Jago knew where this was going, and he could accept it. “Yes, they could.”
“And I’ll kill them if they do.”
Jago leaned forward and hooked his arms around Corbin’s neck. He scrambled forward and sat in his mate’s lap, uncaring of the fact that he was naked. He hugged Corbin close, and gosh, how could he ever have thought Corbin didn’t have feelings, that he didn’t feel anything?
Jago could feel despair flowing through their bond at the idea of losing Jago. Externally, he never could’ve understood it, and he was glad he’d decided to mate with Corbin. “You won’t lose me, Corbin. I’m not a fighter. I don’t go into dangerous situations. I’m a nurse. A painter. I’ll be the home you come back to when you’re done whatever the council wants you to do. I just want you to know that you can talk to me about anything they ask from you, and that you can say no to them. You’re your only master now. You make the decisions.”
Corbin nodded against Jago’s neck. “I want to...”
“Yes?”
“Cuddle.”
A wave of embarrassment flowed through the bond and Jago smiled. “That’s fine. Perfect. Do you mind if I shift again? I feel like being surrounded by you.”
“You can shift. I like your elephant shrew.”
“And he likes you.”
Jago climbed down Corbin’s lap, kissed him lightly, and shifted. He waited for Corbin to lie down and Corbin did, after taking his jeans off and letting them fall on the floor. He stretched himself on his side and Jago climbed up his body, then settled flush against his chest.
Corbin put his arms around Jago’s small form and pressed him closer, and Jago snuffled in contentment. They were going to have to talk about housekeeping skills, but it could wait. Everything else could wait, as long as they were in each other’s arms.
* * * *
Corbin jumped from the bed when a loud explosion echoed through the house. His instincts kicked in before Jago hit the floor, and Corbin reached out just in time. His hands closed around Jago’s small body and Jago squeaked.
Corbin put Jago on the bed and ran to the door. He almost ripped it from its hinges in his hurry to get out of the room and check what had just happened. He could see thick grey smoke coming from the kitchen and he hurried toward it.
Zach stumbled out, coughing and tears streaming from his eyes. Corbin caught him before he could hit the wall. “What happened? Is it an attack?”
Zach shook his head. “No, no. It’s Noah.”
“Noah?”
“What happened?” Jago asked from behind them.
“Noah,” Zach repeated.
Corbin saw Jago relax, and he did too. Apparently, his mate knew what was happening, and there clearly was no danger. “Is the kitchen on fire?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” Zach answered.
Corbin decided he’d check anyway, especially since Noah still hadn’t come out and Corbin could hear him swearing up a storm. His eyes started watering as soon as he walked in, but Noah had opened the window, and the smoke was very slowly seeping out.
Noah was standing in front of the stove, scowling at a very mangled pot that was still spewing black smoke. Corbin stopped next to him and looked into what remained of the pot. “What happened?”
“My powers got out of control.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
Noah sighed and waved his hands around as he tried to get more smoke to go out the window. “You’ve never been around me, huh?”
“No.”
“I’m a demon.”
Corbin looked at the horns on Noah’s head, then at his tail. “That’s obvious.”
“Smartass,” Noah groused. “Anyway, I’m still trying to get a grip on my powers. It’s unusual for demons to get them so young, so I’m having a bit of a hard time.”
“And you make things explode?”
“Exactly.”
Corbin looked at Noah and took a step backward. Noah noticed it and laughed. “I haven’t made anyone explode yet.”
“I don’t want to be the first one.”
“I won’t hurt you.” Noah cocked his head and looked at Corbin. “Or at least I don’t think so. The only things I’ve hurt until now are this pot, a few paintings, a tree, and Duncan’s TV.” Noah grimaced. “He wasn’t at all happy with me.”
Corbin didn’t really understand the appeal of a TV, but he nodded anyway. “Maybe you should stay away from Jago until you manage to control your powers.”
Noah grinned. “You don’t want him to explode?”
“No.”
“Don’t worry, me either. It happens only when I’m frustrated or angry, and the only things that explode are the things I’m angry with.”
“What did the tree do to make you angry?”
Noah’s face flushed. “I was painting it and I was having a hard time with the light. I guess I couldn’t make the sun or whatever explode, so the tree went instead.”
“Is it safe to come in?” Jago asked from the door. The room was almost smoke-free now, except for the small tendril still rising from the pot.
“You can come in,” Corbin told his mate.
Jago sidled in, followed by Zach. Zach’s eyes were reddened and his tears had left dirty streaks on his cheeks. His T-shirt had black soot spots on it and his hair was dirty, but he seemed to be fine—as fine as one could be after a pot had exploded in their kitchen, anyway.
Jago handed Corbin his jeans. Only then did Corbin realize he was still naked, and he pulled them on, ignoring Zach’s arched brow and Noah’s appreciative gaze.
“Still don’t have a grip on your powers, huh?” Jago asked Noah.
Noah shook his head. “Dad thinks it’s because I’m too young. He said my powers probably shouldn’t have appeared yet, but apparently mating with Duncan triggered them, and now I’m having a hard time.”
“Is there any way you can get over it?”
