Tamian

by Faith Gibson

  “You’re absolutely right. It took me a while to figure out my place in the world and my part in helping out. I have to admit, I was a bit selfish growing up. Instead of doing my part, I remained hidden from the world while following Tessa.” Tamian dished out their food and set the plates on the island. He came around and sat next to her. Picking up his fork, he pushed the eggs back and forth without taking a bite. “Being a clone took its toll on my mind as well as my ego. My family never made me feel like I was anything less than their loved child, but it still confused me as to where I fit in. It wasn’t until Tessa finally gave in to the mate bond with Gregor that I decided I needed to step up and do my part to help out.”

  “What do you mean, finally gave in?”

  Tamian smiled. “She fought the pull for about three years. Jonas had us convinced we needed to hide from the full-bloods. When Gregor figured out she was his mate, he was relentless and finally wore her down. Those two were volatile at times. Hell, she even shot him. Not once, but twice.”

  Lucy choked on her food, and Tamian clapped her between her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  Nodding, she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Yes. That’s... She’s really something else.”

  “You have no idea. Tessa would fit in with the Hounds perfectly. She’s been riding motorcycles for a long time, and she’s got an attitude that goes on for days. You saw the docile side when you met her.”

  “That does it. I have to move to New Atlanta. I haven’t had many friends over the years. Anna, the one who taught me about computers, was probably the closest thing to a best friend I’ve ever had, and we only hung out for a few months. I can see Tessa becoming that for me. Or the sister I never had.”

  “As long as you don’t let her talk you into a crazy scheme, I’d like to see you two get closer. Before you came along, she was the most important person in my life.”

  A phone rang from somewhere in the chalet. Tamian slid from the stool to retrieve it. “That might be Julian,” he explained as he took off toward the bedroom. When he returned, he had his phone in one hand and a laptop in the other. Placing the computer on the island in front of them, he tapped a few keys and brought up a video. It was a news report from New DC.

  A building on fire was in the background, while emergency personnel moved around the scene. The news anchor said, “The GIA has issued a statement. Deputy Director Phillip Ramey was killed sometime last night. Their representative wouldn’t reveal cause of death as they continue to investigate.” Tamian turned the sound down.

  “Rafael ordered Julian to take a vacation day, but he’d set up alerts on the computers at the lab as well as the cameras. When his phone pinged with a notification, he went into his office at home to see what set the alarm off. Ramey was making sure nothing in the lab could be traced back to him, so after taking the bodies of the men he’d shot to the basement, he set fire to the building after removing the computers and notes. When he got to his car, something was caught on the outside security cameras before they were destroyed.” Tamian switched to another tab and turned the computer toward Lucy.

  “Holy Zeus,” she muttered as she watched her boss get mauled by a lion. When the lion shifted to an eagle, there was no doubt who it was. “Monk...”

  “It looks like your Hound took offense to the way you were treated.”

  “He’s not my Hound. What about the evidence? Ramey put everything in his car.”

  “Watch.” Tamian fast-forwarded the feed, and it showed a naked Monk returning to the vehicle to retrieve everything Ramey had taken from the lab. “Maybe he heard something and was making sure the coast was clear before going back. Whatever the reason, there’s nothing the GIA will find linking you to the lab. Julian created a code where any feed coming from those cameras only came to him. Even if Ramey had someone working for him, that person wouldn’t be able to download anything the cameras recorded. The only evidence linking you to the lab is now with Monk. There’s something else. Julian sent a copy of the video of you jumping out the window, a large eagle catching you, and Ramey killing his men to the GIA, along with a statement of how he forced you to work in the lab at gunpoint. It was sent from one of the employees of the lab who was killed.”

  “Won’t the GIA want to know what we were working on?”

  “Probably, but that’s where you can tell them anything you want. There’s nobody to corroborate your story, so there’s no one to deny it either.”

  “What happened to the other employees? He didn’t kill everyone.”

