Once Upon A Midnight

by Stephanie Rowe

  “Are you okay?” he asked, sliding closer to her. He put his hand on her back.

  She jerked away from his touch. “Don’t,” she managed to say between wheezing breaths. “I’m fine. Just inhaled when I should have swallowed.” The phone rang. She grabbed her cell.“Hello?”

  Gav didn’t have to have her empathic powers to know she was irritated. He heard a man on the other end of the phone and recognized it as Eric Bishop. The suspect. Gav stood up, putting more distance between them. He picked up the package again and looked at the card. It just had his name. Strange.

  “Hey,” Bishop said to her. “You okay? You sound breathy.”

  Gav fingered the hard edges of the cardboard box, feeling oddly strange, almost light-headed for a moment. He watched Mina take a big drink of soda before she responded. “I’m fine. What’s up?”

  “I’m running late. I just wanted to let you know.”

  Gav heard the pause on the man’s end of the conversation. He opened the box. Inside was a pressed yellow flower with an acidic scent. He picked it up and turned it over. The color was remarkably preserved for a dried flower. A rush of warmth flushed his skin.

  “That’s odd.”

  “You say something?”

  He looked at Mina and shook his head, rubbing a petal between his thumb and forefinger.

  “You still there?” Mina asked the phone.

  “You have company?” Bishop asked.

  “Yes.” Her gaze met Gav’s. “Just a friend.”

  “Semina? You sound weird.”

  “I’m fine, Eric.”

  Ugly rage flared in Gav. Eric Bishop had called her Semina. She was his woman, not this other man’s, his lion demanded. Gav tried to push his beast down, but it was even more of a struggle than usual. Something was wrong, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

  Mina didn’t take her eyes off Gav. “Talk later,” she said into the phone then hung it up. “What’s going on Gav? You’re putting off some powerful vibes right now.”

  Jealousy swam through him like a school of tadpoles in a shallow puddle. He felt odd. Not like himself. He swallowed at the heated lump in his throat. He leaned toward Mina and inhaled. “Mmm… Smells good.”

  Mina reached out, her fingers brushing the flower. “What is that?” Her words were faint, a bare whisper.

  “Mina,” Gav said.

  Her eyelids fluttered, and she drank him in with her warm, hazel-brown eyes. “Oh, dear Jesus,” she whispered hoarsely. “I feel warm all over.”

  Impulsively, he kissed her. The heat of her lips, holding firm at first, unyielding, melted against his. He should stop. He couldn’t keep pursuing someone who didn’t want the same kind of relationship he did, but something about her wouldn’t let him let go—possibly the tongue she slipped between his teeth.

  He slid his hand along Mina’s side, cupping the smooth curve of her breast, his thumb rubbing over an already hard nipple. She moaned into his mouth, her back arching toward him.

  Fuck! He’d promised himself he wouldn’t fall back into her bed, not again, not without her complete commitment. Mina had told him she’d been married once to a wolf shifter, and it had ended in a quick divorce. Her history, as an assassin and a warden, was one of the reasons his pride rejected her as his mate, and his mother hated her.

  But his heart, his mind, and his body didn’t give a shit what his mother or his pride thought. It was Mina, always Mina, who fulfilled him. She called to the animal in him, and his lion wanted her. And therein lay the danger. His animal threatened to shift every time he had sex with Mina, taking all of his strength and willpower to hold it back, to keep himself from claiming her against her wishes.

  She had no idea how hard it was for him to be with her and not have her completely. He’d never told her because deep down, he didn’t want her to stop seeing him. No matter what he said. No matter how many times he’d tried to push her away.

  Grabbing him by the shirt, Mina flipped Gav onto the couch and straddled his thighs.

  She rolled her hips forward, rubbing herself over his fly. Her wet heat soaked into his jeans. She fumbled with the button on his pants, working the zipper, and releasing his shaft against his abdomen. Her long fingers grasped his length, and he sagged under her touch. She was the strongest woman he’d ever met, part of the attraction, really. An alpha male needed a strong mate. An alpha lion needed a queen.

