by A J Jarrett
Garrett clenched his jaw so tight Logan could hear his teeth grind together from the stress. “I’m your family, too. Or have you forgotten already?”
“I haven’t forgotten anything because there was never anything worth remembering.” Lachlan turned around and headed out the door.
I’ve lost him. Oh god what will I do without the man I love? Why does everything I say come out so wrong?
Logan’s eyes began to water as he looked at Garrett. He wanted to say something to ease the man’s pain, but he had nothing to offer.
“Come on, honey, let’s go.” Finn pulled him up to stand and guided him toward the entryway. “Garrett, we’ll stay in touch. If you see Rhett anywhere let us know. If he’s associating with Dark Warriors, it’s a council matter now.”
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“I will, Finn. I have my men on it right now. If he’s still hanging around, we will find him.”
They were heading toward their car when Garrett called out to Finn. Finn turned to look at the alpha. Logan could see the desperation in the man’s eyes.
“Keep him safe will you. I know I don’t have any claim to him and he’s made it quite clear he doesn’t want me, but I couldn’t bear it if something were to happen to him.”
Finn nodded. “He’s a lot tougher then you think. It’ll take more than some Dark Warriors to bring down Lachlan.”
Garrett gave a nod and stepped back into his house.
Once settled into the car, Lachlan pulled out onto the road and headed toward the warrior compound. Logan rested his head on Finn’s shoulder. The events of the day had worn him out, and he just wanted to crawl back in bed and pretend this day never happened.
“So can you guys take me home?” Leo piped up from where he sat next to Logan.
“Are you insane?” Carter asked as he turned around in his seat.
His eyes were bugging out of his head as he looked at Leo. “There are Dark Warriors on the loose and you want to go home? Leo, sweetheart, they know who you are. You’d be one of the first people they’ll go after.”
“What?” Leo squeaked out. “But I’m not a part of this. Why would they want me? I’m a nobody.”
Logan’s heart sank at the realization he had unknowingly put his best friend in danger. “Because of me,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Logan swallowed around the lump lodged in his throat. He met Leo’s eyes. “Because you mean something to me and I mean something to Finn. Hurting me is like hurting Finn.” Tears spilled down his cheeks in a rush.
“I don’t understand.” Leo shook his head as he eyed Logan sympathetically.
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“Leo.” Lachlan spoke up from the front seat. “If something happens to Logan, it will weaken Finn to the point of death. He’d be easy for the Dark Warriors to kill. And I can see how much Logan cares for you, so I’d bet my life that Logan would sacrifice himself for your safety, and we can’t let him do that. Finn means too much to the Warriors of the Light. You’re part of the warrior family now. It’s for your own good.”
Leo’s face paled so badly Logan feared his friend would pass out from shock. He snatched up Leo’s hands and rubbed them between his own. The skin covering his best friend’s hands was ice-cold.
“I’m so sorry about this. Please forgive me, Leo.” Logan’s tears fell harder.
Leo slowly turned to meet Logan’s pain filled eyes. “Forgive you?
Oh Logan, there’s nothing to forgive. You didn’t plan this.” Leo’s jaw set, and his eyes went dark. “It’s that asshole Rhett’s fault. I told you he was no good. But would you listen to me? No.” Leo tried to hide his grin but failed miserably. “I love you, Logan. What they said makes sense. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for me or put Finn in danger. You’re my only family, and now so is Finn.”
Relief flooded his body. Leo had always been the understanding one. The one who saw reason with everything when Logan didn’t. Of course he would be willing to do whatever it took to keep everyone safe.
“Hey, Leo, it’s not so bad at the warrior compound.” Carter looked over his shoulder and waggled his eyebrows at Leo. “Lots of hot guys walking around.”
And mine is the best looking of them all.
Logan smiled at the omission Carter hadn’t realized he just gave.
The sarcastic little witch had a heart he tried to keep hidden under that hard exterior. Logan really hoped Carter and Abner worked out their issues because it seemed Carter really wanted the man but was just too proud to admit it out loud.
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“Well then, lead the way,” Leo said with a smile as he locked hands with Logan.
Carter turned his head to watch as Garrett’s house faded into the distance. A weird vibe itched right under the surface of Carter’s senses. Something he couldn’t quite grab onto or make heads or tails of. He usually could only read a person’s past if he was touching them, but something right on the fringes of his mind told him there was more to this Rhett fellow. It was like an echo from the past he could just barely hear. Something was calling to him. He just didn’t know what it was trying to say.
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Chapter Twelve
Once back at the warrior compound, Finn escorted Logan and Leo up to his room. The room next door to his and Logan’s was being set up to be Leo’s. Since Logan’s best friend was pulled into this mess without any fault of his own, it was only fitting to keep his mate and his mate’s best friend close.
“You two going to be okay for a little bit?” Finn asked. “I have some warrior business to tend to.” He didn’t want to leave Logan’s side for a minute but work called, and he had to do whatever was necessary to keep his mate safe. Rhett mingling with Dark Warriors was bad news for all of them. No telling what the Dark Warriors’ next move would be.