  Tamian hesitated to answer. Lucy grabbed his forearm. “Tamian?”

  “There’s something I need to tell you. It’s...” Tamian paced the kitchen, clearly nervous.

  “I need you to be honest with me. We’re mates now, and that means we share everything, right?”

  Tamian stopped in front of her, setting his hands on his hips before lowering them to his side and clenching his fists. “Right, but it might alter the way you feel about me.”

  Lucy doubted that. She was already falling in love with him after such a short time. No, she’d fallen completely. “Do you trust me?” she asked.

  “With my life,” Tamian said without hesitation.

  Lucy slid off her stool and took his hands into hers. “Then trust me with this knowledge. I promise I’m not going to run away, no matter how bad you think it is.”

  “Okay. Remember when I told Monk to shift, and he did?” Lucy nodded, so he continued. “I can command others to change their actions, and I convinced the employees from the lab to take their leave and go on long vacations.” Tamian released her hands so he could put his on her shoulders. “And before you ask, no, I have never used my ability on you.” Tamian stepped back and placed a fist over his heart. “I vow to you, on my honor as Prince of Italy, both our families, our mate bond, and any future children we bring into this world, I have never and will never coerce you into doing something against your will. I only use my ability for the greater good. Okay, I might have used it on Tessa once when her shorts were too short, but that was for her own good. She looked like a hooker.”

  “I need to call Ryker.”

  Tamian’s face fell, and Lucy stepped closer, placing a hand on his jaw. “Trust me,” she urged. Nodding, he offered Lucy his phone with Ryker’s number already programmed in. Her hands shook as she hit the green button connecting the call.

  “St. Claire, how’s my girl?” Ryker said in greeting.

  Lucy was momentarily taken aback at her uncle claiming her as his own. Blinking the tears from her eyes, she managed to say, “Ryker, it’s me. I’m doing great, but have you heard from Monk?”

  “Yes. He sent me a text and told me what went down.”

  “What’s he going to do with the stuff from the lab? If he’s pissed at me, he could still destroy my life.”

  “He’s on his way home with it now. Monk’s feelings for you are deeper than any of us knew. He’s apologized for going off the rails, but he would never do anything to hurt you. He’s going to take some time away to get his head back on straight, but as far as I’m concerned, this is over, and you can come home.”

  “Technically, I’m still under contract with the GIA, but Julian put a plan in motion that I think will take care of that. Speaking of Julian, I’ve decided to return to New Atlanta with Tamian so Julian can teach me more about computers. That will allow me to help the Hounds with the Ministry.”

  “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

  “You do?”

  “Lucia, I know better than you how taxing Rory can be. If you were to move back home with your mate in tow, the two of you wouldn’t get any alone time. Kyllian and Hayden are already watching your house, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

  “What about the secret room?”

  “It’s been sealed off. If anyone were to come to investigate, they wouldn’t find anything. There was one thug scoping out your house, but Hayden took care of him after learning he worked for your boss. Wit
h the way things have played out, there shouldn’t be anyone else coming around. If there comes a point in the future when things have settled down and you wish to remove what Lucius was hiding, we’ll take care of it then. I do suggest you come back home for a short visit before you move to Georgia, though. If not, Rory would be on the first plane to New Atlanta, and Sutton would be with her.”

  “Thank you, Uncle. For everything,” Lucy said, doing her best to keep her voice steady.

  “I’d do anything for you, Little Dove. Give me a head’s up when you plan on returning, and I’ll make sure my brothers aren’t staking out your home.”

  “Will do. I’ll talk to you soon.” Lucy disconnected the phone.

  “Sweetheart, we need to talk about—”

  “No, we don’t. I trust you, Tamian. You made a vow on our children. How could I doubt that?” Tamian blushed, and Lucy thought it was the sweetest thing in the world. It was too soon to be thinking about kids, but when it happened, Lucy would be ready. “I guess I need to come clean about something, too. The Gryphons are capable of simple mind coercion as well, but it only works on their mate, for some reason. Mostly, when our kind mates with humans, they trust their mate to keep the secret. There have been cases where they chose to keep the truth from their partner, for whatever reason.”

