Jago

by Catherine Lievens

  “What do you want to do?”

  Jago played with the hair on Corbin’s chest as he thought. “Umm. Your house is out. I wouldn’t feel comfortable there. So I guess it’s between staying here and moving out to live on our own. What do you want?”

  Corbin shrugged. “I don’t care.”

  Jago pulled on the hair between his fingers. “Come on, Corbin. You have to have a preference.”

  “I don’t.”

  Jago poked Corbin’s side and Corbin grunted and tried to move away. Jago arched a brow and poked Corbin’s side again. Corbin’s lips twitched and Jago rolled on top of his mate, still poking his side. “You’re ticklish!”

  “I am not.”

  Jago grinned at Corbin and wiggled his fingers. Corbin pressed his lips together and tried to shove Jago away, but Jago clamped his legs and his free hand around Corbin and wiggled his fingers harder.

  Corbin bit on his lower lip. Jago wanted to see his mate laugh, though, so he didn’t stop tickling him, not even when Corbin finally gave in and burst out laughing. He squirmed and tried to push Jago away, but Jago could feel Corbin was enjoying himself, so he held on tight.

  Corbin laughed, and he looked so much younger and freer that Jago never wanted to stop. He hoped Corbin would manage to be like this more and more as the time passed, at least with him, and he swore to himself that he’d never stop trying.

  Corbin pushed harder, obviously fed up with Jago’s tickling. Jago fell on his side and Corbin manhandled him until he was flat on his back, Corbin sitting on his groin. Corbin smirked and wiggled his fingers in front of Jago’s face.

  “Oh, no. No, no, no, no, you can’t tickle me,” Jago told his mate.

  “Why not? You just tickled me.”

  Corbin pressed his fingers against Jago’s sides and tickled. Jago laughed like a hyena and tried to get away, but Corbin wouldn’t let him, at least not until someone pounded on the door of Jago’s room.

  “Jago, I don’t know what you’re doing in there, but try to keep it down, huh?” Kameron asked.

  Jago looked at Corbin and laughed again. “You didn’t keep it down yesterday,” he yelled back at Kameron.

  Kameron growled. “My house, my rules. Besides, I was with my mate.”

  Jago winked at Corbin. “So am I,” he yelled back.

  There was a moment of silence, then, “Corbin?”

  “Yes?” Corbin answered.

  “Do I even want to know what you two are doing in there?” Kameron asked.

  Oh, Jago knew what was going to happen, and he didn’t even try to stop Corbin.

  “We just had sex,” Corbin told Kameron.

  “Ugh. TMI, man.”

  “You asked.”

  “Yeah, well. Keep it down anyway.”

  Jago waited until he heard Kameron walking away. “I guess this means we should get our own house, huh?”

  Corbin grinned. “That way I can tickle you without annoying anyone.”

  He pressed his hands against Jago’s sides again and Jago howled in laughter, then moaned when Corbin’s hands went lower.

  * * * *

  Corbin couldn’t keep his eyes off Jago, so he immediately noticed the blush that crept on Jago’s face when they entered the kitchen for dinner and they saw it was packed with people. Jago stopped at the kitchen door and looked around, his face red, and Corbin stopped just behind him. “How long has everyone been here?”

  Corbin peeked over Jago’s shoulder and saw that not only was the alpha couple there, but so were Craig, Nick, and one of his lovers, Arlen. Zach looked ready to pounce on Jago and Corbin fought the instinct to pull Jago behind him and defend him.

  Jago clearly felt it and looked back at Corbin, smiling. Corbin could feel he wasn’t angry, just embarrassed, and it was weird. He hoped it wouldn’t take too long to get used to feeling Jago’s feelings, even if he didn’t have problems telling them from his own.

  “Well, you know how long I’ve been here,” Zach pointed out. “And I think you know since when Kam’s been, too, since he told me he had to stop at your room.” The alpha mate’s eyes were twinkling and Corbin wasn’t sure what to make of it. In Jago’s case, he knew it meant Jago was happy, but why would Zach be happy? It wasn’t like he’d been the one to mate just then.

