"So the debt is paid?"
"There was no debt.An alliance is formed."
Shixyll snorted, and Flint's hold on Ezra's arm tightened.
"We're leaving."
Ezra turned to look at her, his face still aflame with embarrassment, but he wanted to see his mother one last time.She didn't look at him.Jiprix stepped closer.He gave Flint a small nod then handed Ezra two spiraled braid rings.Ezra accepted them with a shaky hand.He wasn't allowed more than two braids, and he didn't have many braid cuffs.They were a sign of respect; it was an honor to be gifted some.But Jiprix was giving them to him because he'd allowed Flint to bed and bite him.Nevertheless, he curled his fingers around them.
Then the sound of Shixyll closing the car door behind her reached him, and he looked in her direction.She was fiddling with something in her lap, not paying him any attention at all.He let out a shaky breath and looked at Jiprix one last time.He gave him a ghost of a smile and headed for the car.
Everyone remained where they were until the car no longer could be seen.
"All done."Flint spoke to the crowd."We'll meet in the office in five minutes."Then he bent and grabbed Ezra's bag off the ground."Come on."This time he spoke lower, so Ezra assumed he was talking to him.
* * * *
Chapter 3
Rourke walked into the office where Ulric, Geri, Farkas, Tala, and Due were waiting.
He sat at the oval table, rested his elbows on the surface, and cradled his head."Anyone other than me having the feeling this didn't go as it was supposed to?"
Ulric grunted."You mated a witch."
"I'm well aware, thank you."He looked up and met the others' gazes.
"Where is he now?"Tala's eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"I left him in my room.I can't decide if I'm gonna let him stay with me or give him a room of his own."
"Don't you think you'll go crazy if you have him in another room?You're mated, and while it's not a normal mating, he's still your mate.You'll need him nearby."Geri looked skeptical.
"Yeah, you'll go crazy."Due leaned back in her chair.She was the only one of them who was mated, or the two of them were the only ones in the group who were, he guessed he should say.
"I don't feel as if I'll go crazy."He'd been relieved to leave Ezra behind.He rubbed his chest where the glow resided.Yes, relieved.
Due gave him an unimpressed look and nodded at his hand still moving in a circle over his heart."Sure you don't.Give it an hour or two."
"Perhaps best to keep him in your room."Ulric didn't look pleased, and Rourke sighed.He didn't want him in his space.He never wanted to see another witch ever again.
"What did the male give him before he left?"Farkas sought Rourke's gaze.The suspicion in his eyes was clear, and Rourke didn't blame him.They'd only recently gotten him back.The witches had kept him prisoner for months.He was weak and starved, and Rourke didn't think he slept.
"Not sure, but I think it was some metal things to put in his hair."
Farkas nodded."Why doesn't he have as much shit on him as the others?He only has one ring in his lip, and hardly anything in his hair."
Rourke shrugged."No idea."He had his entire dick pierced, but Rourke wouldn't tell anyone.
"What about tattoos?Does he have any?"
"No.Or he kept his shirt on, so I don't know."
Farkas widened his eyes."You fucked him with his shirt on?"
Rourke flashed his teeth."Yeah."
He raised his hands in the air."Okay."