  He flexed his fingers as she eased herself over his cock, working as always to fight the change. His lion wanted her badly and every time he slept with Mina created a struggle. She mounted him, her heat engulfing him, driving him that much closer to the edge.

  Rocking her hips back and forth, Mina said, “Shit you feel good. So thick inside me.” Her eyes looked funny, completely glazed.

  “Mina.” He tried to stop her, but he wanted this, wanted her.

  She hummed her delight. His balls tightened against his body when she pulled up her knees, taking him deep.

  “Ohhh,” he cried. He fought his orgasm. She’d always insisted on condoms. She didn’t want a baby. He couldn’t. Couldn’t come inside her. She’d hate him.

  “Yes, yes,” she murmured rocking faster, sliding up and down his shaft. He could smell she was close, the musk of her sex getting thicker, permeating his senses. “Gavriil, Gavriil,” and while he didn’t like being called by his given name, at this moment it sounded like heaven from her lips.

  Unbidden, his hands went to her firm breasts, squeezing, pinching, teasing them with his fingers. Her grinding became more urgent, harder against him, and he felt the blood rush to his cock, rock hard, ready to burst. Her humming grew louder as she thrust her hips forward, hands reaching out to his chest. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and she yanked as her orgasm spilled from her body, an earthquake of tremors and shudders.

  “Fuck…” The word trailed off, as his balls jerked to his body and he couldn’t hold back any longer. He pushed Mina back and pulled out, stroking himself as his climax hit, spilling his seed onto his own stomach.

  Her eyes cleared a bit to stare up at him, hazel, with just the hint of gray and brown. “What… what just…” She scrambled off him. “Oh, God. No condom. No condom.”

  He knew what she feared. “I didn’t come in you.”

  “Fuck, fuck.” She grabbed her shirt and pulled it on.

  Mina would never accept being his mate, but he wanted her. Wanted her so goddamn bad, and tonight he could barely control himself. What happened if he lost complete control and let his lion free? Or put a baby in her belly because he couldn’t stop himself?

  ***

  SHE FELT GAV’s emotions shift and whirl—need, desire, want, love, control, fury, hurt. Something was odd about his emotional state, but she was more worried about him going full-on lion.

  Mina stared at him, her heart pounding. Tonight, she hadn’t only wanted Gav, she’d wanted to mate with him. How could she want Gav so much—and Eric, too?

  The situation was impossible.

  Gav leaped from the couch, grabbed her by the arms and held her to the wall. His eyes turned amber as his dark pupils undulated between large and really large. He sniffed at her neck and Mina held perfectly still. She couldn’t risk rousing his animal. “I want all of you,” he growled.

  Don’t let go lion-y now. She’d only seen him change a little before, in the eyes, the hands, but never full-on leogenus.

  His lips moved toward hers, and she turned her head.

  He growled and snuffled her neck.

  Shit! His nails had started to change, turning into claws. No, no, no. Her fear was amped up, and she could smell the musk of his arousal. “Stop, Gav,” she said quietly, firmly. His tongue licked at her jaw line. “You’re mine.” He snapped his teeth in emphasis. The bones in his face crackled and snapped, reforming, widening, becoming lion-like. Some of his humanity bled back into his eyes. “Help me fight this,” he gritted. Instantly, the beast returned. “I will have you.”

  “Some
thing is wrong with you. This isn’t you.” She inhaled a steadying breath. “Stop.”

  “Make me.” The demand was part plea, part challenge.

  Mina brought up a knee and nailed him in the groin. He doubled over, roaring. She brought her instep down in one quick motion along his shin, landing hard on the arch of his foot. She touched fur and knew she was moments away from Gav giving into his beast. Dropping to the floor, Mina rolled toward the coffee table, snatching her gun from under it. She leveled the piece on him. What the hell are you going to do, Mina? Kill him? He’d recovered quickly, and in the millisecond it took for her to get the 9mm, he’d turned completely—covered in a thick golden fur and twice as broad as his human self.

  “Gav,” she cautioned as he stalked toward her, stripping his torn clothing from his body, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t.” Werelion Gav took a step closer. Mina aimed and squeezed, and with a loud bang, the bullet buried itself in Gav’s thigh. He roared, the noise shaking the walls of her apartment. A framed print fell to the floor.

