by Joyee Flynn
“Do what?” I asked gently, seeing the fear in our mate’s eyes. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like we’re mates or something, right?” Virgil flinched as he went pale. I opened my mouth to specifically ask the question, forcing him to answer, but he opened the door and darted into his room before I could, locking it behind him.
“I knew it,” Mareo whispered as he ran his fingers over the door. “He’s ours. I’d bet all our savings that he’s ours. Why wouldn’t he tell us? What’s happened to our poor mate that he looks so scared?”
“Closet case?” I guessed, shrugging.
“No, something more than that.” He shook his head and then gave me one of those soulful looks that made me always melt at how intense my mate was. The man saw everything. “Let’s go talk to Caleb. He’ll help us.”
“But he’s Virgil’s friend,” I hedged even as I trailed after my mate.
“Exactly,” he chuckled. “He’ll know all we need to know about our potential mate and how to get him into our arms.” I hoped Mareo was right. I felt intensely attracted to Virgil. He was gorgeous and all but it was more than something shallow. The only other man I’d ever felt that draw to before was Mareo. It just seemed all the signs were pointing to Virgil being our mate so why would he not be glad and instead look scared?
I knocked on the door to King Caleb’s study, knowing he had a meeting in a bit. “Come in.”
“Sorry to interrupt you, your majesty,” Mareo said as we entered, both of us dipping our heads in respect.
“Guys, seriously, if it’s just us, call me Caleb,” the King drawled yet again. “Or I swear I’m going to think we’re not friends.”
“Yes, Caleb,” I said quickly before Mareo could argue. He was very stuck in his ways and sometimes I had to snap him out of his ruts. Caleb was awesome and our friend. I didn’t want to lose that. My mate gave a slight nod, letting me know he understood what I’d just done.
“Cool. So what’s up?” Caleb glanced at us from what he’d been looking at.
“We were wondering about what makes a vampire’s fangs come out,” Mareo said smoothly. “There’s been some rumors among our people and we felt it was best to come to our most trusted source to get answers so we didn’t have the wrong ideas running rampant.”
“I hate rumors but I can understand why the fae would be gossiping about vamps, especially with this blood thing,” he grumbled as he rubbed his hands over his face.
“You mean that’s true?” I gasped, not being able to hide my shock in time.
“Yes. I thought everyone knew that now.” Caleb swore under his breath and got to his feet. “Please press upon the fae staying here that it’s not a rumor. Your blood, if not despelled by your Queen, pretty much drives a vampire mad. And not the good kind of crazy shifter blood can do.”
“Okay, give us the short version on that,” Mareo sighed. Yeah, I wasn’t up to date on all of this either. Caleb quickly went over what fae blood did to vamps, and then how shifter blood worked.
“So your kind isn’t specifically drawn to fae or shifter blood? Your fangs won’t just pop out when you smell one of us?” I asked, trying to get the answers we needed.
“No, not at all,” Caleb said firmly. “Unless a vampire is severely thirsty for blood, they should have complete control over their fangs.”
Mareo nodded as if this conversation was no big deal. Damn, my mate was smooth. “What else would make them come out? Aggression of course. I’ve seen yours descend when you’re sparring.”
“Yes, but normally when it’s aggressive our eyes change to like a gray or black and our hands to claws if we’re threatened,” Caleb clarified. Good, so it wasn’t that Virgil had been threatening us. “They pop out when we’re turned on.”
“So every time you see a man you’re attracted to your fangs come out?” I asked. “Have they ever come out for women since you’re gay?”
“No, nothing like that,” he snickered. “I was never with a vampire woman, but most of us don’t bite other vampires than our mates. Micah used to tell me of the human women he’d bed, his fangs would pop out as they’d climax, he’d drink, lick the wound closed to heal as they finished, and most times they’d never be the wiser he just had a pint.”
Mareo nodded and I was out of questions so I deferred to him. “But he had control no matter how turned on he was? Ever a time when vampires can’t control them besides severe thirst?”
