have a problem with it, judging by his patient expression. What if his clutch decided to kill him for his crimes against paranormals? He’d killed more than a few in his years as a hunter.
“I told Leroy once that I didn’t believe all paranormals should be killed, and that’s the truth,” Jeremiah murmured. “But I have done my fair share of killing.”
“Is that something you’re willing to tell me about?”
Jeremiah nodded slowly, trying to figure out how to explain. The beginning was always best, he supposed. “The first paranormal I killed was a cougar shifter,” Jeremiah murmured. “I was out camping with my sister and a few friends. We were attacked while out hiking. My friend went down first, then my sister. My sister’s boyfriend, Wes, and I had knives on us and he helped me send the shifter running. My sister was dead before the paramedics arrived.” Grimacing, Jeremiah continued, “Wes went back with my sister’s body. I stole a gun from a cop’s car when he wasn’t looking and went after the cougar. It was injured, or there was no way I would have caught up with it,” he admitted. “Anyway. I shot it, then drew close to confirm it was dead. Imagine my shock when it shifted into a young man. He didn’t say anything. Just glared at me. And then he died, bled out, I imagine.”
Jeremiah sighed, rubbing his palms over his thighs. He could feel himself growing tired, his eyelids getting heavy. Leaning his head against the headboard, he allowed his eyes to drift closed.
“After getting over my shock, I started watching news articles,” Jeremiah whispered. “Bought a sniper rifle and a handgun. I followed up on animal attacks. Spent a hell of a lotta time at gun ranges in between tracking down suspicious attacks. I killed seven animals in that first year and a half,” he admitted. “I know at least five of them were shifters, not sure about the other two, but if they were going after humans, I won’t say I’m sorry for putting them down.”
Furrowing his brows, Jeremiah didn’t even bother opening his eyes. “Geez, I’m tired. What was in those pain pills you slipped me?”
“The doc gave them to me,” Grateman murmured. “You need your rest.”
“Yeah,” Jeremiah murmured. “Gonna conk out soon.”
“Let me help you lie down,” Grateman responded, sliding his arms under his body and moving him so he lay flat. “There you go.”
Jeremiah hummed, not even opening his eyes when he felt a blanket being slid up his legs. Wanting to get at least a little more out, he added, “I read an article about a coyote that attacked a human. I tracked it down. I didn’t realize until too late that the shifter was just protecting her pups. She gave me a lot of these scars, but she let me live.”
Scoffing, Jeremiah mumbled, “As I lay there in the hospital, I thought about quitting, but then I met Roger. He has resources. Still, it was a wake-up call. Ya know? She wasn’t feral. The teenager that was attacked had been trying to steal one of her pups.” He frowned, something niggling at him. “Well, they looked like pups, but when I saw one of them shift, the boy looked about twelve. Can shifters change from birth? Are they born animal or human?”
Sighing, Jeremiah stopped talking. His head felt fuzzy.
“Shifters are born in human form,” Grateman murmured, his voice sounding so very far away. “They normally shift for the first time around puberty.”
Jeremiah felt the press of lips to his own, the touch too fleeting to think about responding, but he did smile. Even the odd prick of what could only have been Grateman’s teeth didn’t detract from the kiss. In fact, Jeremiah thought it added to it.
“Go to sleep, my mate.”
Even if Jeremiah hadn’t wanted to, he could do little else.
Chapter Six
Grateman watched Jeremiah sleep for several minutes. Turning away from the human, he took the mostly empty plates to the table. He piled everything on the tray, then glanced down at his groin.
“Nothing like hearing your mate tell you about his kills to wilt an erection,” Grateman muttered. “Probably for the best.”
Deciding to track down Maelgwn, Grateman figured it was high time to give a report. He picked up the tray and carried it from the room. Seeing Einan seated on a chair in the waiting room, he crossed to the enforcer.