  “And we came here to talk about the kids,” Craig added. He smiled at Corbin, and Corbin wondered if he should smile back. He didn’t usually, but maybe he should try. He wanted to get better, for Jago. He knew Jago had a lot of friends in the pack, and Corbin wanted them to like him.

  He frowned. He’d never have thought something like that before. He didn’t care about what people thought of him, about whether they liked him or not. But that was before, and now he’d let Jago in his life. He knew it would change things, and he knew he needed to try and become normal—as much as he could, anyway. He wanted to make Jago happy, and he knew that would happen only if he changed.

  So Corbin looked straight at Craig and curled his lips upward. It took a conscious effort, and he wasn’t sure he’d succeeded if Craig’s expression was anything to go by. Craig’s eyes widened and his mouth opened a bit as he watched Corbin smile. Arlen was beside him and looked at Corbin too, but instead of looking surprised, he grimaced.

  “Jeesh, Corbin, you’d scare the kids with that smile,” Arlen said, and everyone in the room looked at Corbin.

  He made the smile disappear from his lips immediately and scowled at everyone in turn. Kameron and Nick looked amused, Arlen clearly didn’t give a damn, and Craig smiled again, as if encouraging Corbin. Jago chuckled and slipped his hand in Corbin’s, then pulled him in the kitchen.

  Jago plopped in the only free chair at the table and looked at Craig. “What’s wrong with the kids?”

  Corbin noticed everyone had an empty plate in front of them. Jago hadn’t had the time to eat, and he had to be hungry with all the sex they’d just had. Corbin looked at the stove and saw that there was still some pasta in the pan. He squeezed Jago’s shoulder and went to grab a plate from the cupboard. He filled it, took a fork from the drawer, and brought everything to Jago.

  Jago looked up when Corbin placed the plate in front of him and smiled. “Thanks, babe.”

  Corbin nodded and handed Jago the fork, then went to get a glass. He put that on the table, too, and only then did he make a plate for himself. There was no space for him at the table, so he leaned against the counter and started eating.

  He’d already chowed down a few forkfuls when he noticed most of the men in the room were looking at him. He looked up and arched a brow, and Zach got up from his chair. “Come on, sit down.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Eating standing up isn’t comfortable,” Zach insisted. “Sit.”

  “I don’t want to take your place.”

  “I’ll sit in Kam’s lap.” Zach pushed Kameron away from the table and Kameron went willingly. Zach sat on his lap, looped his arm around his neck, and looked at Corbin again. “See? That way everyone can sit.”

  Corbin nodded and checked that Jago had everything he needed before sitting in the chair Zach had freed for him. He ate, but he kept an eye on Jago, to make sure he didn’t need anything. Zach made a cooing noise and Corbin looked at him.

  “I didn’t think I’d ever say this about you, but you’re cute,” Zach said.

  “I am?”

  “He is?” Kameron asked, disbelief tingeing his words.

  “Oh, yeah. Haven’t you notice how attentive he is to Jago’s needs? He made him a plate, and he’s keeping an eye on him even while he’s eating.” Zach pouted. “You never made me a plate of food.”

  Kameron looked a bit lost, and Corbin was right there with him. “Why is that cute?” he asked.

  “Because you’re taking care of him, and he doesn’t even have to ask. It’s not something I expected from you. No offense, but you never hit me as the caring type.”

  “I’m not.”
>
  “And that’s why this is so cute. You wouldn’t do it for anyone but Jago.”

  Corbin cocked his head. “It’s because he’s my mate.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I don’t see how this can be surprising. You do things you wouldn’t for anyone but your mate too.”

  “I think that Zach is trying to say that he didn’t think you’d do this for anyone, not even Jago. You never seem to care about anyone, and you didn’t seem to care about Jago either until now,” Kameron explained.

  “We weren’t mated before.”

  “Does that mean you didn’t care about him when you weren’t mated?”

  “No.”

  “So you did care, but you didn’t show it.”

