Page 3

Chapter three

K eegan frowned.

“Why are you growling at me?”

The low rumble stopped instantly, and the guy in front of him rubbed his eyes as if trying to wipe away a bad memory.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

“I…I think we need to talk.”

Damn right they needed to talk.

He had to find Noah, and he couldn’t do it on his own.

He didn’t know exactly where he was, but since everyone kept talking about souls, ferries, and crossing rivers, he was pretty sure he’d died.

Which, yeah, that sucked, but he had bigger problems at the moment.

“No.” The pretty dude with the elongated ears stepped forward, looking like he’d stepped straight out of a Tolkien novel.

“This can’t be happening.”

“Welcome to the club,” Keegan told him.

The guy ignored him.

“I thought we were past this? First Tyr, and now you?”

The giant with the sexy muscles and dark hair grumbled.

“It’s not like I planned it.”

“Do you know how many Guardians I’ve lost? All because they found their mates?”

“Two in twelve hundred years seems like pretty low statistics.”

“Rune!”

Keegan’s head sawed back and forth, going from one male to the other.

He had understood very little of that, but he had caught a couple key pieces of information.

“Mate? Do you mean me?” He should probably feel some kind of way about that, but his brain just sort of shrugged at the information.

While he didn’t subscribe to destiny in the sense that his entire path had been laid out for him since birth, he had always been a bit of a romantic.

The fact that he had never experienced love at first sight or soulmates hadn’t lessened his belief in their existence.

Was it strange? Yeah, a little.

But so was being dead.

And watching his twin get yanked through a ball of light and into a mirror.

“Yes,” Rune answered, his voice tight through clenched teeth.

“You don’t sound very happy about it.” Rude.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it? I’m really not crazy if that helps.”

“Maybe you should give him a compliment,” the guy in the white shirt advised.

“People like compliments.”

Keegan bobbed his head.

“Listen to the cowboy. He speaks truth.”

Rune glared at the other male for a long moment before deflating with a sigh.

“I don’t think you’re crazy.”

“Weird compliment, but I accept.”

Rune’s lips twitched, and though he clearly tried to fight it, he couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled out of his mouth.

He had a great laugh, infectious, and the roguish smile made him look a hell of a lot less intimidating.

“I really am telling the truth,” Keegan said, bending his elbows and holding both of his arms up in front of him.

“See?”

Warmth bloomed across his skin when Rune took his wrist, and a shiver raced through him where the male’s thumb caressed the faded white lines, remnants of the spell.

Then goosebumps broke out over his arms, but to be fair, that could have been from the biting cold.

“Who did this?”

It wasn’t just a question.

He spoke it like a threat, and Keegan kind of loved that.

Sure, it probably didn’t make him a very good person, but after what Brie had done to him and Noah, he didn’t give a damn.

“Maybe we should move this conversation somewhere more private.” The elf glanced up the hill toward a row of dilapidated shacks with crooked chimneys.

“We should return to the castle.”

Of course he had a castle because.

..why not? “I’m sorry, who are you?”

“Keegan, this is Orrin Nightstar,” Rune answered in the elf’s stead.

“That’s Finn Truitt.” He jerked his head toward the male standing to their left.

“And I’m Rune Calix.”

He nodded at each male in turn.

“It’s nice to meet you. Sorry I kind of spazzed out.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Rune assured him.

Finn snorted. “I have a knee that begs to differ.”

Rune shot him a cold look.

“You’ll live.”

“The fact that I’m a dead vampire kind of disproves your theory, friend.”

Biting his bottom lip, Keegan turned his head to hide his smile.

He was still worried about Noah, still desperate to find him, but their petty bickering helped calm something inside him.

It provided a distraction, a respite from his racing thoughts, giving him a moment of stillness so he could think without panic.

Suddenly, everything went dark, the breath squeezed from his lungs, and it felt like he’d been sucked through a garden hose.

His ears rang, his stomach heaved, and his skin felt stretched too tight.

Not painful exactly, just uncomfortable, and when the world came rushing back, he stood in front of a castle made of white stone.

A narrow path, lined on both sides by lemon trees and illuminated with fairy lights, led to a set of double doors with a bronze knocker that looked like some hell beast.

Carved gargoyles perched on the turrets, each wearing a different ghastly expression, while a bouquet of colorful flowers surrounded a small koi pond.

Twisted brambles grew on either side of the wide portico, but a thick mat welcomed them—along with a reminder to wipe their “paws.”

It was such a strange mixture of aesthetics that Keegan didn’t know what the hell to think.

Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face, though, because Rune rested a hand on his shoulder and chuckled.

“Once you meet Orrin’s mate, it’ll make more sense.”

“Unfortunately, that will have to wait,” Orrin informed them with a wistful little sigh.

“Erus left this morning. I don’t know when he’ll return.”