“When I say severe thirst, I don’t just mean we’ve gone without all day. I’m talking like getting over injury and need to replenish big-time,” Caleb explained. “Other than that, the only time I’ve seen vampires not be able to control them is when they smell their mates. My situation was a little different because I was frightened of hurting Liam and Lorcan but they still popped out when I smelled them.”
“I think that gives us enough to answer any other questions we might get,” I said, nodding my head as I took in what Caleb said. He basically just confirmed what we’d thought. Virgil was our mate and he didn’t want to admit it.
“Anything else then?” Caleb asked as he walked back towards his desk.
“You said we’re friends, right? We can ask you something personal?” Mareo hedged as he shot me a glance.
“Of course but we have to make it quick. I have a meeting and I don’t want it to run long because I really just want to take the night off and visit with my visiting friends. I know it’s Stefan and Patrick’s belated honeymoon, so they won’t be staying with us too long. They’re going to want lots of alone time.” He wiggled his eyebrows as if we hadn’t already known what he’d meant.
“We were wondering if we’d step on any toes if we asked to spend time with Virgil Marius while he was here.”
I held my breath as Mareo’s words hung in the air, hoping Caleb didn’t see the question as crossing some line.
“You can try but Virgil’s straight,” Caleb chuckled. “Then again, I thought I was too before I met my mates. Or maybe I didn’t. Who knows.” He bit his lower lip and stared off at the empty fireplace as if wondering about his past.
“Virgil?” I hedged.
“Oh, right, sorry. Yeah, I’ve really never known him to date much or talk about anyone he’s been with. He’s kind of closed-mouthed about his personal life. He’s a great guy though. He’s not a bigot and won’t freak if you ask him. Just don’t be offended if he says no. I’m pretty sure he’s never crossed the fence. He’s been looking for his mate for as long as I’ve known him, always saying he’s ready to make a life with her.” Caleb shrugged.
I felt my heart drop into my stomach. That could explain a lot. Depending on how old Virgil was, he could have spent hundreds of years waiting for a female mate only to find out he was mated to two male warriors who towered over his six-three frame. Ouch. Yeah, that would make anyone flip.
“How long are they staying?” I asked, trying to keep the panic I was feeling out of my voice.
“Only two nights, though I was hoping to talk them into a third. There’s a lot I need to discuss with them at dinner tonight that I couldn’t over the phone or e-mail. You’ll be there, right? I trust your input and with some new developments I was thinking of sending you to discuss what’s been going on directly with your Queen.”
“Of course. We’ll leave you to your meeting,” Mareo agreed. We excused ourselves and left his study.
“We only have two nights?” I whispered in horror. “He looked so scared and was so quick to push us away. That’s not going to be enough time to change his mind, Mareo.”
My mate scratched his chin as he nodded. Then he got a feral smile on his lips and that mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Not without help, it’s not.”
Oh shit. He was up to something. That could either be really good for us, or really bad. With Mareo it was a fifty-fifty shot if his plans worked or if it made things worse for us.
I prayed to the gods it was that the plan worked this time. We couldn’t lose our mate.
Chapter 2
Mareo
I knew Foma had questions but we didn’t have much time. Dinner was in a few hours and for this to work we needed to hurry. I gave him a wink as we jogged along, trying to reassure him I had everything in hand. To be honest, I didn’t. This would either epically work or epically fail.
I was praying for the first.
“Jordy, we need a favor,” I said as I found the man we’d been looking for.
“Are you sure about this?” Foma hissed at me, figuring out the plan.
“I’m open to suggestions if you’ve got another idea,” I shot right back before focusing on our cute little friend and sometimes bedmate. “We need your help, sweetness.”
“I have some work I need to do but then I can help you,” Jordy replied shyly, his eyes filling with lust.
“Oh, hun,” I whispered. I pulled him out of the main hallway and down a deserted corridor, Foma following. I cupped Jordy’s cheek, wincing when he pursed his lips. “No, Jordy. I’m sorry. We need your help because we think we’ve found our other mate.”