“I’m going to return these trays to the kitchen and track down Maelgwn,” Grateman told the big, gray gargoyle. “Will you keep an eye on my mate’s room, too?” He figured the enforcer was there watching Quinn.
Einan jerked a nod. “Will do.” He glanced toward the room Grateman had just left, then refocused on him. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s healing,” Grateman replied, pleased the enforcer took the time to ask. “He’s sleeping, at the moment.”
“He has some impressive scars,” Einan commented. It took a hell of a lot to scar a gargoyle’s hide, so Grateman imagined not just the enforcer would be curious about the extensive marks covering his torso. “Did he get those fighting and killing paranormals?”
Grateman grimaced, but he refused to lie. Besides, Einan would be able to scent a falsehood. “Yeah,” he admitted. “Most of them, anyway, from what I understand.”
Einan nodded. “Think he’ll come around? We need to know where his friends fled to.”
“Maybe,” Grateman responded, unwilling to put words in his mate’s mouth. “What are we going to do once we find them?”
A cold smirk curved the big gargoyle’s lips. “Not for me to decide, but I like Vane’s take on it.”
Grateman had heard Vane’s desires on more than one occasion. Kill ’em all. Still, he had to point out—Grateman pointed at the door nearest where Einan sat. “And, yet, he spared that one. Have you heard why, yet?”
Einan shook his head. “Nope. Should be an interesting story, though.”
Nodding, Grateman had to agree. Vane wasn’t known for being reasonable. He still couldn’t figure out how Matthew, the gargoyle’s human mate, tolerated his presence for more than small doses. Still, anyone who saw them together knew that they loved each other.
Hell, they were even having an egg together. Matthew looked about ready to burst. Vane a father. Crazy.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Grateman stated.
Einan just grunted.
Grateman exited the room, quickly heading toward the dining hall. He dropped off the tray at the window leading to the kitchens, thanking Sumak once more. Sumak waved and grinned, then Grateman turned and swept his gaze over the hall’s occupants.
Realizing more than one group of people were looking at him, Grateman fought the desire to roll his eyes. His clutch-mates seemed to have little to do these days. He spotted Maelgwn seated at a far table, along with his mate, Bobby. With them was Tobias and his mate Roland.
Quickly crossing the room, Grateman cleared his throat, waiting to be noticed. Maelgwn lifted his gaze from where he’d been leaning and listening to something Bobby had said. Grateman swept his gaze over Bobby’s form, noticing his baby bump had begun to show.
Maelgwn pointed at the bench seat across from him. “Have a seat, Grate,” he urged. “Have you eaten?”
Grateman nodded. “I have. I ate with my mate. He woke up,” he said, moving to the indicated bench. Instead of sitting, he rested a knee on it and leaned toward Maelgwn. “I have learned a few things. Do you hav
e time to sit privately?”
Maelgwn glanced toward Tobias, nodding as he did so. Everyone at the table stood. Maelgwn turned to Bobby. Resting one hand on his protruding stomach, cupping his jaw with the other, he leaned down and kissed him gently.
“I’ll be back to our rooms when I can,” Maelgwn told him.
Bobby, looking tired but happy, smiled up at him. “Take your time. I’m just gonna go take a bubble bath.”
Maelgwn growled softly as he grinned. “Now I’ll definitely hurry.”
Bobby’s snicker was cut off by Maelgwn kissing him.
Grateman looked away and noticed that Tobias was having a similar conversation. Although, from the sounds of it, Roland planned to go change into his lynx form and romp in the gardens. Tobias told him he’d catch up soon, so they could go for a midnight run in the forest.
Following his chieftain and the second, Grateman wondered if he’d ever have conversations like that with Jeremiah. Did the man want kids? Shit, he had forgotten to tell the man about that possibility.
Something else to add to my to do list.
Maelgwn opened the door to his study and led the way inside. Instead of crossing to his desk, he settled onto one of the love seats set up near the fire. Tobias relaxed onto one of the large chairs, so Grateman took the other one.
