“No kidding,” Maelgwn commented dryly.
Snarling, Tobias curled his lip in frustration. “Roland not only doesn’t believe we’re mates, so even if I manage to woo him, he won’t believe that when I do express my anger I’d never hurt him.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Tobias paused in his pacing and scowled at his chieftain. “What the fuck am I going to do?”
Maelgwn smiled, showing off plenty of sharp teeth. “You will be yourself, Tobias. You are my second, and I know you’re a good man. You will show him that, even if you slip up,” he stated firmly. Then, he offered a smile. “And it doesn’t hurt to remember that your friends will help. All you have to do is say something.”
Tobias jerked a nod. He did often forget that. Asking for assistance in anything wasn’t something he chose to do if at all possible. Could he though, for the sake of his mate?
Probably.
“I’d be more worried about mating, actually,” Maelgwn stated, cutting into his thoughts. “Can he—” He paused, grimaced, then tried again. “Can Roland get an erection? Can he claim you?”
Tobias just knew if his chieftain’s blue skin hadn’t been so dark, the big gargoyle would have been blushing. While he knew from where Maelgwn’s concern stemmed, his cheeks clenched at the reminder that the easiest way to complete a gargoyle bond was by having his mate fuck him. If Roland couldn’t claim him, he couldn’t go through molt. That meant he’d never gain a human form, and he’d be doomed always to turn into stone during the day, having half a life with his mate.
“Perseus put him on testosterone replacement therapy. It works for humans, so they can have a normal sex life,” Tobias explained. “The thing he doesn’t know is proper dosage, so he’s starting with what a human would be given. He’ll check Roland’s levels daily and slowly up it until it’s where it should be.”
“How does he know what a shifter’s regular level is?” Bobby asked curiously.
Turning his attention to the human, Tobias reminded the man, “There are plenty of shifters here. He’s worked on them many times.”
Bobby lifted a hand, palm out, probably expressing an apology for questioning him. “I really hope it works out.”
“Thank you,” Tobias replied. He sure hoped it worked out, too. Just thinking about erections and mating had his cock thickening in his loincloth. Other than his right hand, he had no intention of doing anything about it, though. He refused to take his mate until he knew Roland could enjoy it as well. He’d never been known for patience, but in this, he refused to budge.
“Okay, tell me about the other shifters,” Maelgwn ordered.
Easing back into the chair, Tobias placed his arms on the rest and rubbed the fabric idly with his claws. “The albino alligator has yet to change. Vane and I assured him that we only wish to help him and he seemed to understand. He allowed Perseus to draw blood and he didn’t give the doc any trouble when he and Leroy gave him as much of a physical as they could while he was in his animal form. He’s currently staying close to the pond southwest of the house.” The gargoyles that monitored security were instructed to keep an eye on the alligator, so they’d at least know if he made a move to leave, shift, or even come inside.
“The boa shifted as soon as he woke yesterday, sometime during the day. His name is Caladon O’Hara. He’d been in captivity for six years and was imported from an island in the South Sea,” Tobias explained. “I’ve offered Raymond and Vane’s services to assist him in locating his pack or whatever he calls it. When he seemed uncertain, I even offered Caladon access to our clutch computers so he could search for himself. I’m not sure if he’ll take it, though.” Frowning, he crossed his arms over his chest as he mused, “I get the impression he’s not certain if he wants to go back.”
Maelgwn nodded. “Well, if I ended up missing and no one came looking for me, I’m not sure I’d bother returning, either.”
Tobias mentally agreed.
“Assign a gargoyle to Caladon, maybe Kort or Holden. Either has a light schedule at the moment,” Maelgwn suggested, referencing a pair of unmated gargoyles who worked shifts in cleaning the manor or cooking in the kitchens. “Ask Gus if he’d be interested in spending some time at the pond. Maybe picnics with Tible and his son.”
Nodding, Tobias made a mental note to swing by the mated couple’s suite. As a rhino shifter, Gus would probably enjoy swimming with the alligator, and Tobias knew that’s why his leader had suggested him. Gus’s mate, Tible, was a small gray gargoyle and together they had a fairly newly hatched son, Vaclar.
