Page 5

Chapter Five

O rion studied Corbin and Cullen, who had dithered for the whole three days about whether to come down to town with him or stay at home.

Three whole days without having sex with his mate. And he was peeved.

Not at Cullen, really. He was worried about Cosmo’s vision or whatever. But dammit, no one would leave them alone.

And they wouldn’t let Orion go to town alone.

They were coming, but he needed to make sure Cullen’s illusions were good, and that he could reinforce them. They needed to blend.

“You’re still a little…” He waved a hand around his head as he checked Corbin over. “Leafy.”

“Leafy?” Corbin scowled.

“Your hair kind of looks like kale.” It was a great short-hair illusion, but instead of a nice, uniform golden brown, it was brown with green tips.

“Let me shore that up,” Cullen said. His illusion was perfect, but that was understandable. It was always easier to work one personally than it was on someone else.

Orion added a little of his own magic to the mix, and Cullen’s eyes went wide.

Did you feel that, love? I’m starting to get a little impatient. I want you.

Cullen licked his lips, the move sending him into a paroxysm of need. When we get home.

I’m not sure I understand why.

Because if we need days to cement the mate bond, we can’t be out and about in public.

Huh. That was actually really reasonable . I should have asked before now. I assumed Cosmo had prophesized I would get hit by a bus.

“Will you two stop it. Am I looking like a human now?” Corbin asked.

“You look great,” Orion said, earning himself a scowl. He supposed he hadn’t really answered the question, but since he knew what they actually looked like, he happened to see the glamour laid over them, not truly disguising them. “We’ll have to ask Yarrow.”

“The beaver,” Cullen said. “How would he know?”

“Because he’s a shifter who is born from and tied to the human world. He’s far more human than we could ever be.”

Corbin tilted his head. “Fair enough. I’ll ask him then. Come on, you two. We’re burning daylight.”

“Ooooh, how western movie of you,” Cullen teased, and Orion chuckled. He’d watched his share of old westerns. At the theater. With his popcorn. All for a quarter.

“Come on.” He led them out, and he opened the door of his truck for Cullen. He’d retrieved the vehicle from its hiding spot yesterday, and had parked it where no incidental passerby would see it.

“Nice truck,” Corbin said, admiring the seats.

“Thanks. I got it for a steal.”

Oh, that was bad , Cullen told him. You literally stole it?

No, I stole the cash I bought it with from a hive of vampires.

Ah. Nice move.

I like to think so.

They got moving, and Orion was actually excited to introduce them to Yarrow. His buddy would be fascinated.

Somehow, the trip into town seemed to take way less time than it did getting up to the house. The ride was smooth and easy, the music on the radio easy to sing along with, the company stellar—both Cullen and Corbin excited about getting out and meeting Yarrow.

In what seemed like a few heartbeats, they were parking near the cafe where he was meeting his friend.

“Okay, everyone check themselves. Everyone looks like a person, no one’s a weird color?” Orion looked them over.

“We’re all good.” Cullen checked him and Corbin out carefully. As they had driven, Cullen had switched from being a Tom Hiddleston lookalike to a pregnant woman to a clown. Then to what looked to be a very large humanoid duck, and finally what he was now—a wizened, ancient old man—that seemed to be one of Cullen’s favorite ones.

“Why an old dude?” Orion asked.

“The only thing more invisible than an old man is a middle-aged woman.”

That was fair enough.

They headed into the diner together, the bell above the door jingling merrily, the smell of coffee and maple syrup strong and delicious.

Yarrow was already waiting, dark eyes focused on them, and Orion could see his whiskers twitching as they walked up. “You brought friends.”

“I brought some of the people who live in the house for you to meet. It seemed like the most logical thing to do.”

“Since when have you ever done anything logical?” Yarrow frowned and scooted over so that Orion could slide in next to him, the brothers taking the other side.

“Don’t be mean. This is Corbin and Cullen.”

“You’re not dragons.”

“Nope.” Not completely, not exactly. Cullen winked at him. “We’re harmless, though. Just like hippies.”

“Hmmm.” Yarrow chattered his large front teeth. “What happened to the others?”