“Oh, congratulations,” he mumbled, hurt filling his eyes as embarrassment heated his cheeks. “What do you need from me? What can I do to help? I’m just liaison to the local wolf pack.”
“Yes, but we found out that wolf blood can help us open up a vampire and drive up their lust,” I hedged as I ran my fingers through Jordy’s soft black hair. “We need your help. The man isn’t staying long and something’s holding him back. We need to spur him past the fear into need and desire mode so he’ll admit everything to us. He won’t go to another for his needs if his mates are here. No man of honor would do that.”
“You want me to help you get your mate drunk with my blood?” Jordy gasped, pulling away from me. “No, I won’t do that.”
“Please, Jordy?” Foma begged quietly. “I’m not a fan of this either but we’re desperate. We can’t smell our mates like you guys can. He’s given us every sign he is but we can’t just call him a liar. He’s good friends with the King. We’re just going to give him a little bit to help loosen him up.”
Jordy worried his lower lip for a moment, glancing between us. “You said this man isn’t from here. Is he one of the visitors from America?”
“Yes and they’re only staying a few days,” I answered.
“I’ll help you but will you help me?”
“Of course. We would have even if we weren’t asking this of you. You know that, Jordy,” Foma said gently. “What’s going on?”
“You weren’t in a position to help me before,” he explained, shaking his head. “I want out of my pack and far, far away from here. Being liaison is the only thing that’s helped but I want out of Greece. If you end up with your mate and go back to America, will you help find an Alpha who would accept me into his pack? Mine won’t let me leave and no one wants to go against him around here. But that far away, they might not care.”
“You have our word we’ll help. We can ask our Queen either way, Jordy. We’ll figure out something,” I said firmly. I didn’t know what was going on and it wasn’t my place to ask for the full story, but Jordy was a sweetie and wouldn’t ask for assistance lightly. I might just put in a call to Magdalena anyways.
“Thank you,” he sighed in relief. “Yes, you can have my blood. Just don’t tell anyone you got it from me. I don’t need to be in any more trouble than I seem to always be in.”
“Why didn’t you tell us, Jordy? We could have given you sanctuary,” Foma asked gently.
“Wolf business is supposed to stay with wolves.” Our little friend shrugged.
“Fuck that,” I growled, cupping his cheek. “We take care of our friends. Go with Foma. He’s trained as a medic and can take the blood we need. I’m going to call our Queen right now and ask about the pack that’s in her coven. We’ll get you out of whatever’s going on, Jordy.”
“Thank you,” he whispered as he stood on his toes and kissed my cheek. “I wish I had gotten mates like you. Your man is very, very lucky.”
“I hope he feels that way one day,” I admitted sadly.
“Hey, life is scary. Maybe he’s just reeling and would come around on his own,” Jordy said gently. “A little of my blood and he’ll be begging for the pleasure I know you both can give. Then you’ll show him how big of hearts you both have. He’ll see how loving, kind, and wonderful you both are.”
“Thanks, sweetness.” I rubbed his hair affectionately before he hurried off with Foma. I quickly called the Queen but she was in a meeting. Baylor was currently working as her personal guard and message taker I guess and said she’d call me back as soon as she could. Feeling I’d done what I could for right then, I headed to medical where I knew Foma would be.
Time to get our mate into our arms, our bed, and into his heart. We’d help Jordy as soon as the Queen called me back.
* * * *
Virgil
After I had calmed down from my mini-freak-out over finding my very male, very massive mates, I called my only really close friend Ferris Braden. He was busy so I didn’t bother leaving him a message. What would I have said anyways?
“Hey, Ferris, I know we’ve never talked about this kind of stuff, but I thought I was addicted to werewolf blood and that’s why I liked to have two men fucking me but apparently I was wrong. I just wanted to see what being with a guy was like and I had two offer, but then I kept going back. I thought it was their blood so I told them no more. Then it seems fate just wanted to fuck with me because I’m mated to two massive fae warriors.
