“We’ve just landed in New York,” Graham replied. “Everyone is leaving the plane.”
“Oh.” The abruptness of the landing must have been the shock Caelyn had experienced in his dream. “I guess we should go, too.”
As Caelyn got up, he realized that, at some point, Graham had put his clothes on. Caelyn, on the other hand, remained naked. His face heating, Caelyn looked for the garments their mysterious savior had given them earlier that night. Graham grinned and offered him the clothing, a sweater and a pair of jeans. As quickly as possible, Caelyn pulled them on. He had to fumble with them a little as he wasn’t used to human-style clothing. Or perhaps it was his natural shyness getting in the way. By the time he finally managed, he was acutely aware that he and Graham were the last ones in the cargo plane.
Caelyn clenched his hands into fists, frustrated with himself that he couldn’t manage something so simple. The last thing he wanted was to become a burden for his mate. And then, Graham wrapped an arm around his shoulders and kissed his temple. “You’re so beautiful you take my breath away,” he whispered. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”
Just like that, Caelyn’s apprehension melted into arousal. He was truly eager for that moment, as well, and he’d have loved to confess it, but he was still very shy. The cargo hold might have been empty, but everyone could undoubtedly hear them. To a certain extent, he felt thankful that Graham had been strong for both of them the night before, because if not, he’d have been even more mortified now.
But then again, he had nothing to be embarrassed about. He was proud of his mate, proud of the strong bond that was already growing between them. Why shouldn’t he tell Graham that? If someone didn’t like it, it was their problem.
With that in mind, he replied, “I want that, too.” In spite of his decision, his voice still came out a little shaky, but he supposed he couldn’t expect himself to make a complete change overnight.
His effort was, nevertheless, acknowledged. Graham’s grin lit up his entire face, impossibly making him even more handsome than before. Wordlessly, he led Caelyn out of the plane.
On the runway, the still-masked mercenaries were clustered around a tall, dark-haired man. Caelyn was struck by a feeling of familiarity that actually had very little to do with the stranger himself and a lot with his species. He was fae.
“Do you know him?” Graham whispered in his ear.
Caelyn shook his head. “No. At least I don’t think so.”
He didn’t remember ever meeting the man in his visits to the Ivenian palace. But then, while fae royalty and nobles had largely retreated from the human world, there were those who remained to live here, acting like agents of people more powerful than them. Undoubtedly, this man must have been one of them.
Caelyn and Graham made their way toward the group. He wondered how he could intervene in the conversation without being rude, but in the end, he didn’t even have to come up with a way. Everyone stopped speaking when they saw him.
The leader of the mercenary group—Caelyn thought he remembered his mate calling the man Lip, although that must have been a nickname of sorts—turned toward them. “Oh, here’s the star of the show now. Glad to see you up and about.”
Caelyn smiled slightly. “Thank you for all your help and your patience. I realize it hasn’t been easy.”
“Lord Caelyn, if I may,” the fae piped up, “I have a message for you from our common friend. If you’ll come with me, I will provide you with certain things you might need.”
Caelyn threw a gaze toward the other prisoners, and he realized many of them had already gone. Those who had stayed were thumbing through envelopes, seemingly counting money. But would coin suffice to help them from here?
Obviously guessing his thoughts, Graham murmured, “We’re used to this sort of thing, angel. At this point, they can’t possibly ask or expect anything more than they’ve been given.”
Caelyn bit his lower lip. He’d been privileged all his life. He didn’t want the unfairness to continue. However, he had to be realistic. Compared to Graham and the rest of their companions, he knew nothing of how to handle such a situation. He needed all the help he could get.
“All right,” he finally told the fae. “We’ll go with you.”
Graham briefly released Caelyn and hugged Lip. “I appreciate you coming to lend me a hand,” he said to the mercenary. “It means a lot to me.”
“I got paid for it, Graham,” the other man replied. “Don’t you forget it.”
Graham chuckled. “Sure, Lip. Whatever you say.”
