“You must take us to your brother’s place of work,” Nico said firmly. “If anyone in that place has been to where they kept us, we’ll smell them and know it was them who caused the lion to be captured.”
Ben still didn’t seem sure. “Kylo wants to know about the lion shifter,” he said slowly, “but that place… going back. What will it do to you both?”
“The lion is dead,” Nico said bluntly. “You saw that with your own eyes. There is no help coming from him.”
“We have to go, Ben,” Teilo said. “We have to hunt the dark man and the people with him, so your brother will be safe. Then you won’t worry, and Nico will have his revenge. Simple really.”
Chapter Fifteen
Ben
There were times during their two weeks together that Ben thought he knew everything there was to know about his two sexy mates. Although they looked identical in their human form, their cats had unique marks, as all black panthers did. The marks on a panther, black or golden, were always distinctive, and Teilo and Nico were no exception.
Nico was the strong one. He rarely laughed out loud like Teilo did, and he was far more cautious about everything. One day, while they were exploring the island, they must’ve startled a snake that was taking refuge, probably washed up in a storm. Teilo jumped away as the snake lashed out, but Nico grabbed it around its neck and ripped it apart before Teilo’s feet had hit the ground again. When Teilo laughed at the state of Nico’s hands, grabbing him to kiss him soundly and Ben’s cock rose for the occasion. Nico’s cheeks went pink, but that was the only sign that he was pleased with his mate’s response.
Only in bed did Nico let his guard down. He was dominant, a warrior, and he could drive Ben wild for hours. In Nico, Ben found the perfect soul mate. Someone who didn’t care Ben was the older spirit, who didn’t care about his power, or position on the council. Nothing. Nico was only interested in Ben as a man—something Ben hadn’t realized he’d been craving his whole life until he had it.
And yet, without Teilo, they wouldn’t work. In some respects, Nico was too dominant, and Ben liked a bit of quiet in his life, too. Ben never doubted Teilo was just as lethal as his cage brother—a term Ben was getting used to. Ben would lie awake some nights, with Teilo in his arms, and Nico curled up behind him, and wonder how a gentle soul like Teilo had managed to stay sane during the horrors the men had faced. They knew no life outside of the basement they’d been caged in, except what they’d glimpsed when unleashed to do their job.
Yet Teilo had flourished like a hot-house flower since his rescue. He laughed readily and had the confidence to do his own thing. When Ben entered his body, Teilo accepted him willingly and with loud enthusiasm. He spent at least an hour every day in the sea. Ben had asked him about it one day shortly after they’d claimed each other, and Teilo had said he liked the feeling of freedom around him.
And now Ben was taking them back to where they’d come from. He looked down at his texts. Kylo was asking about the lion shifter—Lazarus—again.
I’m not sure bringing the boys back is a good idea, brother.
There was a pause, and then Ben saw the bouncing dots indicating Kylo was typing his response.
I don’t recall asking you to come. I can interview them over the phone. I don’t need my baby brother to hold my hand.
Huffing, because he knew that would be Kylo’s response, Ben turned so his mates couldn’t see his face.They said they needed to come. His fingers moved swiftly as he continued.Something about a dark man. An evil man. He’s involved somehow.
Your mates got a touch of sight among their other attributes?
Glancing back at where two blond heads nestled together on the couch, Ben looked back at his screen.I wouldn’t put it past them—Teilo especially, and Nico backs him. Can you think of anyone who stands out as evil that you’ve investigated?
Only one, but it’s a long shot. There’s a man known as ánga iñypytuva—it means dark soul.Ben recognized the Paraguayan Guarani term without Kylo’s explanation.It is said he is the aña (devil) himself, walking the earth demanding complete obedience from all in his inner circle. We’ve never even laid eyes on him, and anyone we capture who we know has links to him would rather eat their own tongues than speak a word about him. And I mean that literally.
Sounds like a fun guy.We’ll be there tomorrow. Have a car waiting at the airport for us.
You heading back into the jungle, bro?
Nope, it’s take the boys to work day. They want to see your office. But I don’t think they’re interested in your old typewriters.
Ben could almost hear his brother’s cursing from the island. His cell phone dinged with a final text.
I’ll let Mom know you’re coming with your fated ones.
“Ra’yoka,” Ben muttered under his breath. His brother was a right bastard. The jungle sounded like a tempting alternative.
Chapter Sixteen
Teilo
Ben had asked them not to shift into their cat forms on the boat trip back to the mainland or on the plane ride to Paraguay. He’d explained that as a council member, he traveled often, and that Teilo and Nico needed to learn to move among men as men.
Teilo wasn’t sure what Ben was trying to instill in them, given that it was a private boat and a private plane, with very few people around. Privately, he thought he looked smart in his pale gray pants, and he had to admit the pale pink shirt was soft on his skin.
The boots felt foreign enclosing his feet. Teilo hadn’t realized there were so many different types of footwear until Ben showed him some on that noisy device of his. Teilo and Nico were both told to pick a pair, for starters—whatever that meant—and the boots were waiting for them in the car when it met them to take them from the boat to the plane.