  “That’s good to know. But I have to say, I’m surprised at some point down the line the humans haven’t let it slip there are shifters walking around.”

  “Honestly, we are too. I guess it’s inevitable at some point, but until it happens, we don’t dwell on it. Now, let’s reheat our breakfast, and then, I want to do some exploring.”

  “What kind of exploring?” Tamian asked, picking up both plates to zap in the microwave.

  “The kind without clothes,” Lucy purred. Breakfast forgotten, Tamian set the plates down before striding around the island. He grabbed Lucy around her waist and tossed her over his shoulder. Upside down, Lucy slapped his ass, laughing all the way to the bedroom.

  After completely wrecking the bed, soaking the bathroom floor, and breaking the coffee table in the family room, they decided to take their exploring outside. With no one around to see them, Lucy shifted into her eagle while Tamian phased, and together, they took to the skies.

  Owning several hundred acres around the chalet allowed them to soar freely. Finding his mate allowed Tamian the same happiness all the other couples had, but Lucy being a Gryphon offered him something no one else had – the freedom to fly. Together. Tamian vowed to never take her for granted. Flying alongside his mate’s stunning form was mesmerizing. He could watch her all day, but when she dove toward the grass around the chalet, she had other ideas.

  Tamian landed, retracting his wings. Instead of returning to human, Lucy shifted into her lion and before Tamian could brace himself, Lucy pounced, knocking him backwards. Her large paws on his chest kept him from getting up, but if she wanted to play, he would let her. Lucy kneaded his chest while huffing in his face. It was a loving puff of breath instead of the threatening one she’d given Monk. Tamian didn’t hesitate to stroke her fur, a deep purr vibrating through her throat as he ran his fingers along her tan coat. “Gods, you’re amazing,” he said, looking into the golden eyes of her animal.

  Lucy nudged his chin with her nose as if to say “thank you.” With a swipe of her tongue against his cheek, she shifted into her human form and draped herself across his body. The brown jeans he had on were torture. Not only did they keep him from feeling all of her skin against his, they held his erection tightly behind the zipper. Giving him a sly wink, Lucy scooted down between his thighs and took care of his last problem. With his button released and the zipper lowered, Lucy tugged on his pants. Tamian lifted his hips so she could pull his jeans down his legs. He kicked them off and held his breath as Lucy focused on his leaking cock.

  Hesitantly, she ran her tongue up the length several times as if testing the waters. When she reached his slit, she licked at the precome. “Mmm,” she hummed before taking the plunge, wrapping her lips around the head and sucking him as far back as she could. Lucy worked him over with little finesse. He could tell she didn’t have much experience giving head, but she more than made up for it in enthusiasm. Her fist followed her mouth as she bobbed up and down. Just the sight of her on her knees was nearly enough to have him shooting his load into her mouth, but then Lucy purred, the vibration going straight to his balls. When he felt he could no longer hold back, Tamian tried to push her away, but his mate wasn’t having it. Lucy used her free hand, pushing on his chest, to keep him in place. “I’m coming, Sweetheart,” he warned. Lucy kept his erection in her mouth and swallowed down most of his release. He thrust into her mouth, doing his best not to choke her.

  When Tamian’s cock was softening in her mouth, Lucy pulled off, giving the tip a little kiss. Licking her lips, she crawled up his body, looking at him with green eyes filled with more emotion than words could express. He still wasn’t used to seeing her with his eyes, but the love emanating from behind them was what mattered. He’d yet to say the words, but they were coming, and soon. They might have thousands of years stretched out before them. Then again, maybe not. Even as shifters, they weren’t promised another day, and he wouldn’t make her wait to know exactly how he felt.

