PART
3
“I don’t care, Law. He did what he could to help
Evian until help could get there. Turk and his brothers told you that he was
already applying pressure and refused to move because he was afraid Evian would
bleed out.” Sky hissed angrily.
“And according to Dakota, that man was right. Had he
not kept the pressure on the wound we wouldn’t have Evian here right now.” Rey
said but he sounded more imploring than angry.
Midnight gripped his mate’s forearm, “Law, he’s
Evian’s mate. You can’t separate them it
wouldn’t just be wrong it would be cruel and you know it.”
A sigh of frustration was clear when Law said, “I
understand and agree with all three of you, but Evian was shot and Turk had
come here because of someone or someones rustling cattle on his ranch. I don’t
know how but they are related and everything in me is yelling this guy holds
the answers.”
“I don’t disagree with you, Law, but you don’t have
to treat him like the enemy either. I’ve seen fear and my mate is more than
that. My shift terrified him. I don’t know why he was in our forests but I
don’t think it was to harm me.” Evian said as he sat in a chair praying his
mate would wake up. It had scared the shit out of Evian and his animal when the
man had slumped in Shaw’s hold. All his anger deflated right then and there and
fear like he had never known hit him like a tsunami.
“I agree Evian. When you started to shift he started
shaking so bad I was concerned he was having a seizure. He might know what’s going on, but I don’t
think he is a part of whatever it is.” Turk said with a nod. “The kid was
really upset about your injury and was doing everything he could to keep you
from bleeding out.”
“And you didn’t see anyone when you found Evian?”
Law asked.
Shaking his head, Turk said, “No, but we did hear
something. We just figured it was a deer or something running in the forest but
it could have been people I guess.”
“It was my brothers.” Sundance rasped out as he
opened his eyes.
“Finally decided to stop playing possum did you?”
Turk asked.
Sundance’s eyes widened, “How did you...”
Evian watched as his mate looked all around him his
shaking beginning once again. “Hey, it’s okay. No one here is going to hurt
you.”
Sundance looked at him and must have seen the
honesty in Evian’s words. Then he sighed, “You’re right. You aren’t in the
animal form so you know I’m no threat to you.”
Evian knew the others were looking at Sundance just
as baffled. Slowly, Evian said, “Even if we were in animal form we would know
you weren’t a threat to us, Sundance. We are just as sentient in our animal
form as we are in human form.”
“You are?” Sundance gasped. “But Butch said...and
Cassidy he said...” He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, “They lied
to me. God dang it I really am stupid.”
“Hey, don’t say that about yourself. I don’t like
hearing you put yourself down like that.” Evian practically growled.
Sky snickered, “Wait. Wait. Come on are you saying
your brothers names are Butch and Cassidy and you’re name is...” Sky laughed
harder, gasping for breath with each word, “your...your name is...Sundance? Is
there a Kid in the mix too?”
Sundance blushed a beautiful shade of red as he
murmured, “Our hound dog.”
Sky completely lost it right there. He fell into his
brother Midnight and Evian saw the man’s lips twitch up as he said, “Sky, this
isn’t the time.” However the humor wasn’t hidden well.
It took a moment for Sky to get a hold of himself
but when Sundance shrugged saying, “It was my momma and daddy’s first date.”
“And they didn’t think to name you guys Paul,
Robert, and maybe Martin or something?” Sky asked trying once again to get a
hold of his laughter.
“I think it’s kind of cool.” Rey said then gave his
brother a pointed look, “And with names like Sky and Midnight I wouldn’t laugh
to hard.”
“What’s wrong with Sky and Midnight? They’re
unique.” Sky said quickly coming out of his humorous state. “At least people
spell our names right.”
“My name may be spelled differently but at least
it’s not one that would make someone’s brow raise. Now stop picking on Sundance
so we can get this over with. We have a butt ton of people coming to the party
and we need to be there to stop Winter from eating all the food before they
arrive.” Rey said.
Law sighed, “Maybe you three should go while we talk
with...”
Midnight pursed his lips, saying “Do not do that,
Law. You know we have to be here. We are needed here and you know it. It isn’t
like you come across very invitingly to strangers.” He then looked at Sundance,
“Can you please tell us what you and your brothers were doing on Haven Ranch
and why you shot Evian?”
Sundance looked at Evian with such remorse Evian
couldn’t help but squeeze his hand in comfort. However, Dakota came up to them
saying, “Why don’t you guys let me check him over first and then you can talk.
It will only take a couple of minutes.”