“I’ll ask him,” Tobias assured. Leaning forward, he moved to rise, when Maelgwn held up his hand to stall him. Fighting his need to complete his duties so he could go see his mate, Tobias cocked his head and lifted a brow ridge in silent question.
“I received a report from Greg earlier today,” Maelgwn told him.
Tobias straightened in his seat. Greg had remained in Idaho to monitor Bud Wallice and his people. Bud owned a curiosity show in Idaho. That was where they’d found Roland, Caladon, and the alligator. Vane’s mate, Matthew, had arranged to purchase Caladon in his snake form, and Tobias and a few others had used the distraction to slip into camp and rescue the other two.
He’d snagged the alligator while the gargoyle Geoffrey had gotten Roland.
“And?”
“A police report has been filed for the missing lynx and alligator and Wallice has given them Prentiss’ name,” Maelgwn stated. “The police have discovered that it was a false identity and they tracked down the box company we used to move the snake.”
“Damn, at least we paid for everything with cash,” Tobias mumbled.
“Well, now I have police from up there coming here being escorted by Detective DeSoto to speak with Einan, since his name was on the rental contract,” Maelgwn told him. He ran a hand over his face and sighed. “I need a massive aquarium and I need Caladon in it. Then, I need everyone who can’t appear human to stay in their rooms.”
Tobias grimaced. “Damn, Caladon’s not going to like that.” No shifter wanted to voluntarily climb into a cage, even if they were assured to be getting out quickly enough. “Wait a minute,” he murmured, an idea coming to him. “What if we use the arboretum as his cage? Then we don’t have to build anything. Hell, he’ll probably love it in there for sunning anyway.”
Maelgwn cocked his head. “Hmm, I do like that idea.”
“I’ll set it up. I’ll have Cornelius make a beware of boa sign or something,” Tobias added. Then, he shoved to his feet. “And the other shifters?”
“If they can’t stay human, they need to stay scarce,” Maelgwn warned.
Tobias nodded again. “I’ll spread the word. When are we expecting them?”
“DeSoto tipped me off that their flight should land first thing. They’ll be coming in the morning.”
“And Prentiss? How do we explain him?” Gods above, could my life get any more complicated? “Vane sure as hell isn’t gonna allow his new mate to be placed in the line of fire.”
Maelgwn nodded. “I know. Leave that to me. I’ll think of something.”
Tobias actually felt relief. And that’s why he’s the leader. He gets to fix the tough shit. “Then I’m gonna go find Caladon and let him know what’s up, then ask Cornelius to make that sign and give Einan a heads up of what’s going on.”
After pecking a kiss to Bobby’s temple, Maelgwn eased his lover off of his lap and gained his feet. “I’ll speak with Vane and Matthew.”
Turning, Tobias headed toward the door. After pulling the door open, he held it for the other two men. He saw the tense set of Maelgwn’s shoulders. Reaching out, Tobias touched his chieftain’s upper arm to gain his attention.
The other gargoyle turned to him, his expression questioning.
Tobias grinned. “We’ve been through worse than this.”
Maelgwn cocked his head before he chuckled and nodded. “You remember the days we had to
rely on humans to shield us? Now, with so many of us having mates by our sides, we don’t have to rely on outsiders.”
“Yep,” Tobias agreed. “Life’s getting better and better all the time.”
“That it is.”
Heading off toward the south wing, Tobias’ growling stomach made him regret not stopping for at least a quick burrito from the breakfast bar. As he moved swiftly through the place, the fact that he moved toward his mate pushed through his mind.
Tobias paused at Roland’s door. He placed his palm on the wooden panel, knowing all he had to do was step inside and he could see him, touch him. Bowing his head, he wrapped his wings tightly around him and pulled his hand away. Tobias turned and strode to the next door.
Duty called.