“I’m sorry.” Of course, he’d had nothing to do with that, but it seemed like the right thing to say.

“Did you meet him here in…this place?”

“The Underworld.” Rune’s hand slid up his back to settle on his nape with a gentle squeeze.

“This is the Underworld. And you would know Orrin’s mate as Cerberus.”

Keegan’s eyes rounded, and his face split into a wide grin.

“Oh, you mean like the Guardian of the Underworld? That’s cool.” His smile faltered when everyone stopped and turned to stare at him.

“Um, did I say something wrong?”

After a heartbeat, Orrin chuckled and shook his head.

“Erus is going to love you. Everyone always asks if he’s a three-headed dog.”

So…

he wasn’t a three-headed dog?

Not even a shifter?

He laughed nervously.

“Mortals, am I right?”

Orrin fell into step on his other side as they neared the wide steps that led to the door.

“No, I didn’t meet him here, and there’s no need to be sorry. He’ll be back. It’s just that time is…different where he’s going.”

“Like space? You know, like how an hour on one planet might be years on Earth?”

“Something like that, yes.”

The double doors swung open without a sound as they climbed the stone steps, and the scent of garlic and tomatoes wafted across the threshold.

Keegan lifted his head to sniff at the breeze, then instantly pulled back and wrinkled his nose.

“Um, is something burning?”

“Sindri,” the rest of the group answered as one.

As if that was supposed to mean something to him.

Apart from the acrid scent of something blackened that definitely shouldn’t be, he detected the fragrance of vanilla and leather when he entered the castle.

Mixed with a hint of sweet cigar smoke, it brought to mind old-timey parlors where men sat around in tailcoats, sipping cognac and discussing their recent travels.

His eyes widened when Rune led him into a grand foyer, an immense space with marble floors that gleamed under the soft glow of an ornate chandelier.

Colorful tapestries depicting scenes of ancient, mythical battles adorned the walls, the gold and silver threads twinkling in the light.

They passed a wide, curving staircase that spiraled toward the upper floor, its banister carved with intricate designs of vines and leaves.

Entering an expansive corridor lined with beautiful oil paintings in gold frames, he pressed close to Rune’s side, swiveling his head as he tried to take in everything at once.

Eventually, the hallway opened into a large sitting room with high ceilings and walls painted a soft cream.

Plush suede furniture in deep blues had been centered around a stone fireplace, and a grand piano occupied the corner, its polished surface reflecting the flickering flames.

Shelves filled with leather-bound books lined one wall, while the opposite wall showcased a collection of exotic artifacts and archaic weapons.

Just inside the entryway, Rune stopped and stepped away from him.

“I’ll be right back.”

Keegan stiffened, his heart fluttering with anxiety at being separated from him.

Rationally, he knew it didn’t make sense.

They had just met, and he didn’t know a damn thing about the guy, but he felt safe with him.

Still, he didn’t want to sound like a clingy mess, so he bit the inside of his cheek and forced himself to nod.

Rune’s eyes softened, and he guided him toward the sofa nearest the fireplace.

“Sit here where it’s warm. I promise I’ll only be a minute.”

Nodding again, he settled onto the end cushion and held his hands out toward the flames, soaking in the warmth.

From the moment he had arrived, he’d been running on adrenaline and nerve, so while he’d noticed the cold, he had barely registered it on a conscious level.

Now that he had a moment to breathe, however, he couldn’t stop shaking.

As promised, Rune returned only a moment later, carrying a cream-colored fleece blanket.

Unfolding it, he draped it over Keegan’s shoulders and tucked it around him before taking a seat beside him on the couch.

Finn flopped down on the sofa opposite them, and Orrin perched in a wingback chair that looked suspiciously like a throne.

For a long time, no one spoke, the silence growing thick and heavy until Keegan couldn’t take it any longer.

“Look, I know what I sound like, and I know you have no reason to believe me, but I swear I’m telling the truth.”

“I believe something happened,” Orrin responded, templing his index fingers and pressing them to his lips.

“I was magically branded, and my brother got sucked into a fucking mirror. That’s what happened. I’m not lying!”

“Easy,” Rune murmured, taking his hand and cradling it in his own much larger one.

“No one is accusing you of anything. Why don’t you start at the beginning?”

Lacing their fingers together, he squeezed tightly and took several deep breaths to steady himself.

No one was going to believe him, let alone help him, if he started raving like a madman.

“My brother died.”

“In a car accident,” Rune added.

“It would have been a few months ago for you, right?”

He frowned at the “for you” part but dipped his head.

“You really know Noah?”

“Not well, but yes.”

“So, he didn’t…move on? Cross over?” He waved his free hand.

“You know, whatever it’s called.”

“No, he didn’t move on. He seemed to be waiting on something.” A smile curved Rune’s mouth as he traced his thumb back and forth over the lines on the back of Keegan’s hand.