Noah shrugged. “Dad told me to meditate. I have to keep calm.”
“What did the pot do to you?” Jago asked, peering inside it. Corbin looked inside the twisted remains. There was black mass on the bottom of it, but he couldn’t identify it.
“I was trying to cook, and when I tasted it, it wasn’t good.”
“I think you should stick to things you can do from now on,” Zach pointed out.
“I think I’ll will.”
Jago yawned. “So there’s no breakfast?”
“There’s cereals.”
Jago grimaced, but he still went to the cupboard and grabbed the cereal box. He put it on the table and gathered spoons, bowls, and milk, and sat. “Corbin, you want some?”
Corbin’s stomach growled and he sat. He waited for Jago to fill his bowl, then did the same while Zach and Noah cleaned up the kitchen. Corbin kept an eye on Noah, just in case, but he didn’t seem to be angry, even though Corbin noticed a few sparkles of electricity running between his fingers. Every time it happened, Noah scowled at his hands, rubbed them on his thighs, and took a deep breath.
Corbin leaned toward Jago and asked in a low voice, “Shouldn’t he go back home before he makes something else explode?”
“Probably.”
Corbin pondered whether he should get Jago out of the kitchen, just in case, but Noah seemed to be calmer now. It was probably safe, and even if Noah didn’t make something else explode, Corbin would shield Jago with his body. It wouldn’t be a problem.
Zach flopped in the chair in front of Jago and rubbed his cheek. He left a black streak on it, but he didn’t seem to realize it. “What are you guys doing today?”
“Nothing much. I don’t have to work until tomorrow, and it’s nights,” Jago said with a grimace.
“You wouldn’t have to do nights if you worked for the pack,” Zach pointed out.
“I know, I know. I’m thinking about it, okay?”
“What’s there to think about? You’d get more mone
y, normal hours, less work.”
“I like the work I do in the hospital. Shifters don’t have as many health problems as humans.”
Corbin liked to listen to Jago talk about what he was passionate about, so he ate his cereal and listened. Jago told them about an old lady who still liked to wear make-up and to dress nicely even though she’d been in the hospital for close to a month. His eyes sad, he talked about the kids and how they were the hardest to work with because they were just kids and they reminded Jago of his siblings.
Corbin didn’t even think about it before he proposed, “I’ll come with you see your family.”
Zach and Jago stopped talking and looked at him. Noah was still swearing behind Corbin and probably wouldn’t have known why what Corbin was offering was important anyway.
“I don’t want to see them,” Jago said, looking at his half-eaten cereal.
Zach snorted. “That’s a lie.”
“Of course it is. I just don’t want to see my father.”
“Then don’t.”
“How should I do that?”
“Just tell him you know, without going into specifics if you don’t feel like it. I’m sure he’ll get it. Or go while he’s at work.”
“And I’ll be with you. I can kill him if you want me to,” Corbin added.
Jago’s eyes went wide. “No, no. There’ll be no killing.”
“Maiming?”
“No.” Jago sighed. “I don’t want you to hurt him, even if what he did was crappy.”
“Crappy?” Zach asked, raising his voice. “I’d have asked Kameron to stick his ass in the council jail if he wasn’t your father.” He lowered his voice and added, “I’ll have to tell him, and you know it, so maybe you should try to talk to him before he’s locked up. I don’t want to hurt you, but he sold you to the labs. It can’t go unpunished.”
Corbin had heard the conversation between Zach and Jago the night before, so he knew that was what Jago had hoped for, what he’d tried to achieve by staying away from his family.
Jago sighed. “Fine. I’ll go.” He looked at Corbin. “But only if you come with me.”
Chapter Five
Jago bit on his lower lip and looked outside. He was glad Corbin knew how to drive, because he didn’t think he’d have been able to, not today.
He was happy to see his family, but he dreaded meeting his father. Maybe he should’ve called, or sent an email to tell his dad he was coming, but a part of him wanted to know why, and he knew he wouldn’t get answers if he warned his father he was coming.
The various possibilities whirled in Jago’s mind—had his father really given him away to protect the rest of the family? Or had he sold Jago off because he needed money? Had he done so because he hated Jago? Jago didn’t think so, but without talking to his father, he was left wondering.
He bounced his knee and watched the scenery pass outside the window. Corbin hadn’t said anything since they’d climbed in the car, and Jago almost wished his mate had less respect for his feelings. Well, not really—he loved how Corbin took care of him, even when it made him want to tear his hair out, like now. He’d have given anything to be able to get out of his thoughts for a little while, but Corbin wasn’t helping.
“Maybe we should wait,” Jago said in a last attempt to make Corbin turn the car around.
“Why?”
“Because... just because. I’m not ready.”
Corbin glanced at Jago. “You’ll never be ready, and you know it.”
“But I could be readier than now.”
“No you couldn’t. Stop trying to make excuses.”
Jago scowled. “I liked you better when you didn’t talk as much.” He made sure to send affection through their bond so that Corbin would know he wasn’t serious. He’d discovered it was a necessity over the two weeks since they’d mated, because Corbin took everything literally. The last thing Jago wanted was for his mate to think he didn’t want him anymore, because nothing could be further from the truth.