Chapter Five
Roland lifted his head from the pillow created by his forearms and listened. For just an instant, he’d thought he’d heard a scrape at the door. He cocked his head when the scent of Tobias wafted oh-so-faintly across his senses. To his surprise, he actually felt his cock twitch at the scent…or maybe it was the memory of the sweet way Tobias had washed him in the shower, touching every part of him.
When no knock sounded, Roland lowered his head back to his arms. Upon returning to his suite with Vane that morning—after his friend had escorted him to the dining hall and made certain he ate until he was stuffed—Roland had spotted the fireplace in the front room. The rug in front of the hearth had called to him. Vane had helped him build a fire. Then, after he’d left, Roland had curled up in front of it and hadn’t bothered to move except to use the bathroom.
He figured it’d have been more comfortable to lie there in cat form, but after living as a lynx for decades, he couldn’t convince himself to shift back just yet.
Once again, the scent Roland recognized as Tobias tickled his senses. Confused, Roland rose to his feet and crossed to the door. Roland pressed his ear to the door and his heightened shifter hearing easily picked up the sound of footsteps and the mumble of low voices.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Roland stepped back, gripped the handle, and pulled the door open. He peered into the hall, then stuck his head through the opening and glanced around.
Roland spotted the retreating forms of two males, one very tall and extremely slender and the second one, who stood a couple of inches shorter but was far broader, was a dark red gargoyle.
“Tobias?” He couldn’t have said the gargoyle’s name in more than a whisper as he unconsciously took a step forward.
Still, the gargoyle turned, confirming his suspicion. Tobias held up a hand, obviously asking for the other man to wait. Tobias strode toward him, and for an instant, Roland worried the gargoyle was upset that he’d interrupted.
Then, Tobias smiled, showing off a few of his sharp teeth. “Roland.”
The way Tobias said his name caused an odd warmth to fill Roland’s chest. He’d never felt anything like it and wasn’t certain what to make of it. “Hey, I, um—” Roland wasn’t certain what to say. He wasn’t even entirely certain why he’d wanted to know if Tobias was near.
Tobias rested a hand on his shoulder. He squeezed lightly, then used his thumb to massage Roland’s collarbone. “I have a couple of duties to attend to, then I’d planned to seek you out,” Tobias told him. “Will you join me for a meal in a while?”
“Um, what time is it?” Roland asked tentatively, uncertain how long ago he’d eaten with Vane. Glancing toward the other male, he wondered what they were doing together. Tobias said that he and him were mates, so shouldn’t he have sought him out first upon waking from his sleep? Roost, that’s what Vane had called it.
“It’s about ten thirty,” Tobias told him.
“You’ve been up for a while,” Roland mumbled.
Tobias nodded. “I had to see Maelgwn and give him my report,” he told him. “I ran out of time yesterday.” He winked. “Too long with the doc, I’m afraid.”
Roland jerked back a bit, feeling a lot like he’d been smacked. Too long with the doc? That actually meant Tobias felt he’d spent too long with him, didn’t it? Is that why he hadn’t come for him? He thought his duties were more important? Was it because he hadn’t acknowledged the mate pull between them? Irritation filled Roland. It wasn’t his fault he’d been captured, held, castrated. None of it was his fault. Hell, if it was anyone’s fault, it was his parents and his pride for not helping him.
“No,” Roland replied softly. “I have an appointment with Doctor Perseus in a little bit.”
Tobias nodded. “I see. Should I meet you there?”
Roland shrugged, wishing he’d never given in to curiosity and stepped through the door. He didn’t want to know that Tobias thought his duties were more important than he was.
I’m too damaged. What if I were to get well? Would he be more interested then?
“No, thanks,” Roland whispered. He needed to be fixed first. Then, maybe Tobias would want to spend more time with him. “I’d like to see Doctor Perseus alone.”
“Oh.” Tobias pulled his hand from Roland’s shoulder. “I see.” He cocked his head. “Then, I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Okay,” Roland whispered, stepping backward into the doorway of his room. “Good luck with your duties.”
Without waiting for a response, Roland took another step backward and shut the door. He didn’t understand the odd ache in his chest. He knew he didn’t feel the mate-pull toward the gargoyle, but the male had been so nice, so attentive. Too bad it didn’t last very long.