Was it Caelyn’s impression or did that embrace last a little too long? He frowned, a dark emotion rearing its ugly head inside him. At first, he had trouble identifying it, but then, he realized. He was jealous.
His frustration didn’t go unnoticed. “You’d better let go of me now, Graham,” the mercenary said. “Your mate looks really pissed.”
Instantly, Graham broke the embrace. Caelyn wasn’t sure if that pleased him or worried him. He had thought the mercenary had just been an envoy from Sari and his mother, but obviously not.
Graham smoothed his thumb over Caelyn’s forehead and then kissed his nose. “Don’t frown so, angel. I assure you, you’re the only one for me.”
The werewolf’s smile almost seemed to have a magical effect on Caelyn. A small part of him remained unsettled, but he decided he’d ask all the questions he had at a different time.
Besides, he was mature enough to understand that a man like Graham must have had several relationships before Caelyn. But they couldn’t possibly compare to a true mate bond.
Of course, those thoughts only made Caelyn’s possessiveness stronger. He found himself grabbing Graham’s side and clinging to his mate’s shoulder. “That better be true or else.”
“Looks like this is our cue to leave, boys.” Graham’s mercenary friend laughed. “Congrats, by the way. You two make a wonderful couple.”
With that, the masked men walked away, leaving only Graham, Caelyn, and their new fae friend on the runway. “We should head out as well,” the fae said. “But first, let me introduce myself. My name is Raul Gomez, and I will be providing you with the things you need.”
“Like what?” Caelyn asked as Raul led them toward a waiting vehicle.
“Fake IDs, weaponry, phones, money, clothing.” And the list went on and on. “I assure you that whatever you require, I can provide.”
They slipped into the car, with Raul in the driver’s seat. “You do this a lot, I take it?” Graham inquired.
“Among other things,” Raul replied. “My job is to be here for whatever our common friend commands.”
Caelyn didn’t prod further. He was actually overwhelmed by the lengths to which Sari’s mother had gone to assist him. He wondered if that should worry him. After all, her deciding that all these precautions were necessary couldn’t be good.
Now more than ever, Caelyn felt like he was in over his head. But as he stole a look at his mate, he knew that he’d made the right choice. Gripping Graham’s hand, he smiled to himself. He had faith that, as long as he and Graham stuck together, everything would be all right. Ironically, in spite of all the uncertainty, he’d never felt safer.
* * * *
That afternoon
As it turned out, their new friend was very efficient in providing them the items he’d promised. A few hours after their arrival in New York, Graham and Caelyn found themselves leaving it.
The trunk of the car they had been given now held bags filled with all sorts of supplies. Somehow, Raul had managed to acquire special weapons with bullets that could even pierce dragon scales.
Graham honestly had no clue how that was possible since weaponry like that was illegal. But he’d managed nonetheless, and Graham felt more than thankful for it.
“So where are we headed now?” Caelyn asked as they drove out of the city. “Alaska?”
Graham shook his head. “That’s a good guess, but no,” he replied, absently ra
pping his fingers against the steering wheel. “That’s among the last places where I’d be inclined to go.”
From the seat next to him, his mate frowned. “But why? I thought draechen avoided cold places.”
“That’s the general concept, but it’s not exactly true,” Graham answered. “You see, in the beginning, after the Directive was first passed, werewolves and vampires thought they could escape draechen pursuit in the Arctic. They thought that, given the draechen’s reptilian nature, they wouldn’t be followed. However, as it turned out, draechen don’t have that problem at all. They seem to actually be a cross between birds and reptiles, so they pursued the vampires and werewolves with no problem. At that point, they were pretty much fucked. So much blood flowed on the ice that no shifter from the ninth caste ever goes there. It’s cursed land.”
Caelyn shivered visibly, and this time, unlike in the plane, it wasn’t because of the low temperature. The car actually provided them with comfortable heating. It didn’t take a genius to realize the reason for Caelyn’s reaction, and Graham cursed himself for having been so graphic. “Look, worrying about it now is pointless,” he said, knowing it was lame, but not able to come up with anything better on the spot. “Just think about us and the future we’re going to have together.”