“How goes it with your mate?” Maelgwn asked without preamble. “He is healing well?”
Grateman nodded. A smile curved his lips even just thinking of his mate. “Yeah,” he responded. “He’s on the mend. He should be on his feet in a few weeks.”
“That’s good to hear,” Maelgwn stated, sounding like he truly meant it. “And how is his response to you?” He waved a hand toward him, vaguely indicating his wings and horns.
“We hit a bump first thing, but smoothed it over,” Grateman admitted. “He’s... not what I expected, actually.”
“How so?” Tobias pressed.
Grateman rubbed a hand over his face, scowling at the floor. “He’s no innocent,” he explained. “I won’t try to bullshit you and say that he is. He’s admitted to killing a number of shifters, but it was why he did it that I found... interesting.”
Maelgwn cocked his head. “And what reason is that?”
“What could be interesting enough to counter the fact that he’s murdered shifters?” Tobias asked gruffly.
Grateman understood Tobias’ skepticism. His own mate, Roland, had been imprisoned and exploited by a man working with hunters... or he’d bought Roland from hunters. Grateman wasn’t completely certain. He was a tracker, not part of the inner circle, so he wasn’t always privy to every detail.
He didn’t mind that, though, because he certainly wouldn’t want the responsibility of some of the tough decisions he knew Maelgwn and Tobias must have to make regarding hunters.
“His sister was attacked and killed by a rogue cougar shifter while he and some others were out hiking,” Grateman revealed. “After that, he searched for animal attacks. He didn’t go hunting like some others. He looked for those who were already feral or dangerous to humans.”
“So he ended up in that hunter’s facility how, then?” Tobias asked dryly.
Maelgwn also looked interested.
Grateman shifted on his seat uncomfortably. “Uh, I’m not certain,” he admitted. “He passed back out before he could finish his story.”
Humming, Maelgwn rubbed a clawed hand over his square jaw. He exchanged a narrow-eyed glance with Tobias. Maelgwn was frowning when he returned his focus to Grateman.
“Did Jeremiah say anything about where they picked up Nolan?”
“Who’s Nolan?”
“The horse shifter,” Tobias told him. “Who are his people? What happened to the rest of his herd? How long has he been held?” His growling questions slowed, but he did finish with, “I know he’s your mate, but he needs to do something to redeem himself in the eyes of the clutch. He needs to prove he can be trusted.”
“I know,” Grateman responded. “I understand.” He lifted a clawed hand in placation. “He’s been asleep for three days. I just need more time.”
Maelgwn smiled at him, his expression softening. “I’m actually impressed. Quinn has not been nearly as forthcoming. He refuses to say much of anything to us.”
“Vane did mess up his face,” Tobias pointed out, grimacing. “Of course, he also saved him, so—”
“Why did he save him?” Grateman couldn’t hold back the question.
Clearing his throat, Maelgwn grimaced. “Quinn shot at him, hit him once, too.”
“Really?” Grateman hadn’t heard that.
Maelgwn nodded. “Just a graze. He swung his arm, reaching for the gun and connected with the human’s face and chest,” he explained. “Quinn screamed, dropped the gun, which Vane caught. Vane bent it in half and tossed it away. By that time, Quinn had collapsed on the cement. Vane said he was mumbling and babbling about demons and how Paris was right.” He shrugged. “Between being called a demon and realizing Quinn may have valuable information, Vane decided to pick him up and leave him for Perseus to find.”
“Paris,” Grateman repeated. “I’ll ask Jeremiah about him.”
Now, at least, Grateman understood. Quinn had probably hit a nerve. Vane had been held captive for a number of years, so while he shouldn’t have felt sympathy, evidently the big gargoyle had. Plus, Vane figured they could keep him around for information. It wasn’t like the enforcer had known that Grateman had found his mate in a hunter at that point.
“Good,” Maelgwn commented. “Let me know what you find out.”