“Yes, but will you be gone long?” Logan walked up to him and held Finn’s face between his warm hands. On instinct, Finn nuzzled into the sweet contact.
Finn wrapped his fingers around Logan’s wrists and stared up into his eyes. “I’ll try not to be. But we have to find Rhett and these new buddies he’s been hanging out with. If he’s involved with Dark Warriors, it could mean trouble for everyone.”
Logan nodded his head. He cast his eyes downward but not before Finn saw the tears pooling in his eyes. Finn wanted to erase that sadness from Logan’s face, hell his whole body. But this was their way of life now. Finn was a warrior, and there would always be some sort of danger lurking around every corner. Logan would have to get used to it. It wasn’t fair, but Finn couldn’t change it.
He reached up and brushed his lips against Logan’s. The warm, soft flesh gave way under his demanding tongue, and Logan fell
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forward into the kiss. Logan’s mouth was like a warm, moist cavern of never-ending ecstasy that Finn would never tire of.
“Hey, I’m still in here you know.”
Finn’s eyes blinked open at the sound of Leo’s voice. Logan began to giggle. The love he felt for Logan made him lose focus of everything and everyone. Any other time that would be a good thing, but not now. He had to keep his wits about him in order to keep Logan and Leo safe.
“Sorry, Leo.” Finn gave one last quick peck to Logan’s lips then headed for the door. Before he stepped out into the hallway, he turned to look at the pair. “Whatever you do, don’t leave the house. I have a couple of warriors picking up some of your belongings and bringing them here. Once this problem is resolved, I promise we’ll get the rest of your stuff.”
“Well this could get awkward.” Leo sighed. Finn stared at the man, trying to contemplate what he was talking about. “I’m just saying I can’t be held responsible for what your friends find in my drawers.” Leo held his hands up, palms facing Finn.
It took a minute for Finn to understand what Leo was trying to say to him, then the light clicked
on in his brain. “Oh.” Finn’s mouth rounded on the word. He understood now what Leo was trying to say.
“I think your secrets will be safe. Warriors can be very discreet.” Or he hoped his friends would be.
“I’m not worried about being embarrassed. A guy has to have his vices.” Leo gave a half shrug. “I’m more worried about freaking out your friends.”
“Leo, you and your sex toys.” Logan rolled his eyes.
“Hey, they’re well hidden but if they go snooping too hard, it’s not my fault if they find a dildo or two lying around.”
Finn couldn’t help but wonder how many the man had. He coughed to clear his throat. “Leo, some of the warriors living here are as old as dirt. I think a sex toy won’t shock them in the least.” Once again he just prayed he spoke the truth. Yes, some of the warriors
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were hundreds of years old, but they still acted like children every chance they got. And he wouldn’t be surprised if they did find them and that Leo got a couple of date offers because of it. He chuckled to himself as he headed for the door. “Like I said, stay in the house.”
Finn mouthed the words I love you to Logan, and his mate responded in kind. He shut the door and headed down the stairs to the war room. With Dark Warriors still in the area, they had to take precautions for everyone’s safety. They just got Astrid back from his sadistic father and grandmother, and before that they killed Malcolm.
What else could be coming for them?
As he rounded the corner, he heard voices outside the room. Not bothering to knock, Finn stepped inside.
“It’s like we’re being invaded by Dark Warriors,” the Warriors of the Light leader, Ben, said.
“Maybe it’s the area we’re in,” Quinn suggested. “It could be that the Midwest is an easier place for them to set up shop. We have several warriors stationed on the West and East Coasts. But nothing stationed in the heart of America.”
“But I would think they would stick out more, don’t you?” Abner asked. “I mean think about it, Dark Warriors are rather flashy at times or wearing their black fatigues. That would come off as odd in this area.”
Everyone was offering up ideas as to why there was such a surge in dark forces in this location. Missouri wasn’t a small state. It had its large cities and tourist spots like any other place. But for some reason Dark Warriors had taken up residence in this particular state.
“Ladies,” Carter said as he waved his hand in the air like a child would do to get a teacher’s attention. “If you don’t mind, can I offer a suggestion?”
Finn looked from Carter to Ben. Ben gave a tight nod of his head.
“Fabulous.” Carter sat forward in his chair. “I’m not saying anything derogatory toward your mate,” Carter said to Ben. “But none of this started until you met the man. Plus he is hearing voices from
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some kid the two of you are ‘allegedly’ to have in the future.” Carter made air quotes with his fingers. “A lot of strange occurrences if you ask me. Then you have Astrid, who is a fairy.” He clapped his hands together. “It’s like Grand Central Station for weird shit going down lately.”
“What’s your point, Carter?” Ben huffed out. The man looked a little annoyed with the witch, and Finn could relate.
“My point is I think when you met Miles, it triggered something magically. It’s like the Warriors of the Dark are uprising but for what?” Carter shrugged his shoulders. “Seeing into the future is not my gift, but I’d bet it has something to do with your mate, Ben.”
Finn often thought the same things. But he was too afraid of worrying Ben to voice his concerns. But ever since Ben met Miles, things just seemed to happen at random. Finn wasn’t pointing fingers or anything, but he had to wonder where Logan fit into everything?