“So am I a recovering addict or am I just gay? If I’m gay, then why have I never been attracted to men over my three hundred and ninety years until recently? I thought maybe after that mission six months ago when I hit my head I jarred something loose in me that made me wild and wanted to try something new. But apparently not and maybe I’m just losing my mind. Can that happen with a vampire?”
Yep. That sounded good. It gave me another idea though. I quickly found Riley in my contacts and connected the call. I didn’t even greet him. “Can a head injury change what someone likes?”
“Hey, Virgil, how are you?” he drawled. “You have to be more specific than that for me to answer you. Are we talking about a vampire?”
“Yes.” I racked my brain as to how to ask the question without really asking it. “Say a person never really liked strawberries, or just never would have wanted them, asked for them, or craved them. Could taking a blow to the head make them all of a sudden crave strawberries? Or say affect their sense of smell to where they think they smell something that’s not there?”
“Virgil, what’s going on?” he asked gently, but very quietly. I heard some shuffling and then a door close. “Does this have something to do with when you got hurt several months ago? What are you wanting that you didn’t before?”
“Strawberries?” I tried, knowing that it sounded a question instead of a statement.
“Brother, talk to me. You know I can’t tell anyone as your doctor. You know I don’t judge. I respect that you’re a private man and you like to keep to yourself but that’s not healthy if something’s going on. Obviously you’re not sure or confused. I mean, why would you need to know about wanting something you haven’t before and your sense of—” He gasped and I winced. “Virgil, did you find your mate?”
“Mates,” I admitted in a choked whisper. “I’ve always wanted women, Riley. But I don’t know who I am anymore. At the Halloween party I was flirting with this sexy wolf, and I thought he was a girl with the way he was dressed up. We went off alone and I realized he was a guy when we were making out but it was fun and all my brothers are gay and it’s not like I was disgusted so I thought I’d just try some wild times. Sow my oats.”
“Sure, that’s completely normal,” Riley said supportively.
“And then his friend came looking for him and next thing I knew I’m drinking from them and they’re, we’re, um, both of them, me, yeah.”
“They took you together,” he hedged,
trying to help me.
“Yes,” I whispered as I felt my cheeks heat up. “I thought it was the wolf blood. Maybe it made me a little too wild. Then I wondered if it was the crack to my head I took. It was like I couldn’t stop though. But I did a few months ago, thinking I’d become addicted to werewolf blood or something and it made me want things I wouldn’t normally want. I’ve never wanted that before.”
“I’ve never heard of that side effect of shifter blood, Virgil.” I could hear they sympathy in Riley’s tone, but knew he was telling me the truth. “And I scanned your brain weeks after you were hurt. You healed just fine. There’s nothing to suggest a personality change and a hit to the head wouldn’t leave you with just one change like this. And shifter blood really isn’t addictive. They just tell vampires that to prevent us from ever trying to keep them like food.”
“Maybe it could be addictive to just someone though, right? I’d crave it, Riley.”
“I wouldn’t rule it out then,” he hedged. “I’d need to run some tests when you get home. I think the more likely answer is you equate wolf blood with the excuse to be free to do as you want which is experience two men in bed like that. There’s no shame in that, Virgil.”
“I know. We have friends who are in ménages. Damian likes to bottom for Cyrus and they’re into all kinds of kink.”
“Then what’s holding you back?”
“There was a plan, Riley,” I whispered as I felt my eyes burn. “Someone doesn’t just change from being attracted to women after over three centuries of it to men. And it’s not like I want a man. I want two men on either side of me. It’s freaking me out. I’ve never looked at a man and now that’s what I crave.”
“Just breathe, Virgil, okay? Nothing needs to be decided today.”
“Except I met my mates in Greece. I think they know because of my reaction when I met them. They’re two massive fae warriors, Riley. That so wasn’t the plan. The plan was to mate a nice woman, have lots of babies, be a warrior, be happy, and live my life.”