“He can talk while you do the exam. Rey isn’t wrong
about how much time we have.” Law said gruffly.
Sundance shrank back as Dakota tried to lift his
shirt. “What are you doing?”
“I need to make sure you didn’t hurt yourself when
you fell. It wont hurt.” Dakota said.
Sundance held onto his shirt, “I’m fine. Honest.”
“Let me be the judge of th...” Dakota had pulled the
shirt from Sundance’s grip and was pulling it up but stopped speaking and Evian
heard Rey and his brother’s gasp as Turk let out a “Holy shit.”
Evian jumped up and went to where everyone was
looking, “What? What is it? Is he hurt?”
“Who did that to you, Sundance?” Sky said with a
growl.
The look of shame that came across his mate’s face
both angered and hurt Evian. Then Sundance whispered, “Butch gets real mad when
I don’t do what he wants or if I screw up something.”
“But those are fresh slashes.” Rey said with a catch
in his voice. “Why would a brother do that?”
Sundance shrugged, “I...I screw up a lot.”
“I...I didn’t take a steer like Butch said I
should.” Sundance said quietly. He looked at Evian, “I couldn’t. It was stealin
and mama said stealin in wrong. Those steer didn’t belong to us. I said we
could as for work and maybe...” He looked at Turk, “I thought maybe you’d let
us work for a few of ‘em. Butch said I was stupid and took the belt to me. He
said I was gonna make us all starve.”
“And he shooting of Evian?” Law asked.
Sundance looked at Evian with tear-filled eyes. “I’m
so sorry. I tried to stop Butch. I really did. When Butch saw a forest ranger
in the woods he said you had to die. He said...he said we weren’t goin to jail
because we needed to eat. I grabbed the gun telling Butch he couldn’t kill ya.
He knocked me down and Cassidy grabbed me
and threw me to the ground. He covered my mouth so I couldn’t warn ya I
did get a kick in though and it made his aim go off a bit but I wasn’t quick
enough.” Sundance dropped his gaze down, whispering, “He said he was gonna kick
my ass for what I’d done. I told ‘em I heard people coming, even though there
wasn’t nobody and when Cassidy let me go I took off to help you. I figured, I’d
rather die by your hands hopin it wouldn’t be as painful as when Butch killed
me.”
“Where are they now?” Law asked.
Shaking his head, Sundance said, “I don’t know. We
set up camp about a mile east from here. Near a crick with a bunch of Ponderosa
Pines. There’s a huge barren spot to the right. Butch figured that it meant no
shifters would bother us there.”
“It’s where we were attacked, Law.” Midnight gasped.
Law nodded, “And you think they might be there?”
“I don’t know. It’s the only place I know of them
bein.” Sundance said then looked at Evian asking, “What happens to me now? Am I
gonna die?”
Evian gripped his mate’s hand, “Sundance, do you
know what a mate is to a shifter?”
Sundance shook his head, “No. I only know things
Butch told me and from the small things said here I know he lied about that or
didn’t know himself. He said when you guys changed into your animal you became
that animal. You didn’t have the human in ya anymore.”
Evian shook his head, repeating what was already
said, “We are completely sentient in our animal form, Sundance. Our human and
animal are connected. My Orangutan is with me now just as I am with him when I
shift. I can explain our kind to you but
I’d rather explain mates. You see, fate knows we live for a very long time.
Hundreds and sometimes even thousands of years.”
Sundance’s eyes widened but Evian continued, “She
didn’t want us to be lonely so she created a person or sometimes persons out
there that are meant just for us. They are someone we can love, cherish, and
honor until our final days. This person, when we find them, we will protect
with our very lives. They are our number one priority.”
“Why?” Sundance asked.
“Because we don’t get another. If our mate dies, we
will die as well. It won’t be right away, but we literally die of heartache. We
not only don’t want to be separated from our mate we can’t be separated from
our mate. The loss would be too great.” Evian explained.
Sundance stammered, “O...okay, b...but what
do...does that have to d...do with m...me?”
“You are my mate, Sundance.” Evian explained.
Shaking his head, Sundance said, “No. You can’t know
that.”
Evian cupped Sundance’s cheek, “But I do. I knew it
the moment I smelled you.”
“Huh? You sayin I stink?” Sundance asked lifting his
arms and smelling his pits.
Evian laughed, “No, Sundance. You don’t smell stinky
to me at all. You smell glorious. Hell, I could roll around in your scent all
day, every day and be happy. I want to cover that smell of freshly cut grass to
cover my body. I want my scent to cover yours. This tells the entire shifter
and paranormal world you are mine and I will kill anyone that tries to take you
from me.”
