“Fuck, Ben, seriously, this is not the time.” Nori came around them and eyed the ground.
Nico stopped what he was doing, and Teilo’s hand dropped to his side. The need for Nico and Teilo’s touch to continue conflicted Ben as his two mates flanked him in a protective stance. His cock stood proud from his body as did his mates, though they didn’t seem in the least bit bothered by it. Ben wasn’t sure how to feel, his cat had no such issues and was fucking purring in his head.
Nori bent and reached into the pockets of the man on the top of the pile, searching.
“Anything?”
Nori rooted a little more, his mouth set in a grim line as he pulled his hand free and rubbed in on his shorts. “They’ve got nothing that says who they are.” He glanced up. “Could we connect this to your mates and the work of the council?”
Was it? He wasn’t sure what his gut was saying with how the desire was there swirling and mixing shit up. “Possibly. It’s not like this place is on the radar of anyone other than the council fuckers who funded it.”
Nori’s laughter was hard and brittle. “You do know you’re talking about yourself?”
He flipped his brother the middle finger. “Fuck off.”
The two men stood on either side of him turned to look at him and Ben got the feeling he was going to have to explain himself. Right now though, that wasn’t top of his priority list with the risk someone else could come for them. “I’ll explain on the plane. We need to get out of here before anyone else comes.” It was clear the pile on the floor were human and not shifter assassins. What did that mean?
“We’ll protect you,” Nico said with such authority that Ben didn’t doubt him.
Only he could see that Teilo was tiring by his waxy complexion which was much healthier in the cabin. Nico would surely follow after only three days of recovery with food and water. They needed more than that after what they’d endured.
“Thank you.” Ben took a chance and stroked a hand down Nico’s arm and Teilo’s at the same time. The sound Teilo made was going to be a big fucking issue when it directly became attached to his cock.
The change to the two men’s stance alerted Ben something or someone was coming before his own ears picked up the sound of the engine. Ben was seeing exactly how the two men’s instincts worked.
Nori sniffed the air. “It’s Kylo, and he’s alone.”
“Then let’s go to him and get the fuck out of here.”
Nori’s grin was full of humor. “Clothes first, brother.”
Neither mate smiled as Ben shook his head, blushing. “Funny fucker.”
“I know.” Nori turned serious. “Go back, get cleaned up and dressed. It won’t do us any good if we get stopped, and these two look like they’ve been bathing in blood.” He kicked the corpses on the ground. “I’ll come back and dispose of these later.”
The engine died, and Ben went back to the cabin with his mates, leaving Nori to explain to Kylo.
Showered, dressed, and wearing the sneakers Nori had brought, they tramped to where he scented his brothers were. Kylo’s eyes narrowed on them, though he said nothing as they got into the back of the jeep. More a small rust bucket, they squeezed in. Kylo and Nori stayed silent as Kylo navigated through the trees.
Sitting on either side of him, they sandwiched Ben between them. Their scent tortured him as did the rub of thighs against his as the jeep bounced over the rough terrain. Both mates kept a constant vigil, remaining quiet.
Ben didn’t try to engage in conversation, not with his brothers right there and able to listen. So, he used the time and the distraction to think about the attack and who was on his side.
As far as he knew only the Thalassa family were aware of his whereabouts. He’d toyed with the idea they’d been involved for a minute before he’d discarded the idea. After everything they’d done for Marvin and protecting their family, there was no way they’d do this and not with humans. To his mind, that only left the council. Was someone monitoring him? He could not discount it.
So where did that leave him? And was it safe to go to the island as he’d promised?
One look at the men flanking him and Ben gave an internal sigh recalling Teilo’s hope. There was no way he’d take that away.
We can protect them.
He’d never doubted his skills before now… the sting of his shoulder had faded, but not the thought that he could have left his mates unprotected if the bullet had struck true.
The next brush of skin against his brought with it an iron resolve. His hands formed into fists, nails digging into flesh as they formed into a will that came with deadly intent and a promise. He’d use every resource at his disposal, whatever the cost, there was no price too high to keep his mates safe.None.
Chapter Eight
Teilo
