“Mac said he never met a Shaman as powerful as Kieran.”
“No, I don’t suppose he has,” Jackson mused.
“He did something to me this morning…”
“I know,” said Jackson. “But before we get into who Kieran is and the rest of the secrets…” He paused as Steel strode into the room. “Hi, babe. Are your parents waiting to see Daniel?”
“Yeah,” Steel replied, taking his son from Hunter. “They’re going to keep him while I finish cleaning the kitchen.”
“Is Theo helping you?” asked Jackson.
“I wish. Quin needed him so I told him I’d do it myself,” he said, as he left.
“Do I owe Quin an apology too?” asked Jackson. “I noticed he was afraid of me when you introduced us. Is it because of how I acted yesterday?”
“No, that wasn’t the reason…he just doesn’t do well in new situations.”
“Understandable,” Jackson said. “But Theo might be just the one to make Quin comfortable. He has a very gentle soul.”
“I sense that,” Hunter said. “Mase said he was a prisoner?”
“Uh-huh…he, Norm and Kieran were held by an asshole who kept Kieran as a slave and was planning to auction off Theo and Norm. Luckily, Cody and Dylon got there in time to save them.”
“Yeah, that’s what I heard, but how did they find out about them?”
“I’ll get to that, but first, I’m going to tell you about Colton and what gift he received from the Fates…”
~/~/~/~/~
Gazing out the window, Hunter watched the moon make its journey across the night sky, hoping it would settle his mind. He and Jackson talked late into the evening, taking time to share a meal Steel brought them. When they finally said good night to each other, Hunter’s head was stuffed with mind-boggling information about hiscousins, their gifts and mates. Now, hours later, he still couldn’t fall asleep, thinking about everything he learned—an angel’s power to heal, shapeshifting, the ability to become invisible, empath, natural healer, waves of solid energy, seer, ghost walking, shadow voice, power of Hercules, the power of the Shaman, and then David, the one his mother told him about who carried the mark of the gods.
And then there was Jackson and Dakota’s ability to get pregnant—something he found hard to accept, that is, until his cousin asked Ian to bring their medical records. Carefully reading them, Hunter eventually acknowledged his Alpha cousins could give birth to pups.So much power contained in his cousin’s pack, but why had the Fates so lavishly gifted them?That was the question Jackson had shrugged off. But Hunter couldn’t. Maybe because he liked his ‘i’s’ dotted and ‘t’s’ crossed, or maybe it was that Jackson wouldn’t talk to him about Fionn.
His cousin said it wouldn’t be fair to Fionn since Jackson hadn’t gotten the young dragon’s permission to disclose his secrets to Hunter. On one hand he was pleased to see that Jackson respected Fionn’s privacy, but on the other, not knowing was driving him crazy. Thinking about what those powers might be was pointless; after learning the secrets of the Blackwood Pack, Hunter realized the possibilities were endless. The other thing his cousin wouldn’t disclose was why his Alpha power was so strong. All Jackson said was it had to do with Fionn but…fuck, that’s as enlightening as a cloudy crystal ball.
Rolling onto his back, Hunter stared at the moving shadows on the ceiling, wishing he could talk to Mase about what he learned, but he knew it wasn’t an option even though Jackson hadn’t forbidden it.Just one more wedge between Mason and me. Letting out his pent-upbreath, he mirthlessly chuckled at finding himself in a pack. ‘Never again!’ he remembered vowing, the night he walked away from the Alpha position at the Rolling Hills Pack.We make plans and the Fates laugh.
Finally giving up on sleep, Hunter sat up on the edge of the bed, rubbing his face, considering his options. Shifting and going for a run appealed to him, but not so much to his wolf who wanted to stay close to their mate, even though Fionn wasn’t home. Shaking his head at the illogicality of his wolf’s thinking, Hunter passed on that possibility, knowing once he shifted, his wolf would plop down, refusing to move.
Grabbing his jeans, he pulled them on, then, with his chest and feet bare, he left his room, heading for the kitchen. It was the one place he wouldn’t disturb anyone in the pack house. That, and the lure of having a second helping of the venison he ate at dinner sounded like the best idea he could come up with at this time of night.
Padding down the hallway and into the great room, he paused a moment, admiring its huge expanse. Remembering who Jackson’s mate was, his question about how his cousin could afford a place like this was answered. Moving on, Hunter was almost there when he heard the refrigerator door open. Smirking, he was sure Sawyer was raiding the fridge again. He always swore his brother had a hollow leg, considering the amount of food he consumed. Moving quietly, Hunter placed his hand on the kitchen swinging door and, waiting until he heard his brother removing some items, quickly pushed it open, growling, “Gotcha!”
With a low scream, Fionn dropped the jars of mayonnaise and pickles in his hands, along with a loaf of bread and a platter of roast venison. Broken glass scattered at his feet, while the aroma of food he’d held only moments beforeswirled up, teasing his nose as to what he wasn’t going to have. Looking down at the mess, pissed off to the extreme, Fionn then looked up, finding the man who’d haunted him for the past few days.
Two thoughts struck like lightening. His mate was hotter and sexier close up than in any of his dreams or drawings and Fionn suddenly felt more protected than he’d been since his mother died. It was the latter that he concentrated on, trying to control the roaring of his dragon as he stood there, watching as embarrassment, regret, lust and desire crossed his mate’s face in quick succession.
Appalled at what he caused, Hunter was about to apologize, until his wolf caught Fionn’s scent, causing Hunter’s cock to harden behind the zipper of his jeans. Groaning softly at the rubbing of his cock against the metal, he briefly closed his eyes, picturing Fionn’s mouth surrounding it, his mate’s teeth lightly scraping up and down the shaft. His arousal scent filled the air, his body ached, his wolf paced, pushing to get out as his body as his animal demanded their mate.
His eyes flashed open, pinning Fionn in place. If his mate so much as moved a muscle, Hunter knew he’d lose whatever shred of control he had left, and his wolf would take over. “Please, don’t…just stand still,” he growled, his words hampered by his fangs that had descended. “I just need a second…got to get my wolf under control…I’m…”
“My mate, I know.” Seeing the liquid white light in his mate’s eyes, Fionn did as he was asked, knowing how close his mate was to shifting, though that didn’t stop his eyes’ slow journey down his mate’s naked chest, mapping each muscle he wanted to lick, taste, bite and kiss until finally arriving at the large bulge gracing hismate’s groin. Then, picturing it filling his ass, he fought back a moan, fighting his urge to jump into his mate’s arms.
Chapter 21
Oh fuck it!Fionn flew to Hunter, tucking himself against the man who was driving his dragon crazy and his body nuts. As his lips brushed against one of Hunter’s nipples, his tongue reached out, circling it slowly before sucking it into his mouth and rolling it between his teeth. Hunter’s growling ignited Fionn’s inner fire; his hot breath caused his mate’s nipple to stiffen. Moving to the other one, he gave it the same attention, while rubbing his mate’s bulge.Gods I need him in me. Leaving Hunter’s cock, Fionn’s right hand worked to undo his mate’s jeans while his left pushed down his own sweatpants.
Grunting at the unexpected impact of Fionn’s body against his, Hunter instinctively wrapped his arms around him. Groaning as his mate’s sweet scent filled him, he tightened his grip, never wanting to let go.Holy hell!Feeling Fionn’s teeth teasing his nipples along with puffs of hot air sent his wolf into a frenzy, knowing his dragon mate was near. Burying his face in Fionn’s hair, Hunter’s fangs dropped, his mouth watering for his mate’s blood.