Well, it wasn’t as if he understood the mate-pull anyway. Maybe he should just move on. Finding his parents would be a good start. Vane had said he’d help him. His old friend said he’d become quite the computer expert, which was how he’d found Roland.
Roland’s pride had a computer in their main lodge, but no one in his pride had been wealthy enough to have one of their own. While in his cage, he’d seen people poking at their phones and understood the concept that they were tiny computers. Technology had come a long way since he’d been locked up.
Did he really want to face his pride members like this though? Perhaps he’d just feel better knowing he had a choice.
Decision made, Roland reopened his door and peeked out, hoping Tobias had gone. The gargoyle confused him, attentive one minute then too busy the next. Pushing thoughts of Tobias away, Roland made his way slowly down the hallway. Vane had given him directions, so he knew how to get to his friend’s room.
Before long, Roland stopped before a door, hoping it was the right one. He knocked. After a moment, it was opened and Roland found himself staring at a tall male that appeared Native American.
“Oh,” Roland murmured, taking a step backward. “I’m sorry. I must have the wrong room.”
“Roland, hey,” the man greeted. “You have the right room. Come in.”
The Native American swung the door wider, and that’s when the scent of the male caught Roland’s attention. His jaw sagged open in shock. “Vane?”
The male glanced down at himself, then peered at Roland and grimaced. “Yeah, sorry. I forgot you haven’t seen me like this, yet. Come on in.” He swung the door wider and beckoned him forward with one bronzed hand.
Roland moved forward, his gaze sweeping over Vane from head to toe. While the man wore a loincloth as a gargoyle would, Vane’s human form looked a lot like a Native American who decided to take up body building. His long black hair hung to his shoulder blades and he had plenty of muscle on display.
“Hey, Roland,” Matthew greeted from further in the room. The human rose from where he’d been seated on the sofa. “How are you doing today?”
“Uh…okay,” Roland decided on.
The sound of the door closing caught his attention, and he glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Vane exchange a look with his mate. Vane returned his gaze to Roland and, wrapping his arm around Roland’s shoulders, urged him toward the couch.
&nbs
p; “Have a seat, buddy,” Vane urged. “What’s going on in that brain of yours?”
Roland found himself urged onto the sofa. “I was just considering asking you to help me find my family. I might not contact them, but I’d like to at least have the option.”
Matthew patted his shoulder. “I’ll get coffee and the laptop.”
“I don’t drink coffee,” Roland mumbled. He’d tried some that morning and found it awful.
“Oh, okay. Sorry. That didn’t even occur to me,” Matthew commented. “I think we have some orange juice.”
Roland appreciated the offer and his mouth actually salivated with the idea of tasting the tangy beverage. It’d been…yeah, years. “I’d love some!”
Vane plopped on the sofa beside him, grinning. “Damn, buddy. Orange juice has you excited, but you ran from the prospect of a mate yesterday.” Vane rubbed his hands over his face, then reached out and grabbed Roland’s hand. Gently, he massaged his fingers and tendons in both of his, then asked, “Talk to me. I know you just got here and everything is probably a jumble in your head. You need time to adjust. What can we do to make this transition easier?”
Swallowing hard, Roland glanced from Vane’s concerned expression to where his human hands clasped Roland’s own. “I’m really not sure,” he admitted. “My parents said they were mates, but they were a pretty volatile couple. I mean, they didn’t even curb the fighting when my siblings and I were in the room. Maybe that’s why they didn’t bother looking for me. Because they had other cubs.” That idea hurt, but it made sense. His parents had always seemed more concerned with copulating and producing cubs, not actually taking care of them.
“I’m sorry, Roland,” Vane said. “That’s not how all matings are. Hell, you’ll see a bunch of great examples of good relationships here if you take the time to get to know the guys.” He shrugged. “Fate knows what She’s doing even if we don’t most of the time.”
Roland frowned. “Fate? What are you talking about?”
Coaxing His Skittish Lynx Page 4