“Hold up a minute,” Klaus said. “I think all this could be just a coincidence.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Witches and Dark Warriors have felt suppressed by us good guys for a long time. Or so they like to tell us.” An evil grin flashed across Klaus’s face, and it caused Finn to shiver. Klaus was a good man and an even better witch, but Klaus did have a scary side.
“I personally think that Ben finding his mate just opened up a door of distraction. With Ben being occupied with Miles, the Dark Warriors probably felt free to set their plans in motion. They’ve wanted control for centuries, and maybe that was their opening.
There’s nothing to suggest that Ben and Miles’s mating caused a ripple effect.”
Part of Finn agreed with Klaus. It all could just be a bunch of random coincidences. And if what Carter said was true, where did Logan fit into all this? It had to be just a fluke.
“Klaus, I totally get what you’re saying, but I had to get that off my chest. Just in case it does mean something.” Carter looked to the older witch who gave him a nod. “But on another issue”—Carter
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turned his attention toward Lachlan—“something weird happened today when I was at your mate’s house.”
“What?” Lachlan asked, and Finn was curious as well.
“See, my gift is to see into another person’s past. And usually, I need to be touching that person when I do it. But today at Garrett’s, it was like someone was trying to alert me to something. It was like an echo of a voice.”
“Carter, you know with age your magical abilities mature, and you can do more things.” Klaus offered. “This could just be you are developing new gifts.”
Finn nodded his agreement. He had heard such things over the years. This just could be Carter getting stronger. And when Finn thought about it, that notion was a tad bit frightening.
“See I thought so, too, but it was different.” Finn jerked when Carter laid his hand on his arm. “I got the distinct impression it has something to do with Logan.”
“Why?” Finn scooted to the edge of his seat, ready to bolt out the door.
“While we were at Garrett’s it was like someone was poking at my brain.” Carter brought his fingers up to his temples and massaged the area. Finn wondered if just thinking about it caused the witch pain of some sort. “I kept seeing flashes but never enough to get the full image. But one word did come through loud and clear.” Carter’s eyes went cold as he looked at Finn. “Rhett.”
“Lachlan, did this Rhett fellow live with Garrett?” Ben asked the lion shifter.
“I think so. All unmated wolves have the option to live with the alpha.” Lachlan shook his head. “Something about protection.”
“Okay.” Ben stood up. “Lachlan, call Garrett, let him know we’re on our way over.” Lachlan let out an annoyed sigh but pulled out his cell phone. Ben looked to Carter. “Do you think you can do a reading on a person’s room? Or do you have to have that person-to-person contact?”
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“Whatever entity is in that house involves Rhett. And it wants me to know something. I don’t think I’ll need him present to do a reading.”
“Then let’s do it,” Ben said as he headed for the door.
“Wait a minute!” Abner shouted from where he stood beside Carter. “This could be dangerous, and you’re letting my mate put himself at risk.”
Finn, like everyone else in the room, was shocked by Abner’s outburst. Ever since Abner had had to mate Carter in order to help save Astrid, the two had been estranged. But to see Abner upset at the possibility that harm could come to his mate, one would think he cared about the obnoxious witch.
“Abner, it’s okay.” Carter put his hand on Abner’s chest, and the bear of a man didn’t push it away. “I’ll be fine.” He smiled up at his mate and Finn felt guilty witnessing this intimate moment between the pair. “I have warriors with me and listening to Rhett’s past won’t hurt me. I promise.”
A skeptical look fluttered in Abner’s eyes. “I’m coming with you guys just in case this Rhett decides to make a
n appearance.” He quickly stepped away from his mate, breaking any and all connection that they had just shared. Finn really hoped one day they would work out their differences. Living without one’s mate had to be crippling.
As they headed out of the room, Ben ordered Lawson and Quinn to stay with the other mates in the house.
Finn ran up the stairs to his room and pushed open the door.
Logan and Leo were on the bed watching TV. Logan must have seen the urgency on his face because he jumped up and met him halfway across the room.
“What’s wrong?”
Finn wrapped his arms around Logan’s waist and held on tight.
“Nothing. I just wanted to tell you we’re heading back over to Garrett’s house. Carter might be able to do a past reading of Rhett’s room.”
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“It’s not dangerous is it? If it is, I’m coming with you.” Logan tried to pull out of his embrace, but Finn wouldn’t let him go. He loved that at the thought of him getting hurt, his mate was ready to jump in and help out. But it wasn’t Logan’s place to do that.
“Logan, it’s a harmless assignment, but I need to go. You, on the other hand, need to stay here and get some rest.” He stepped back to look up into Logan’s eyes. “Why don’t you introduce Leo to Trevor.
Miles and Astrid are downstairs as well. You guys could make some lunch or something. It’d be fun.”
“Baby, Trevor doesn’t eat food,” Logan said bluntly.
Finn rolled his eyes and couldn’t help but smile. “You know what I meant. Give him a glass of O negative while the rest of you eat.”
“O negative?” Leo sat up on the bed. “What the fuck are you two talking about?”
Finn stretched up and kissed his mate good-bye. He looked deeply into Logan’s eyes and tried to convey all the love he felt for the man.