Sundance blinked. “That’s kind of heavy.”
“I know and I won’t rush you, Sundance. I just ask
that you give us a chance. Let me prove to you that fate is never wrong. We
belong together and I want you and all a mating offers. Will you do that?”
Evian asked.
Before Sundance could answer a shot ripped through
the air and a loud, “Bring out our brother! Bring him out or I’ll kill this
piece of shit shifter right now!”
Law looked at Rey, Sky and Midnight then to Sky’s
mates, “Turk, Emery, Stay with them. Shaw, you and Hardy are with me.”
“What about Sundance?” Evian asked.
“Stay with him for now. We need to check out things
first.” Law stated turning to go to the door.
Evian called out, “I won’t hand my mate over to
those men, Law so you better figure out a way to save whoever the hell those
men have out there.”
Sky, Midnight and Rey rushed to the window and
looked out. Emery hissing, “Sky get away from the window it isn’t safe.”
Sky ignored his mate as he looked out and gasped,
“Oh gods, they have Como.”
“What! They have my brother?” Evian gasped going to
the window to look out.
Sure enough Como was standing with his back to an
older version of his mate but this guy was holding a gun to Como’s head
screaming for Sundance to be set free. Emery and Turk came to look out the window
as well, Turk saying, “Shit. Kenner is going to kill that man for threatening
his mate like that.”
Sky quickly said, “I don’t see the other one. Maybe
one of us should go out there and look around. I could go. My chipmunk is small
and...”
“Absolutely not, Sky. If you even try it not only
will I spank your ass but so will Hardy. That man is not right in the head.”
Emery stated firmly.
Sky slowly turned to his mate with a raised brow,
“Do you call that a threat? Because I call it foreplay.”
“How about this? If you step one tiny toe out that
door or any other exit in this place and Hardy and I will tie you down and
force you to watch us fuck over and over and not only not allow you to join in
but we will put a cock ring on your dick preventing you from releasing as
well.” Emery said in a hoity tone Evian wasn’t used to hearing from the man.
Sky said nothing for a moment, then turned back
towards the window, “Okay, now that is a threat. So what about the second
brother? Someone has to go out there and see where he might be. I really don’t
think you’d have one without the other...would you?”
Evian shook his head, “I don’t know.” Turning to ask
Sundance his eyes went wide, “Where did Sundance go?”
Everyone turned to see that Sundance was indeed gone
and the door was slightly open. Midnight gasped, “You don’t think this was a
set up do you?”
“No. Sundance wouldn’t do that, Midnight.” Evian
said emphatically.
“No he wouldn’t. He would, however, go out there to
save Como.” Rey said pointing out the window.
Evian gasped when he saw his mate getting closer to
his brother hold up his hands. He was saying something and Evian couldn’t hear.
Rushing out the door, Evian shouted, “Sundance!”
Sundance turned to Evian, “It’s going to be alright,
Evian. Cassidy and I are just gonna go home. Your brother will be just fine.
Won’t he Cas?”
Cassidy snorted, “Yeah, just fine.”
Evian could see a look come over the man and the
sour stench of a lie flutter around them all. The man was lying out his ass. He
was up to something. A loud screeching sound had Evian looking up in time to
see a large golden brown harpy eagle with it’s claws extended on the roof of
the building they had just exited. A scream filled the air and Cassidy jerked
to see what was happening.
“Leave him alone! Leave him alone or I swear I’ll
kill this one.” Cassidy screamed then turned to face Law and the others. “We
just want our brother and we’re out of here. You’ll never see us again.”
“I don’t think so.” Law hissed out.
Evian saw a very naked Kenner shoving another man
forward. That must be Butch. Damn he looked as evil as he sounded.
“Cassidy, let the guy go. You, me and Butch can just
go. No one has to get hurt.” Sundance said walking closer to his brother.
“Sundance, don’t.” Evian practically begged.
Sundance turned to Evian, regret in his eyes, “I’m
sorry, Evian. As wonderful as your offer sounded I can’t let this man get hurt
because of me.”
“Shoot the fucker, Cas. Show them we mean business.”
Butch practically snarled.
Cassidy looked like he was about to do just as his
brother asked. Sundance screamed, “No!” and lunged for his brother, grabbing at
the gun and yelling for Como to run. Evian and Law rushed forward just as the
gun went off. Sundance gasped and dropped to his knees when Law reached Cassidy
and punched the man so hard he hit the ground. The man was knocked out cold and
Evian was ready to kill the fucker when Law snarled, “Help your mate Evian!”