  Mina scrambled backward until her shoulders met the wall. She did not want to shoot him again. Or at all.

  Dropping to all fours, Gav barreled forward and Mina kicked him in the face, whacking him between the eyes, stalling him for a split second. It was enough time for her to get around him and run toward the front door.

  Before she got there, the door banged open, and Eric charged into the room. He threw himself in front of Mina. The werelion lunged at Eric, knocking him flat. Shit. Mina bounded onto Gav’s back, wrapped her arms around his neck and forced the werelion to lose his balance.

  She had one lover down, the other staggering toward them with his face bleeding from claw marks. She had no handcuffs and it wouldn’t have mattered because Gave had the strength to destroy metal and plastic alike.

  Gav’s fur grew shorter, the bones shifting around, crunching, grinding, making her teeth hurt to hear and watch. Soon, Gavriil Doyle looked human again. But he was unconscious. She scooted off his back and rolled him over. “Oh, crap. Gav.” She shook him. “Gav. Please wake up, honey.” She looked at Eric, the marks on his face fading. An undeniable feeling of helplessness washed over her. “I can’t lose him.”

  Eric knelt beside her and Gav. He checked for a pulse. “It’s faint, but it’s there.”

  Mina watched as blood oozed from the bullet wound in Gav’s thigh.

  “We should call an ambulance,” Eric said.

  “No ambulance,” Gav said, his voice raspy.

  “He’s not going to survive without medical attention.”

  “He’s not human, Eric.”

  “I...” Eric touched his face where Gav had clawed him. His expressions shifted through a range of emotions, but once again, Mina didn’t feel anything but lust and desire.

  “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” Gav tried to sit up and failed. “Fuck. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

  Her front door opened, and a tall man with long white hair, bronze skin, and silver eyes sauntered into her apartment. He took a look at the naked werelion, the half-naked aural, and the clothed but confused incubus. “Gav be fine.”

  “Keane?” She stood up and put her hands on her hips.

  “Shade? What are you doing here?”

  “I live here. What’s your excuse? Is the queen calling in her favor?”

  His shoulders relaxed, but his face remained serious. “No. I’m actually here to see...” He pointed to Gav. “Why did you shoot Detective Doyle?”

  “Because I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Hmmm.” He thumped his chin with his thumb, a habitual gesture she’d seen him employ dozens of times in the past. It was his go-to for when he was deep in thought.

  Mina smiled and did something she that surprised her and Keane. She hugged him. “It’s been too long, old friend.” He’d been like a father to her during her years as a warden, and she’d missed him since she’d left the fold. “What do you want with Gav?” If shadow warriors were involved, Gav could be in serious trouble.

  “Nothing sinister, Shade. He called me.”

  Mina stared at Gav.

  The werelion nodded.

  Eric stepped in. “How do you know this guy, Mina, and why does he keep calling you Shade?”

  Keane eyed Eric with interest, but it was Gav who spoke up. “I remember talk about a woman named Shade, who fought for the new Triune. An assassin, if the rumors are correct.”

  Mina tensed and tried to ignore the heaviness in the pit of her stomach. “It’s true.” She waited for the recrimination she was certain would come, but Gav’s face didn’t change, and other than curiosity, his emotions didn’t fluctuate. She’d expected him to hate her if he ever found out about her past, but, instead, he appeared resolved.

  Eric sat down on the couch, his face completely healed now. “I’m not going to pretend to understand anything going on in here.”

  “Smart man,” Keane said. “For a leiol.”

  “Half leiol,” she said in Eric’s defense. “How did you know Gav would be here?”

  “I didn’t. I was supposed to meet with Doyle,” he looked at his watch, “fifteen minutes ago. But there was no answer on his door.” He tapped at his ear. “I couldn’t help overhearing some rather vocal sexual activity followed by the fighting and the shot. Then this one on the couch barreled past me in the hallway and knocked your door open. I had no idea I’d run into you.”

  Mina thinned her lips into a grim line. “What a mess.”

  “I’ll get Detective Doyle a washcloth.”