  “Yes.”

  “What changed?” Zach asked.

  “We had sex and mated.”

  Jago made a strangled noise and Corbin was by his side only seconds later, checking whether he was okay. Jago coughed and smiled at Corbin. “I’m fine. Just, remember I told you that you shouldn’t talk about sex with anyone but me or a very close friend?”

  “They asked,” Corbin pointed out.

  “I know. It doesn’t mean you should tell them, though.”

  “All right.”

  Jago smiled, and Corbin knew he’d do anything his mate asked as long as Jago smiled to him like that. “I’m fine, Corbin. Go finish your dinner.”

  “Hey, I wanted to know more about what you two got up to,” Arlen protested.

  Before Corbin could even think about answering him, Jago did. “What were you telling me about the kids?”

  Arlen sighed. “I’m having a hard time with them.”

  “All three?”

  “Oh, no. Nathan’s fine. But Luke and Melissa, well, they’re another story.” He looked at Corbin and indicated him with his thumb. “They’re a bit like your man, there. Well, not exactly. They’re doing better when it comes to feelings and stuff, but Melissa fought with Dawn the other day.”

  “Why?”

  “From what I gathered, Dawn took away the toy Melissa was playing with.”

  “I don’t see the problem.”

  “The problem is that Melissa is as much of a killer as your man is, although she never actually hurt anyone that I know of, of course. Too young. But still, she’s trained, and Dawn clearly is not. Melissa wiped the floor with her before I managed to separate them. And I got a punch in the nuts for it.” Arlen pouted and Nick patted his hand on the table.

  “They’re fine.”

  “I know they are, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt, and I’m not talking only physically. You know how it feels to be beaten up by a seven-year-old little girl?”

  Nick pressed his lips together but the corners twitched. “I can’t say I do, no.”

  “So what, you think you need to separate them from the other kids?” Jago asked.

  Arlen sighed. “I don’t want to, but I’ll have to if they continue like that. It wouldn’t be good for them, though.”

  “Have you tried talking to them?”

  “Of course I have. They nod and say they understand, but it’s like they’re doing it just to make me shut up. I turn around, and they’re fighting again. The problem is that they don’t seem to feel remorse or empathy of any kind.”

  Jago tapped his fingers on the table. “What if someone who knows exactly what they’re going through talked to them?”

  Everyone looked at Corbin. He looked back, but when no one said anything, he asked, “What?”

  Arlen cocked his head. “How do you feel about kids, Corbin?”

  * * * *

  “I don’t know.”

  “How can you not know?” Arlen insisted. Jago already thought he knew the answer, so he wasn’t surprised by Corbin’s next words.

  “I’ve never met any.”

  Arlen gaped. “Who’s never met kids?”

  “Assassins.”

  “Oh. Right. Not exactly in the job description, huh?”

  “Unless it was to kill some, no.”

  Jago gaped. He could see the horror he was sure was written on his face reflected on everyone else around the table. “You killed children, Corbin?” he asked with a slightly trembling voice.

  “No. But Arlen asked if I ever met any, and that would’ve been the only way I could have.” Corbin voice was so matter-of-fact it scared Jago a bit. He’d known what he was getting into when he’d accepted mating with Corbin, and he didn’t regret it. It didn’t mean it was easy, though.

  “Would you have killed a kid if your master had asked you?” Arlen asked, and Jago shot up from his chair.

  Everyone looked at him, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want to know the answer to that question. He didn’t want to hear the answer, because he already knew what it would be. “Can we talk about something else, please? We just... we just mated.”

  Arlen took a repentant expression. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “It’s fine.”

  Jago sat back down. He could feel Corbin’s worry coursing through their bond and he looked up and smiled at his mate. “So, Corbin, would you be okay with meeting Luke and Melissa?” he asked, steering the conversation in a direction he liked more.

  “Yes. I don’t know what you want me to do with them, though.”

  Jago bit on his lower lip and tried to ignore Corbin’s words choice. “Well, you know how they grew up. You could just listen to what they have to say and try to convince them that punching people isn’t the best way to solve problems.”