  For the first time in his life, Tamian couldn’t think of a thing he was worried about. Not even taking over the throne gave him pause. With Lucy at his side, he would rule the world. Her absolute trust in him was a thing of beauty, just like everything else about his mate. Lucy was pure perfection, inside and out.

  Epilogue

  New York

  2049

  Tamian held Lucy’s hand as she and Simone chatted backstage, waiting for Cyanide Sweetness to take the stage. Lucy’s pregnant belly was covered by a band T-shirt, and she’d never looked more radiant.

  Getting Lucy’s contract with the GIA terminated hadn’t taken long. Julian had produced a document which outlined Ramey’s manipulations in getting Lucy hired under false pretenses. With the evidence stacked against a dead man, the government had no recourse other than to let her retire. They remained at the chalet for two weeks, continuing their explorations. By the time they returned to the States, he’d told her how much he loved her, and she didn’t hesitate returning his words.

  The Hounds welcomed him with open arms, although Rory did her best to guilt Lucy into remaining in New York. It didn’t work, and a week later, after introducing her to his parents, they were in New Atlanta. As Lucy settled into her training with Julian, the mates took Lucy under their proverbial wings after she showed them her real ones. Tamian had laughed at Trevor, who was completely smitten with Lucy. If the human hadn’t been mated to Jasper, Tamian might have stepped in. But all the mates held Lucy on a sort of pedestal. She laughed it off, proving she was “just a normal girl.” Her words. There was nothing normal about his mate, and he was glad for it.

  Of all the mates Lucy connected with, Simone was the one she was closest to. When they first met, Lucy told her how their eyes changed after mating, the same as Simone’s and Desi’s had. Lucy was introduced to Simone’s mom, Celia, and after some digging – with a little help from Julian – Lucy found Simone’s father. He turned out to be a Hound named Archer who was passing through California when he met Celia. She admitted it was a weekend affair with no strings attached. It had taken months before Simone decided to get in touch with the Hound. Celia had left the decision up to Simone. Things went well, and the three of them had a wonderful relationship.

  The backstage area was cordoned off for Desi’s family and friends. Sixx, Desirae, Jasper, and Trevor were among those in attendance. Rarely did Sixx and Desirae miss one of Desi’s performances when he was in the California area, but they had taken a vacation to stay with Tamian and Lucy at their home in New York. The band was also staying with them, and when the Hounds converged on the house, even as large as it was, things had gotten crowded. Tamian couldn’t have been happier, because h
is girl, surrounded by all her family, was ecstatic.

  Tessa and Gregor, wrapped in each other’s arms, came to stand beside them. “I swear these two are gonna be the death of me,” she griped, rubbing her stomach. “I still have three months to go, and already I can’t stay out of the bathroom. Stone, will you still love me if I take to wearing diapers until the demons are born?”

  “Red, stop calling my children demons. And yes, I’ll love you in diapers.” Gregor pulled her closer and kissed the side of her head.

  Tamian couldn’t stop himself from telling his sister, “You know that old saying, you pay for your raising? I guess you’re gonna pay for yours with the twins.”

  Gregor narrowed his eyes at Tamian. “Hush your mouth. My children will be angels.”

  “Just like their mother?” Tamian asked.

  “You have a point.” Gregor grinned until Tessa elbowed him in the stomach.

  “I’m not too pregnant to kick your ass, Stone. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll shoot your ass,” Tessa vowed.

  Everyone around burst into laughter, knowing it wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened. Tamian’s own happiness was made even greater by Tessa’s. Things with her and Gregor were stilted after she returned from New York, and Tamian finally broke down and had a talk with his brother-in-law. Things afterward turned around, and Gregor did everything in his power to show Tessa how much she meant to him, babies or not. It was almost a year later before she got pregnant, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Again, there were some things he just did not want to know about his sister. Tessa and Gregor visited as often as Gregor’s work allowed, with Tessa and Hayden wearing out the pool table. They were evenly matched, but it was fun watching them give each other shit. She’d become an honorary Hound, and the Gryphons treated her like a sister.