Grateman nodded. “I will.” He rose to his feet, recognizing a dismissal when he heard one. “Congratulations,” he added. “I see that Bobby is showing.”
“Thank you,” Maelgwn responded, a please smile curving his lips. “He’s due in four weeks.”
“You gonna have kids?” Tobias asked, clapping him on the shoulder, urging him toward the doorway.
Grateman chuckled. “I haven’t even claimed my mate, yet.” He smirked as he opened the door, meeting the second’s gaze. “What about you? Roland ready to make you a family man?”
Tobias snorted. “My mate is busy enjoying his freedom. We have centuries to plan for that.”
“True... shit,” Grateman snarled.
“What is it?” Maelgwn asked, coming up behind them. He had a wide grin on his face. “You don’t think Jeremiah wants kids?”
“I have no idea,” Grateman admitted. “Not only did I forget to tell him that it’s even a possibility, I also forgot to tell him he’s going to live for over a millennia, too.”
“You start bonding already?” Tobias asked, grabbing the door’s edge from Grateman’s hold. He led the way out of the study.
“No,” Grateman admitted, glancing between his leaders. “I offered, just so his healing could be sped up, but he started telling me about all his transgressions and then passed out.” Grimacing, he added, “The pills I gave him from the doc probably had something to do with that.”
Tobias clapped him on the shoulder, squeezing tightly for a few seconds. “Well, you have plenty of time.”
Grateman nodded. “I do indeed.” He frowned. “Maybe I should visit Quinn. Has anyone told him that Jeremiah is here, too?”
“Don’t think anyone has thought of that, yet,” Maelgwn admitted.
“I’ll do it. Maybe he’ll calm down and help if he knows he’s not alone and no one is going to hurt him.” He paused, gaining the other gargoyle’s attention. “Is anyone going to hurt him?”
Maelgwn opened his mouth to respond, then snapped it shut. He frowned and glanced toward Tobias, who shrugged his shoulders. The chieftain shook his head.
“We don’t want to hurt him,” Maelgwn stated. “I suppose we could knock him out and transport him across state lines, but we don’t know if he’s immediately going to start hunting us again.”
“Right,” Grateman rumbled. “He’s no
t mated to anyone, so he doesn’t have a vested interest in our safety.”
Tobias nodded. “We’d need to make certain we could trust him,” he rumbled, a growl in his voice. “And I can’t imagine what he could say that would convince me.”
Grateman understood that. Quinn wasn’t his mate. He didn’t know what he could say to make him trust him, either.
“Right, well, I’ll get back to ’em, then,” Grateman rumbled. Pausing at a hallway that would lead him back to the infirmary, he turned and smiled at his leaders. “Thank you for understanding.”
Maelgwn chuckled. “It took me weeks of watching Bobby before I could step in and woo him. I know how stressful it can be.” He offered him an understanding look. “Finding our mate is a gift, no matter who it turns out to be.”
Grateman nodded. “Thank you again.”
Heading back to the infirmary, Grateman paused in the waiting room. “Hear anything from either of them?”
Einan shook his head. “Nope.”
“Mind if I check in on Quinn?”
While the enforcer lifted a brow, he just shrugged.
Opening the door, Grateman peered around the room. It was pretty much a mirror image of the room where Jeremiah lay. The only real difference was the pictures hanging on the wall... and the man in the bed.
Grateman noted the wide, fear-filled brown eyes peering at him. The human lay on the bed, a couple extra pillows behind his back to allow him to sit up. His hands clutched the blanket, his white-knuckled grip also betraying his fear. Bandages covered his left cheek, the bridge of his nose, above his left brow, and down his neck to disappear beneath his t-shirt.
The heavy, acrid scent filling the room gave it away, too.
Trying not to breathe too deeply, Grateman slipped into the room. “Hi,” he began, struggling with what to say.
“I won’t tell you anything,” Quinn whispered hoarsely. “I don’t care how you torture me.”
Claiming the Hunter Page 5