Sorrow filled Cullen’s expression. “Some of them are okay. The kids are all okay. But some of them didn’t make it through their fangy visitors.”

“Oh, damn.” Yarrow sighed. “I was afraid of that.”

Corbin nodded. “It sucks, but it happened so fast. We weren’t here then, or we would have helped.”

“But the house has…grown,” Yarrow pointed out.

“It has.” Cullen made a wry face. “We each got the house we wanted. And Cosmo’s mate’s house came too.”

“Is that the big Victorian?” Yarrow asked, eyes wide.

“It is.” Corbin shrugged, the motion deceptively casual. “Something terrible happened to the people who lived there, and so we came to defend it, to protect the space. It’s safe now. And if you need help, we’re here.”

Yarrow frowned at them, lines forming on his face. “They were safe there too, or so they thought. There were just as many of them as there are of you.”

“You’re talking about vampires.” I know what happened to Myk’s family. They decapitated Myk’s brothers and their mates. Took the babies. Infants. Literal infants. Newborns. And also little Nevvy down to the basement to feed on. They captured Myk when he came roaring in to try to save them. Myk and Tyson got them out. Cullen looked green, angry, and Orion wanted to reach out and touch him.

He didn’t know who all those people were, but all the dragon-fae brothers had mentioned dozens of dragons.

Soon he would learn Cullen’s secrets, and Cullen would learn his.

Right now, though, Orion needed to focus because Cullen’s glamours were shimmering a little bit. Hold it together. Breathe. It’s all right. I have you. I’m right here.

I can’t imagine—what if they got to Elliot? I would die for him.

They won’t. I swear to you. I will keep us safe.

“I’m going to be staying up there with them.” The words fell out of Orion’s mouth.

Yarrow stared at him, blinked. “You’re going to what?”

“I’m going to be staying up there with them. That way, I can lend my magic to the cause, so to speak.”

Cullen nodded. “And we can protect him too.”

Yarrow arched an eyebrow. “You have met him, right?”

Scowling, Cullen pointed a mommy finger gesture at Yarrow. “He’s mine to protect.”

“Looks intense over here, folks,” the fifty-something server said when she walked over. “Coffee?”

“Just flirting!” Corbin beamed at her, and she melted.

Not literally, he told Cullen.

No, that would be gross. Remember I’m old. Order for me.

Kinky . “I’d love some coffee, and Grampy here wants hot cocoa with whipped cream.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll put it in a nice, big-handled glass.”

“Perfect. Thank you.” Orion beamed. “Cor? You know what you want?”

“Coffee and water please. With cream.”

“Absolutely…” She licked her lips and wandered off, and Cullen smiled.

“You’re going to get her phone number,” Orion whispered, and Yarrow rolled his squinty, dark eyes.

“You’re lucky if you don’t end up with her hand wrapped around your?—”

“Ahem.” Cullen wagged his beard, warning Yarrow off.

“Sorry. Sorry. She’s…on the hunt for a man. You know how that is.”

Cullen looked Orion up and down. “I do.”

Oh, that felt so good. His cock hardened, and he leaned forward, his need flaring. Be careful, mate.

I know. I’m trying. Tonight. I promise.

“The pheromones are going to make me want to gnaw on the table.” Yarrow bared his rather impressive front teeth. “Someone might complain, you know.”

He nudged Yarrow gently. “Drink your coffee.”

“What’s good here?” Cullen was pretending to look at the menu.

“I like the pancakes,” Orion offered, “And the egg, potato, and cheese breakfast tacos. They are made of win.”

“I like waffles,” Corbin murmured. “They have pecan ones.”

“Yum.” Yarrow did grin then. “You want to split some tacos and each get a waffle?”

Corbin beamed. “Sure. Though I want two waffles. And bacon.”

“You do you, boo,” Yarrow said. “I’ll skip that part.”

“We could split the tacos and pancakes,” Cullen told him. “No bacon.”

“Sounds great to me, l-old man.” He winked, barely cutting off the “love”.

“Man, no bacon, it must be love.” Or at least really intense heat bond. Either way, he’d take it.

“So what do you have to do after this,” Yarrow asked.

Corbin shrugged. “I think we’re going shopping.”