“How can I?” Caelyn asked. “I remember all those people held captive in the draechen cells. If I hadn’t met you, I likely wouldn’t have done anything about it. How can I possibly forget that?”
“It’s not easy, I know. Every day, when I wake up, I think about all the people who suffered, and not only the werewolves. Unfortunately, angel, we can’t change the past. We have to work to live today so we can change the future.”
That comment earned him a small smile. “You’re right, of course,” his mate answered. “But you never told me. Where are we going?”
“Right now, we have to lay low at all costs,” Graham explained. “The draechen will undoubtedly be looking for us. But at the same time, I want to find my pack. I’m worried about my brother.”
“You have a brother?” Caelyn inquired. “What’s his name?”
“Stuart.” Graham sighed, remembering the last time he had seen his sibling. “He didn’t get captured with me, but I’m still worried.”
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Caelyn said comfortingly. “If he’s anything like you, he must be a survivor.”
That was very true, especially since Graham had tasked Stuart with taking care of the pack. “Maybe when we stop the car, we’ll use that pearl Raul gave us. Perhaps your friends could tell me where Stuart might be.”
For a few moments, Caelyn remained quiet. “What is it, angel?” Graham couldn’t help but ask. Had he accidentally said something wrong?
“Nothing,” Caelyn answered. “I was just thinking about… Well, about my own siblings. I wonder what they think of me, if I’ll ever see them again.”
Graham’s heart clenched as he once more acknowledged the extent of what Caelyn had lost. The guilt and the anger threatened to choke him. He clenched his fists around the steering wheel, clutching it so hard his knuckles went white.
Caelyn gasped. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.” His small hand landed on Graham’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault, none of it. The choice was mine, and I don’t regret it for a minute.”
There was such honestly in Caelyn’s voice that it became a warm balm, soothing Graham’s wounded soul. He could truly believe then that he wasn’t to blame for his mate’s loss. The world had placed them in a position that Graham would have much liked to avoid. It wasn’t their fault.
He couldn’t provide Caelyn with the answers he sought or with the brotherly affection he might have lost. However, he could give his mate a new family. And he knew exactly where to start.
They’d left New York in a hurry since one of the most important draechen outposts in the United States and the world was there. The best thing to do right now would be to constantly stay on the road. They had to avoid big cities, as well as national parks or Amerindian settlements, since they were all watched. This meant they would have to mingle with the humans, preferably in some of the smaller towns.
But Graham couldn’t wait until they found a more long-term place to stay. He had to claim Caelyn. He had to show the sprite that they could start something new and beautiful together. Both of them needed it.
Driving with only one hand, Graham reached for his mate with the other one. Brushing a lock of soft blond hair from Caelyn’s eyes, he whispered, “I’m selfish enough that I don’t regret it either. In fact, I’m thankful I was captured. For once, the draechen did me a favor. If not for them, I’d have never met you.”
Caelyn took his hand and kissed his palm, then each individual fingertip. It was so gentle, so worshipful, and yet so arousing that a thousand emotions stirred inside Graham. “I don’t want you to have to withstand anything bad ever again,” he murmured, “not even for something good.”
“Love is worth fighting and suffering for,” Graham argued. He wanted to say something else, but then, Caelyn’s eyes widened and he blushed. Graham realized what he’d blurted out.
Love. The famous L word that so many shifters, especially from the ninth caste, avoided. They couldn’t afford love, at least not the sensual, deep one that could easily turn into obsession. There was too much loss in their world, too much uncertainty.
But there was no denying that, inside Graham, a new, young, and shy emotion had started to build. It was like a sapling, finally catching roots in spite of the less than fertile soil. Caelyn’s affection provided it with overwhelming warmth and sunlight, and that tiny plant was quickly growing into something strong that could easily become a sequoia tree.