Evian’s attention immediately went to Sundance who
was lying on the ground, breathing heavy.
Evian dropped to his knees and saw the massively
bleeding wound in the man’s shoulder. “Oh gods, Sundance.”
Sundance opened his pain filled eyes, “I...is your
br...brother safe?”
Evian felt tears fill his eyes and spill down,
“Y...Yeah, Como’s fine. Don’t talk, okay. It’s going to be alright.”
“I...I’m co...cold, E...Ev.” Sundance said softer
than before.
Evian knew what that meant and he looked around
screaming, “Help! We need help now!” Then he leaned closer whispering, “Please,
hang in there Sundance. Please. Don’t leave me.”
“Do...don’t cry. It’s o...okay.” Sundance said even
softer. Then he whispered, “I...I would hav...have said yes.”
It took Evian a moment to realize what Sundance
meant and when it clicked into place that Sundance would have said yes to their
mating, Evian’s heart broke a little bit more. Gods he couldn’t lose this man.
“Please. Please gods above, help my mate. Please.”
“Evian move! I need to get in there.” Dakota
snapped.
Shaking his head, Evian cried, “I can’t leave him,
Dakota. Please don’t make me leave him.”
“You don’t have to leave him, but if you let me in I
might be able to save him. Now move the fuck over and let me do what I do
best.” Dakota hissed out pushing on Evian.
Evian moved but made sure his mate’s head was laying
on his shoulder and didn’t let up on the pressure to Sundance’s wounds until
Dakota pushed his hands away and laid his own on top of the wound and closed
his eyes.
A bright light began to glow and Sundance arched up
screaming. One of the brothers shouted, “What the fuck are you doing to him!
Leave him alone your freak case!”
“Shut the fuck up! Shaw, Hardy take these two to the
cells. Sky, Midnight, Rey, you three go and make sure the guests are taken care
of as well.” Law ordered.
Everyone went to do as they were told but Evian
couldn’t care less. All that mattered was the man bleeding out right in front
of his eyes. Sundance’s screams grew quieter as the light got brighter.
Dakota slowly lifted his hands and the silver bullet
floated out of the wound and hovered over Sundance until Dakota wiggled a
finger and the thing went to the right and fell to the ground.
Sweat rolled down Dakota’s face dripping onto
Sundance’s chest and his breathing was becoming more staggard. Evian knew how
much it took out of Dakota to heal someone and he had already done this for
Evian so Dakota wasn’t at full strength. The wound began to knit closed, but
Evian could see his brother wavering and knew he had to stop Dakota before he
seriously hurt himself. “That’s enough Dakota.”
Dakota either wasn’t listening or he was ignoring
Evian all together. Knowing he couldn’t allow that, Evian shouted, “Someone get
Dakota off Sundance!”
Turk rushed forward and pulled Evian’s brother from
Evian’s mate so fast that Dakota fell into him but Turk easily held his weight.
“He needs food and rest. He’s used too much energy.
Don’t take any of his shit, either, Turk. Food and rest...in that order.” Evian
said, never taking his eyes off his mate.
“Got it.” Turk said.
“Evian why don’t we get Sundance into a room. I’m
sure he’ll feel much better much faster if he’s in a bed then on this hard
ground. Rey can check him over to see if anything else might need to be done.”
Law suggested in one of the most gentle tones Evian could ever remember hearing
from the man before.
Sundance laid in his arms, his eyes closed and only
the soft, even, in and out breaths helped Evian from losing his mind.
“He’s alive, Evian.” Law whispered.
Sundance’s eyes began to flutter open. The beautiful
baby blue eyes that reminded Evian of a clear summer day stared back at him. He
gave a soft smile. “We need to stop meeting this way.”
Evian gave a watery laugh, “Yes, we do. How are you
feeling?”
“Like I got shot. How about we do as Law suggests.
I’d like to be in a soft bed when we talk about this mating thing.” Sundance
said quietly.
“O...Okay, but I don’t want to hurt you.” Evian said
just as quietly.
Kenner and Como came up to the two men, Kenner
saying, “I’ll help you get him inside. Como and I want to thank him for his
help. He saved Como’s life.”
Sundance shook his head, “No. It’s because of me he
was taken in the first place.”
“You are not responsible for your brother’s actions,
Sundance. What you did for my mate...taking a bullet that we all know was meant
for my baby...there is nothing you could want or need that I wouldn’t do for
you, Sundance. From this moment on you are sidanelv...family.” Kenner stated as
he leaned down and helped stand Sundance up.