  “In the bathroom,” she said, pointing down the hall. After Keane Silvertail had departed, she sat next to Gav. As the wounds healed, she became aware he was still naked, and while werelions weren’t modest, she did him the courtesy of grabbing his shirt and throwing it over his lap. “I’m really sorry I shot you,” she said. “But to be fair, you were trying to kill me.”

  He laughed, not an easy laugh, but one that was forced. He looked down at his now covered groin. “I wasn’t trying to kill you, Mina. I was trying to...you know.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Sorry. I don’t know what happened. I couldn’t control myself.” He closed his eyes. Mina had never seen him look so vulnerable, wounded, and naked.

  Mina brushed drywall dust from the werelion’s cheeks. “I know how dangerous it is to be with you, Gav.” Leaning down, she kissed his forehead. Don’t do it again.”

  Grunting, Gav rolled onto his side. “Let me just lay here for a minute.”

  “I’m feeling totally freaked right now.” Mina leaned back and felt Eric behind her. The half-leiol had joined her on the floor. Having him nearby brought her a sense of peace, a calm in her torrid emotions. She reached out to Gav and took his hand. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I will be.”

  Gav’s body might have been magically healing itself, but it was doing nothing for the dark stains on her carpet. “Would you look at this mess? You got blood all over the place.”

  “I hope you don’t expect the deposit back on this place.” Keane tossed her the washcloth. “We have much to discuss.” He glanced across at the open package on the coffee table. “What is that?”

  “It was delivered earlier,” Mina said. “It had Gav’s name on it, but it landed on my front door. Why? Do you recognized the flower?”

  Keane shook his head. “Not the flower, but I can feel the taint of magic.” He dumped the container onto the counter. “Uh oh. I know this symbol. It’s mangemarte.”

  “Mangy-who?” Mina asked.

  “It’s a sub-faction of the rebels who are working against Caledon. There have been rumors they’ve been funding some of the terrorist activities of the rebels.” His earlier humor faded. “This is serious.” He gestured to the flower on the counter. “Don’t touch this again. I’ll be right back.” He took his phone out, walked back to Mina’s bedroom, and shut the door.

  “Make yourself at home
,” she muttered. Great. She’d worked so hard to leave her past in the past, but it had followed her across the state. Maybe she should have moved to New York.

  “He doesn’t have to worry about me touching that damn thing again.” Gav forced himself up. “When I was holding it earlier, it was as if my brain shut down until there was nothing left of me but pure instinct.”

  “The instinct to make me your bitch?”

  Gav smiled, the wounds on his chest closing as he sat up from the floor. “Pretty much.”

  “I love her,” Eric said. Really? He was trying to stake his claim now?

  “You don’t,” Mina told him. But she felt a strong connection to him, and she knew it was more than simple attraction. She needed him. Needed Gav. The realization blew her mind. She’d never needed anyone.

  “I love her,” Gav said.

  Wow. They were putting it all out there. What the fuck?

  “You okay?” Gav stood up and rested against the wall. “You’ve gone paler than usual.”

  Mina handed him the wet washcloth. “You’re paying for a carpet steamer rental, and you’ll be working it too, by the way.”

  Keane walked back into the room, ignoring the awkward tension between Mina and her lovers. “Cleaners are coming. Explaining to your neighbors why they heard gun shots, well, I’ll let you worry about a cover story.”

  “Mina. Mina, dear.” The voice was muffled through the door, but Mina recognized it as Mrs. Baumgartner, her and Gav’s elderly neighbor.

  Keane shrugged.

  “Do you have to be right all the time?”

  “A millennium of experience.”

  Mina rolled her eyes and strode to the door. She cracked it open. Her neighbor was in a pink housecoat, fuzzy slippers, and her hair was tied in a scarf. “Hey, Mrs. B.”

  “Is everything all right? I heard sounds, like a hammer. Woke me up.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am.” She smiled to ease the elderly woman’s concern. “I had my TV up too loud. It won’t happen again.”

  Mrs. Baumgartner tried to peek around Mina to see inside, but she didn’t have Mina’s height advantage. She pursed her lips and nodded. “See that it doesn’t.”