“We’re absolutely going shopping.” Cullen grinned. “I promised that—” I would bring Elliot home something that he could play with. Some art supplies, maybe a new stuffy . “I would get myself some warm winter clothes.”

Good save.

I know we keep almost making mistakes. It’s hard. I got used to not having to pretend.

He nodded, just barely, because it was true, at least for Cullen. Orion guessed it hadn’t been that long for him, and to be honest, pretending was the easiest part. He’d been a part of the human world for a very long time, and he wanted to fit in and surround himself with all that delicious energy and life.

It was easier for him, too, because it seemed to be easier to believe in unicorns than in dragons.

Personally, he was more worried about things like losing his temper. That tended to make him a little pointy. Injustice didn’t suit him very well.

No, I can imagine you have a finely tuned sense of justice. Cullen winked at him, the wrinkled mask his mate wore just charming as hell.

I like the old man illusion. You’re very good at it.

Don’t talk about it. It has to feel real, hmm? And I’m covering both of us. All three, actually—I can’t seem to not reach out for you.

You’re good to me.

I want to be…

He realized that Corbin was doing a really good job of talking to Yarrow, keeping him distracted while they talked in their heads. He couldn’t help it; he only had eyes for Cullen.

That’s a song.

I know. Do you like music?

Cullen smiled, eyes lighting up. Oh, I’m half fae. We love everything that’s beautiful. I can’t help it.

I want to take you home. I’m going to take you home and do unspeakable things with you in your bed. For hours.

Oh, I imagine you should shoot for more than hours. Decades. I promise to change the sheets at least once a year.

I do love how you think.

Cullen kicked him from under the table. “Yarrow was telling me about this amazing store that’s close by. It’s a toy store, like an independent toy store. Maybe we should go there. Get some games and just look around.”

Yarrow nodded, obviously pleased. “I make wooden puzzles for them, for everyone from little ones to adult. They’re a good, good place, they do fair business, and they pay their artisans very well.”

Cullen perked up. “Oh, do they? Those are some of my favorite words ever. I love those words. Fair. Good. Pay. We should totally do that. Also, I think we should stop at the bookstore. Get books for the winter. I know it’s summer, but we need to start thinking about things we’re going to get—” the kids “people for the holidays.”

He knew that there were worlds that could be reached via this amazing nexus that the triplets had, and he was desperately curious to see which ones he could slip into and which ones he couldn’t.

But honestly, his big focus was his dragon fae.

So when you shift, are you different from a regular dragon? Orion asked.

Cullen nodded. We are. We’re smaller, by like quite a bit. And I think we’re significantly more scaly and sparkly. We don’t fly as well, either. You ought to think of the difference between a bird and a butterfly. Or maybe even a bird and a dragonfly. We can fly, but we really need it to be pretty good weather and not terrible winds. And we have lots of scales, but they’re tiny, so they sparkle. Of course you know, we have our own particular skills. Cullen relaxed as he warmed to his subject, staring into him. Dragons, I think are, totally magic. Completely. Fae, on the other hand, are physical, and the magic flows through them. They’re not made of magic; they control it and use it. It works for us, I think, because we get to be both. We’re in our bodies, way more than most dragons, but we have a huge well of magic to draw from, because we’re not just accessing it, we are it. Magic, I mean. Of course there’s three of us. I can’t imagine just being one.

No, I understand. I can’t imagine you only being one either. You three are a set, and I can see the connection between you.

I love them. They’re my family.

I want to be a part of that. Maybe he needed to. Orion wasn’t sure.

All of the sudden, he realized that the table had become very quiet, and Corbin and Yarrow were both just staring at them.

Oops.

They must have been having their little talk longer than he’d thought.

Corbin offered him a mild smile. “Did you both fall asleep? The food is here.”

He heard that rebuke, loud and clear. “Sorry. I think I must have. It’s so warm in here.”

Cullen nodded. “You know I nod off, sonny.”

Orion turned a hoot into a snort, and Corbin rolled his eyes. Yarrow narrowed his, head tilting.

Shaking his head just the tiniest bit, he dug into his food, glad for the distraction.

“Can I get a grilled cheese and a vegetable soup to go?” Yarrow asked when they were all finished. He grinned, those front teeth so cute. “I want lunch for later too.”