“Or someone.”

Keegan grinned fondly.

Yeah, that sounded like Noah.

Idiot.

If asked, they would both vehemently deny any codependency, but they did have that almost mythical twin bond everyone talked about.

He just hadn’t realized how deeply rooted it went until he’d lost it.

“What happened next?” Rune prodded.

He told them about meeting Brie and all of her false promises.

The cliffs that overlooked the ocean.

The tethering enchantment that had bound him to his twin.

The blood ritual, and finally, the glowing mirror.

“So, I cut my hand. I thought maybe if I severed the lines, I could sever the connection.” It had been sheer dumb luck that it had actually worked.

“There was a big blast of energy. Maybe magic?” He shook his head.

“I couldn’t move, but I swear I saw Brie and Noah go through that swirly portal thing. Then it just disappeared.”

It sounded insane, even to him.

Still, he knew what he’d seen.

It hadn’t been a dream or a hallucination.

Noah had really been pulled into that mirror.

After outlining the entire story from beginning to end, he also realized how incredibly stupid and na?ve he’d been to trust Brie, but there wasn’t much he could do about that now.

“Then this Reaper lady showed up dressed like an undertaker, and I tried to tell her, but she didn’t really seem all that interested.” Leaning heavily against Rune’s side, he lifted one shoulder in a lopsided shrug.

“And here I am.”

He expected skepticism and eyerolls.

Maybe even a couple of dismissive snorts.

No one was laughing.

Rune stroked his hair back from his face, then gripped his chin, tilting his head up until he was forced to meet the male’s gaze.

Eyes the color of the Caribbean Sea stared back at him, penetrating, searching.

“I’m sorry to ask this, but I need to know,” Rune said.

“Where did you die? And I need you to be specific.”

“Deadman’s Cove in Washington State. It’s in Cape Disappointment State Park.”

The words continued to tumble around in his mind, even after he’d spoken them out loud.

The longer he dwelled, the funnier it became, until a deranged giggle burst from his lips.

Of course he’d died in a place called Deadman’s Cove.

And yes, the entire experience had been utterly disappointing.

Then Orrin was on his feet, his elegant robes transforming into a pair of form-fitting leather pants with a smoke-gray tunic and a pair of soft boots that laced up to his knees.

His long, silvery-white hair that had hung loosely around his shoulders twisted itself into a braid that reached the middle of his back, accentuating the slight curl at the tips of his ears.

Rune glanced back and forth between him and Keegan, his expression a mask of concern and indecision.

“Stay with your mate,” Orrin said, a note of command in his voice.

“I’ll take Sindri.”

“What’s happening?” Keegan asked.

The guy looked like he was ready to go to war.

“Where are you going?”

“To retrieve the artifacts. I’ve never heard of something like this, but hopefully, they’ll tell us more.” Then he vanished from the room.

Finn followed, quietly, discreetly, walking rather than simply poofing out of existence.

Alone with his mate, Keegan stared up at him, his eyes stinging with unshed tears.

“Does this mean you believe me?”

Cradling his cheek, Rune swept a thumb under his eye and smiled.

“I believe you, kaelaer .”

Although he didn’t know what the word meant, or even what language it derived from, he felt the weight of the endearment.

It surrounded him, cradled him, filling him with the first ray of hope since the entire mess had started.

The longer he spent with Rune, the closer he wanted to be to him, that initial shrug of acceptance slowly morphing into something deeper, more instinctual.

If he, as a human, was already sensing the threads of fate weaving together, he could only imagine how intensely Rune felt it.

Yet, he looked so calm, so in control.

Keegan felt anything but.

“Thank you.”

“We’re going to figure out what happened and help your brother. In the meantime, you should try to get some rest.”

“I—can I—I mean…” He trailed off, the words stuck in his throat.

“You can ask me anything,” Rune assured him as he stroked the back of his hand down Keegan’s cheek.

“What is it?”

Leaning into the touch, he took a deep breath and forced the words out in a rush.

“Can I stay with you?”

“I insist.”

He sagged into Rune’s arms, his muscles unknotting and his body going limp from exhaustion and relief.

“Thank you.”

A quiet growl vibrated in his mate’s chest. “You don’t have to thank me. Ever.”

“I kind of do.”

Rune growled again, but he sounded exasperated rather than angry.

“Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and into some warmer clothes.”

“Yes, please.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” Which seemed kind of wrong.

Being dead wasn’t anything like he expected it to be.

“Okay, after you shower, we’ll see if we can salvage whatever the fuck Sindri did in the kitchen.”

“Can we sit here a little longer? Just a few minutes?” Right then, it felt like Rune was the only thing holding him together.

Settling against the back of the sofa, Rune wrapped both arms around him, pulling him close and holding him against his broad chest. “Rest, kaelaer. I’m not going anywhere.”