With effort, the cat he’d brought up, eyes slit open. There was a moment, something flashed in the deep yellow pools of misery as he acknowledged Ben and the cat curved protectively around him, before they closed. The mate spooning him purred louder and tears ran down Ben’s cheeks.
Fuck, please don’t die.
“Come on, Ben.” Nori knocked against his arm the bottle.
Composing himself, he took the bottle and eased forward and lifted it to the cat making the most joyful noises Ben had ever heard. “Drink, please,” he coaxed softly.
When he finally opened his mouth, Ben mindfully dripped in small amounts, until the bottle was empty. He gave him two more bottles, before he switched to his other mate. This time he had to work around the cat guarding him. He managed, only the purring stopped, and his other mate scrutinized him.
Time was irrelevant as he switched water out for some type of mush like food substance that Kylo handed him that smelled of meat.
His back was aching, his muscles stiff from being in a crouched position, only he didn’t dare move away. Him and his panther in accord, they needed to watch over their mates until they could do more than lift their heads.
Chapter Six
Ben
Day turned to night and night turned to day, twice. His eyes were gritty from the lack of sleep, but the two cats lying curled around each other, for the first time appeared to be resting easier.
They’d emptied the fridge of all the bottled water. Nori had a small camping stove to boil water and make sure it was safe, which they cooled in water bottles. The packs Nori hid contained food rich in vitamins that Kylo explained would give the panther’s bodies their much needed nutrients.
It had taken far more work to get them to eat than drink. Ben had been persistent, and it had paid off. Although they were still extremely thin, with ribs poking out abnormally, Ben could see their breathing was easier. He tried not to think about how he’d given in to temptation and let his panther come forth to help clean the cats. His human side would rather have gotten them to shift so he could give them a bath… but beggars could not be choosey.
It had taken four attempts at cleaning his teeth to make his mouth feel somewhat better.
“Go and shower. You smell worse than what was downstairs.” Nori nudged his shoulder and nodded in the direction of the stairs leading up to the bedrooms.
The place had all the mod cons, and the rooms were far more lavish than the cages.Bastards!
“When is Kylo due back?” Kylo had left early that morning, when it became apparent both cats were stable enough to move, to arrange some transport that could get into the forest. They needed an off-road terrain vehicle to get as close as possible to where they were to help get his mates to the plane.
“I’d say another hour or two. I’ll be okay here. They haven’t made any move to swipe at me again.” Nori grinned. “As long as I keep my distance.”
Neither cat, once more alert, wanted either Kylo or Nori near them. Ben didn’t want to upset either mate, so he’d not left them alone. He glanced at the two, now sleek looking cats lying over the cushions. The light from the front windows, what there was of it, dappled their fur, highlighting the distinct spots beneath. Though they were black, the marking were there and to Ben’s eyes nearly identical. Both sets of eyes were open, wary, and watchful.
“Are you okay with me going for a shower?” He wrinkled his nose and pulled a funny, jokily face. “’Cause I stink.”
He wasn’t sure what they were portraying as both noses wrinkled, and their gazes roamed over him. He’d pulled on a pair of old shorts that were Kylo’s on day two, although he had nothing else on. It was too warm.
Both mates looked at each other, and for the first time, Ben wanted to touch, to reassure himself that he was a part of the triad the Fates had created somehow, even in a lab. Instead, he trusted his mates were aware enough not to eat his brother and headed upstairs for a shower. The ache started the moment he moved out of sight of them, and Ben quickened his pace.
~/~/~/~
Nico
The cell phone ringing near the man Ben called Nori gave Nico the opportunity he’d been waiting for. Nudging Teilo, he pulled on every memory he had of being human and shifted. The aches were unfamiliar… so was feeling so drained. He stared at his arms and legs, confused by the lack of fur, until his brain caught up to what the shifting side of him had done. Beside him, Teilo shifted, too. It took just a fraction longer. Nico was so overwhelmed at seeing his partner in all things take on his human form.
They didn’t speak, not initially. Nori had gone outside with his phone, but wary of being overheard, Nico signaled they should both move. After glancing at the stairs, Teilo followed him silently as they went in the opposite direction to where Nori had gone, finding themselves in what looked like a hastily emptied office.
“You well?” It was all Nico could do to keep his hands to himself. Teilo looked as he always did. Tall, lean, his surprisingly blond hair in direct contrast to the black fur of his beloved cat.
Teilo grabbed him, pulling him close. Nico could barely swallow a groan that rose unbidden as two naked bodies slammed together. They had never had that physicality. Their connection had always been one of the soul. To feel, truly feel, the smoothness of Teilo’s skin against his own was indescribable. The hug was long, heartfelt, communicating longing, relief, and desires it would seem they both shared. Nico was still weak from his near-death experience, and he was sure Teilo was too, but that didn’t mean that traitorous parts of his body didn’t try to rise to join in the fun.
“I thought I would die.” Teilo’s voice was deep, his words raspy. But as Nico couldn’t remember the last time they’d actually used words, it was not surprising. “I could not watch your face as I died. Forgive me?”
Nico shook his head. “Nothing to forgive,” he whispered in Teilo’s ear. “But we must make decisions and be fast about it. That man, Ben, he’ll be finished showering soon.”
Teilo turned his head, staring at a plain beige wall. “I feel something for him, and yet I shouldn’t.”