Sundance wasn’t completely balanced but with Evian
and Kenner assisting him, they were able to get him to Evian’s room. Once he
was laid down and tucked into the bed, Evian turned to Kenner. “Thank you. Do
you mind asking Midnight to prepare a plate of food for my mate. I would go do
it but I...”
Kenner placed a hand on Evian’s shoulder and smiled,
“I know and so does Midnight. He was already making one for the both of you.
Take care of my brother, Evian.”
The warning was clear and Evian nodded. When he
left, Sundance asked, “What was that all about. I don’t even know the guys name
or the one I saved.”
“You will, mate of mine. For now, you will eat and
rest so you can finish healing.” Evian stated firmly.
“And once I heal then we get to mate?” Sundance said
as he wiggled his brows suggestively.
Evian cupped his hard cock and shook his head, “You
are going to be the death of me, mate of mine.”
“But what a way to go.” Sundance said with a
snicker.
~
The End ~
~~@~~
How a person sees themselves is not always how
others see them. This is a lesson Gordy must learn when the tall sexy D.O.A.
agent, Gunner, shows up on a blind date and tells him that they are mates. Well
he would learn it if someone wasn’t trying to kill him.
Amazon Universal: mybook.to/DOA6
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1005293
B&N: https://bit.ly/39SSz5U
Kobo: https://bit.ly/38UdlBr
EXCERPT
Gunner’s dragon smiled. “You’ve been doing
just fine so far. What you need to remember is that we are all nervous here,
Gordy.”
“You are?” Gordy asked in surprise.
“Of course we are. We’re all unsure of what
we’re doing. It’s not like Gunner’s ever been in a relationship, and dragons
aren’t known for it no matter what those romance novels say. I mean, think
about it. How many humans would want to have actual sex with a dragon?”
Gordy giggled, and Gunner’s cock twitched in
his pants. His dragon continued talking. “I think if we just stay patient with
each other we’ll be okay.”
Nodding, Gordy said, “I’m willing. I mean, I’d
have to be stupid not to want to be with you Gunner. The thing is, why would
you want to be with me? Is it this sentience thing?”
Gunner sighed and shook his head, “Gordy, you
really need to stop putting yourself down. Before my maharishi and I even got
close to you, you caught my interest. I wanted to hear if your voice was as
sweet and sexy in sound as you are in looks. The need to touch you all over… my
gods, just the thought of feeling that skin I know has to be as velvety as I
imagine, and your hair… I think I could play in that soft plush mass of tresses
all day and never get tired of it… all while looking into those copper-brown
eyes. Not everyone is attracted to men like Lex, Bren, and the others. I want
something to hold onto when I get sexed up with a man, and you, Gordy, are
everything and more to all the fantasies and dreams I’ve ever had.”
“O-O… Okay.” Gordy stammered. Then went to
stand, “I need to talk to Gio. Can you give me a minute?”
“Of course, but you better hurry back. I have
plans for us and they don’t include those three. Besides, Pit should be here
any minute.” Gunner replied.
Nodding, Gordy looked down, noticing a red
spot. Thinking he must have gotten some barbeque sauce on it from the chicken
wings he had eaten, he reached down and grabbed a napkin, saying, “I’m such a
klutz. Gio’s going to kill me. This shirt is new.”
One second Gordy was gripping a napkin and the
next he was flying to the floor as the window shattered next to the table they
were sitting at. Trying to understand what was happening, Gordy tried to sit
up, but Gunner snarled, “Stay the fuck down!”
~~@~~
I was born in
Fort Knox, Kentucky. I’m a military brat that travelled a bit overseas and
throughout many parts of the United States. I finally settled in Las Cruces,
New Mexico, where I eventually got married and then divorced. I was blessed
with two fantastic sons. As they grew up and became young men chasing their
dreams, I felt that maybe now was the time for me to do the same. That’s when I
started writing. Never in a million years did I expect to meet the most
wonderful man in the world, move to Quebec, Canada, and get married. However,
that is exactly what happened. JP has introduced me to things like; canoeing,
snowmobiling, four wheeling, and has taken me to some of the most beautiful
locations. Ones that I had only ever seen on a computer or read about in books.
I may miss my mountains and my boys, but have discovered that when you work
towards your dreams, the future can be one filled with happiness and love. My
boys are only a plane ride away, and Skype is a glorious thing. So I say, on to
my next adventure…don’t be shocked to find it in one of my books.
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