  “Why would they listen to me?”

  “Because they’ll know you. You’re like them. You’re them in a few years.”

  “Do you want me to talk to them, too?”

  “You decide.” Corbin’s eyes flitted to Kameron, and Jago knew Corbin would ask the alpha next. He might have gotten slightly better with socializing in the past months, but he still had a hard time making decisions. “But I’d like you to, yes. If it’s all right with you.”

  “It is.”

  “Great.” Jago got up again and brought his plate to the sink without even emptying it. He didn’t feel like being social anymore. He wanted to go back to his room and bury himself in his bed. “I’m going to go rest. See everyone later.”

  There was a chorus of goodbyes and Jago left the kitchen. He stopped only once he was in his room. He quickly stripped and neatly folded his clothes, climbed on his bed, pulled the covers over his head and shifted. The world around him became bigger, larger, and he pushed his nose under his pillow. It still smelled of Corbin, and Jago sniffed his mate’s scent.

  Someone knocked at the door. Jago squeaked. Not that whoever it was would understand it was a go away rather than a come in anyway, so obviously, they came in. Jago heard the door open and burrowed deeper under his pillow. The door closed again. The mattress dipped seconds later, and Jago knew who it was. Even if he hadn’t recognized Corbin by scent, he could feel the anxiousness and wariness his mate was feeling.

  “Jago?”

  Jago sighed. He wasn’t angry with Corbin, but he knew Corbin probably wouldn’t understand it, even with their bond. He wasn’t used to reading people.

  He squeaked and stuck his nose out of the pillow. Corbin was looking down at him, a frown on his face. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry.”

  Jago crawled out and bumped his head against Corbin’s hand. Corbin raised it and stroked one finger down Jago’s head and along his back. Jago closed his eyes and raised his head, and Corbin slid his finger under his chin and scratched.

  “You’re soft.”

  Jago sniffed.

  “I... what did I do? I can’t make it better if I don’t know.”

  Jago didn’t want to shift back, but he knew Corbin would feel bad if he didn’t. Corbin moved his hand from Jago’s chin to his chest when he shifted. He waited for Jago to talk and didn’t move his hand away.

>   “I’m not angry at you,” Jago told him.

  “I can feel it.”

  “It’s not anger. I just, well, I know what you’ve done. I know it. It’s just easier to not think about it, and when Arlen reminded me of it...”

  Corbin didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Do you wish you could undo this?”

  “Our mating? No. No, I don’t regret it. I know you’re not the same man you were six months before, but hearing you talk about killing kids like it was nothing was weird and a bit scary.”

  “I can’t change my past and what I did, Jago.”

  Jago put his hand over the hand Corbin was still pressing over his heart. “I don’t want you to. I love watching you discover things. I love how caring you suddenly are, and I know I couldn’t have that if we hadn’t mated, although I’m not sure why. I even secretly like it when you tell people we had sex, because I know anyone you could say it to here in the pack wouldn’t take it badly. It’s kind of funny to see them blushing and being awkward. And I know you wouldn’t hurt anyone anymore.”

  “That’s not true.”

  Jago swallowed loudly. “It’s not?”

  “I’d hurt for you. I’d kill for you, to keep you safe.”

  “Anyone would do it for their mate.”

  “And if I become an enforcer, you know what the council is going to use me for.”

  Jago closed his eyes and nodded. “They’re going to make you kill again.” He opened his eyes and looked at Corbin. “And I understand that. You’re an almost perfect weapon.”

  Corbin arched a brow. “Almost perfect?”

  “Now that you’re not living in the lab anymore, that you’re finally starting to live, and to have your own opinion, I don’t think you’ll kill as easily as before. I don’t think you’d kill children, not now. Not anymore.” The question was silent, but Jago knew Corbin had heard it.

  “Those children Arlen was talking about. The ones who’ve been raised like I was,” Corbin said.

  “Yes?”

  “They could hurt you. Most children couldn’t, but they could if they wanted to.”