They’d spent the past two weeks almost joined at the hip, at least when Jago didn’t have to work. Even when he did, Corbin always found time to come and meet him during his breaks, bringing him dinner and lunch, and making most of Jago’s colleagues jealous.
Corbin took a turn and Jago swallowed. They were nearly there—only another ten or so minutes. He dried his palms on his thighs and fiddled with a stray thread of his shorts. He should’ve dressed better. His parents weren’t exactly rich, but they were well off, and his mother had always told him and his siblings that appearance wasn’t everything, but that it still was a lot. She always expected them to be well dressed and clean, and Jago suddenly felt bad. He’d showered, of course, but he’d put on comfortable clothes rather than nice ones. Anything to feel more relaxed.
He hadn’t thought of how his mother would view that, but then she was about to see her son for the first time in two years. The way he was dressed was probably the last thing she’d notice.
Jago cleared his throat and Corbin looked at him again. “We can go back if that’s what you really want.”
“No. I mean, it’s what I really want, but I also want to see them. I missed them, and I know I was an ass for not contacting them earlier. They’re going to hate me. Oh God, they’re going to hate me and they’re going to kick me out.”
Jago closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the window. He sucked in a deep breath, then another, and he felt just a tiny bit better, even though the empty feeling in the pit of his stomach was still there. He knew it wouldn’t disappear until he knew everything was all right, and that would take another little while.
“Have you thought about Zach’s proposal?” Corbin asked, and Jago knew his mate was trying to distract him from the thought of what came next.
“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind having better hours, and I certainly wouldn’t say no to more money, especially if we’re going to live together, but I’m not sure I can leave my job at the hospital yet.”
“You wouldn’t feel as useful being just the pack’s nurse.”
“Yeah. I don’t mind patching pack members up when they get hurt, but they’re shifters, or at least most of them are. It’s not the same thing. I don’t feel like I really take care of them, you know?”
Corbin hummed, something he’d started doing recently. He was behaving like a human rather than the weapon he’d been created to be more and more as the time passed, and it warmed Jago’s heart. “What about the enforcers?”
Jago frowned. “What do you mean?”
“They’re fighters. They’re bound to get hurt, sometimes pretty badly. They surely have doctors.”
“Uh, yeah, they do.”
“And those doctors probably need nurses. You could work with them, and be the pack’s nurse at the same time. You already are anyway.”
“I’d have to talk to Jared, since he’s the coordinator for the council.”
“Is that a problem?”
“No.”
“Then do it.”
Jago turned the idea around in his mind, and it looked more and more like a good idea. He was so concentrated on it that he didn’t notice where they were until Corbin took another turn and he looked up. Jago’s glance jumped to the white house standing on the right side of the street a small distance away, sandwiched between two others. It was just like he remembered—white, with flowers hanging outside every window, the dark wooden door gleaming in the sunlight. The nervousness was back in full force and Jago’s stomach rolled.
Corbin had to drive around for a bit before they found a place to park, but he finally did, and Jago couldn’t postpone this anymore. He got out and shivered even though the temperature was pushing ninety.
Corbin rounded the car and paused next to him. He waited for Jago to gather his thoughts and his guts, and when Jago nodded, he took his hand and gently pulled him along. “If you want to leave, just tell me and I’ll get you out
of there as fast as I can”
“Yeah, okay.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, or if you want me to intervene, tell me.”
“Yeah.”
“If you—”
Jago stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and Corbin stopped with him. He gave Jago a curious glance and Jago leaned in and kissed his mate. “Thank you.”
Corbin cocked his head. “For what?”
“For coming with me. For caring.”
Jago could see Corbin didn’t understand by the look on his face. “I’m your mate,” Corbin said.
“Yeah.”
“Isn’t this what mates do?”
“Not every mate is so caring.”
“I... never thought someone would ever tell me I was caring.”
“But you are. Under the thick shell of indifference and coolness, you have a heart of gold, and I’m lucky you let me in.”
It took Corbin a few seconds to reply. “I’m not sure about the heart of gold part, but you are the only one I care about.”
“That’s not true and you know it.”
Corbin smiled a small smile. “You’re wasting time.”
Jago huffed. “I am not. I was only trying to be nice and romantic, but fine, let’s go.”
He pulled on Corbin’s hand, but Corbin pulled him backward and Jago fell against his chest. Corbin held Jago close and kissed him, and it was enough for Jago to almost forget what he was about to do—almost.
He did feel better when the kiss came to an end and Corbin stroked his cheek with something akin to love in his eyes. Jago wanted to poke their bond to find out if it really was love, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stand it if it wasn’t, not now, not today. He didn’t mind if Corbin wasn’t in love with him yet, but he also didn’t want to find out right now.
“It’s time to go, huh?”
Corbin nodded. “Yes. It’s no use wasting time. You’ll never be readier than you are now.”
Jago pushed away. “Jeesh, thanks for the vote of confidence.” He said it with a smile so that Corbin knew he was playing around, then he started walking again.
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