As a man, Graham almost didn’t have the courage to name it. He understood the difference between instinct and true emotion, and he realized that he and Caelyn didn’t know each other well enough to decisively claim undying devotion. The extreme circumstances they’d met in didn’t help either.
But as a wolf, Graham grasped more than his rational side ever would. He grasped the truth hidden in the unfurling leaves of that sapling, in the only metaphor he’d been able to create in his entire life. He was no poet and no romantic. He was a werewolf, a warrior, and a realist. And because of all that, he understood that, at one point, he’d fallen head over heels in love with his angel.
He didn’t know how and when it had happened. Perhaps he’d been a goner from the very first moment he’d met Caelyn’s sky-blue eyes. But whatever the case, he refused to hide it.
“L–love?” Caelyn stammered, looking a little overwhelmed.
“Yes, love,” Graham confirmed. “It’s all right if you don’t feel the same. I don’t want to pressure you. I just need you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”
Tears filled Caelyn’s eyes and slid down his cheeks like little liquid diamonds. This time, he didn’t bother to wipe them or force them back. Instead, he unbuckled his seatbelt. “Stop the car,” he said, his voice filled with decision.
It was Graham’s turn to be shocked. “What?”
“Pull over,” his mate insisted. Already, he was reaching for Graham’s dick. All his shyness seemed to have melted like it had never been. Naturally, Graham’s cock was more than eager to cooperate.
As Caelyn lowered the zipper of Graham’s pants, the damn member practically sprung out of its confines, demanding Caelyn’s attention.
“Caelyn, angel, we can’t do this here,” Graham said. The last word came out about ten syllables longer as his mate’s soft hand engulfed his dick. “Oh, fuck… Oh, shit… Angel, you have to stop.”
He didn’t sound convincing even to his own ears, let alone to Caelyn’s. The lovely sprite grinned up at him and rubbed his thumb over the leaking tip of Graham’s prick. “I think Graham Jr. disagrees.”
Hell, yeah, it disagreed. Truth be told, Graham had been half-hard ever since their hasty escape from the draechen’s clutches. His libi
do remained frustrated that he hadn’t been able to claim Caelyn on the plane. As such, it was really a fool’s errand to try to convince himself, or Caelyn, that this was a bad idea.
Gasping and groaning, Graham still somehow managed to croak out, “I’ll crash the car, angel.”
Sounding amazingly calm, Caelyn started to move his hand up and down Graham’s dick. “Which is why I told you to pull over.”
Seemingly ignoring Graham’s distress, the evil sprite blew a gust of hot air over Graham’s dick. Releasing a choked noise, Graham nearly lost control of the vehicle. Outside, angry honks and human curses sounded as the other cars on the highway tried to avoid a collision. Yes, most definitely they needed to stop. It would be ridiculously ironic if they’d succeeded to escape the draechen, only to die in a car accident caused by sexual frustration.
But there was no place around them where he could park. Any moment now, someone would see them, and if he even attempted to stop, the police would surely notice. Popping up on the radar of the local authorities was the last thing they needed while on the run.
Even that thought did very little to cool Graham’s ardor. “Angel,” he tried again, “I promise I’ll stop. Just let me find a motel.”
“Well, that is quite an excellent idea,” Caelyn answered, meeting Graham’s gaze. “But make sure you’re quick about it, yes?”
Without giving Graham any other warning, Caelyn lowered his mouth over Graham’s dick. Wet heat engulfed him, and Graham’s vision went blurry. The pleasure that exploded through him was unlike anything he’d ever felt before. He couldn’t focus on anything else except the sinful sight of Caelyn’s lips stretching around the head of his shaft.
Judging by the way Caelyn had practically seduced him, one would have never thought the sprite was a virgin. His innocence did, however, show, and in his eagerness to please, he tried to take too much of Graham’s dick in his mouth. It made him choke, and his mate’s slight discomfort did what no rational argument could hope to accomplish. It provided Graham with a measure of clarity.
Hyacinth, Scarlet - Werewolf's Way [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 1] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 8