“Oh, that sounds like an idea.”

“We’ll grab something on the way back home,” Orion said. He had a feeling Cullen and Corbin might prefer that hamburger they hadn’t gotten the other day. He’d call ahead to the Colorado Roadhouse and get them a burger and himself a collection of yummy fried things like mushrooms and onion rings as well as some mac and cheese…

How could he still be hungry?

“Would anyone like a cinnamon roll while you wait?” the server asked.

“Goddess yes,” they all moaned at the same time.

“Should we get a half dozen to go too?”

Cullen and Corbin nodded as one. “That way we can take them home.”

Right, there were two adults and a ravenous little one, just waiting. Hell, Cosmo was the size of a house. “Why don’t you make that an even dozen?”

“I can do that.” She smiled and headed off, a bit of a dazed expression on her face.

Yeah. He was going to have to get hamburgers for Hawk and Cosmo and the little one too. They wouldn’t thank him for forgetting them.

Mate, you’re sparkling a little bit.

Oh. Oops. Sorry! He dialed it back, focusing on his appearance. Does the little one like hamburgers?

He does. A lot. But you can always count on chicken nuggets. Some things are eternal. The child loves chicken nuggets, especially when shaped like dinosaurs. But he will take a plain burger as dinosaur chicken nuggets are rare in the wild. We tend to have to buy them domestically.

The cinnamon rolls came, huge and dripping with icing, warm with a dollop of butter on the top. They polished them off about the time that the to-go boxes came.

“I do really appreciate you guys coming down to meet me,” Yarrow said. “I feel better. That land is important to me. It’s good to have good neighbors.”

“We’re exceptional neighbors,” Cullen told Yarrow. “Just ask us, we’ll tell you.”

“Especially since if you need me, I’ll be there too.”

Yarrow’s eyes went wide. “Will you now?”

“Yes. I’m going to be doing some…work.”

“You?” Yarrow’s lips twisted. “You’re going to be doing work? You?”

“Hey!”

He worked.

Sort of.

That did remind Orion that he needed to make a few phone calls.

Now that he knew he was going to stay, he needed to make sure nice man knew how to find him. The hob had been with him since time immemorial, and he’d be damned if he was going to leave his oldest friend behind now.

Cullen offered him the quick lowering of his brow, but didn’t say anything.

He thought Basil would love it—wandering along the houses, learning a new place.

If you have another lover, I’m going to be cross.

Who? Me? No! That was ridiculous. Basil is a hob. He’s one of my dearest friends.

Do you have a cofgod as well? Cullen immediately relaxed. I’m glad. Cosmo and Hawk love their gnomes.

Yes. No reason to be jealous. He’s going to love you. He’s going to think you’re amazing.

And if Basil didn’t? Well, Orion wasn’t going to worry about that. As long as the fellow didn’t pee on Cullen’s sheets, all would be well…

They wandered, and their disguises slipped a little as they laughed at all the things in the toy store, but no one there said a word. He had a feeling the people who ran it were shifters… The bookstore yielded treasures, and they grabbed a huge load of groceries before picking up burgers and such to take back up to the house for lunch.

Orion was so lost. He was deep in love already. Cullen knew how to laugh and play and when to be serious, and he smelled like…

Home.

Orion’s hands itched to touch him, and he was ready to see his purple love in all his splendor.

“This was a great day, Orion,” Corbin murmured as he pulled in around the back of the house. “Thanks.”

“Hey, I live to please.” He winked over.

“I just bet.”

“Nope.” Cullen was his violet self in a second. “No flirting with my unicorn.”

“I only do it to piss you off, bro. Come on. Let’s eat. We can unload the coolers after.”

“Someone call your family?” They would eat in the weird junction of the houses, Orion thought.

“You got it,” Corbin said, grinning as he grabbed the bag with the burgers.

Orion’s food came in his own bag.

Cullen took his free hand, smiling at him. “It was a good morning. Corbin is right. I like Yarrow, too.”

“I bet he shows up this winter.”

“That would be cool.”

They walked inside hand in hand, and Orion had to admit, while he wanted food and all, he wanted Cullen more.

And tonight, he wasn’t sleeping on the couch.