Page 9

“A re you comfortable, Victor?” Keegan asked.

Victor smiled at the fallen knight. “Yes, thank you.”

In the past twenty-four hours, Victor had tried to accept that he was now part of a triple matebond, but he remained in stunned disbelief. He’d longed for his mate for many years. It was wonderful that Fate had finally granted his wish to meet the other parts of his soul. But it was difficult to fathom that both gorgeous men staring at him belonged with him.

“How’s your dragon today?” Victor asked. It was imperative that he did nothing to cause Phillip’s struggles with his beast to grow more precarious.

“He is well,” Phillip answered. “Today has been my calmest yet.”

“Are you feeling awkward?” Keegan asked, his lovely brown gaze trained on Phillip’s handsome face.

Phillip shook his head, and the messy strands of his black hair shifted slightly on his forehead. “No, that is history. I am feeling grateful today. How do you feel?”

“I’m relieved your awkwardness is gone. Mine is too. Like you, I’m thankful to be with you both,” Keegan responded with a flash of the grin that Victor had replayed in his mind for hours the night before as he’d lain staring at the ceiling, waiting for sleep that never came. There had been too much excitement and disbelief coursing through him for him to relax. “Apparently, we needed to find Victor to make it go away.”

Unexpected heat rushed to Victor’s face. “Maybe it wasn’t me so much as spending enough time together that you grew comfortable with each other.”

The corner of Phillip’s enticing mouth quirked. “We have not known each other long, and whether you like it or not, we required you to make our circle complete.”

Keegan scowled slightly. “Are you upset that we’re mates?”

Shaking his head vigorously, Victor rubbed his suddenly damp hands on the charcoal gray pants he’d chosen to wear. “Absolutely not. Although if I’m being honest, I’m still shocked.”

“I understand,” Phillip said. “My dragon is confident. However, I remain unsure how I have gotten so lucky.”

“I’m glad you guys are feeling as confident as me,” Keegan remarked. “Today, one of my classmates decided it was his duty to pull me aside. After learning this morning that I’d found another mate, he researched triple matebonds. He gave me all kinds of warnings and statistics.”

“It’s a struggle for some people,” Victor conceded, though neither he nor his cat liked hearing it. Now that he’d met Keegan and Phillip, he would not let them go without a fight. A surge of protectiveness for both men flowed through him thanks to his kitty, and Victor silently thanked his beast for trusting his instincts and sharing his strength.

“It need not be for us,” Phillip stated firmly. That quiet confidence made Victor’s dick twitch, and he quickly crossed his legs in case his hormones raged out of control. “I have nothing to do but research. While I did not bother looking into the struggles of other people, I searched what people feel are the components of a successful relationship. What I learned is that we must communicate and prioritize each other. If we can promise to do those things, I see no reason we cannot honor Fate.”

Keegan grinned. “I wish you could take your classes, but I’m glad you looked into that. I want to be friends with you both, and I definitely want to honor Fate.”

“If we’re honest with each other, our trust will grow,” Victor commented. “I know you’re both honorable, but please don’t keep things from me or each other, even if you think you’re protecting me. The last thing I want is secrets.”

“I wouldn’t keep secrets from you,” Keegan assured him.

“That is an impossible promise,” Phillip stated flatly. “Our line of work will force us to keep secrets.”

Victor laughed. “I mean things that relate to our relationship. Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to break the rules or give me details about your work.”

“I apologize for misunderstanding,” Phillip offered.

“No apology is necessary,” Victor replied with a smile for Phillip. Their acquaintance was short, but clearly Phillip was pragmatic and serious. “I should’ve been more specific.”

“I can promise to be honest with you as it pertains to our relationship,” Phillip vowed.

“Good, then I can finally tell Victor how nervous we were about dinner last night,” Keegan said.

“Our nerves were stretched thin at the idea of approaching Chand about my resurrection spell,” Phillip added.

Victor’s brows flew up in surprise. “It occurred to you guys before you met me that Keegan might have a beast on the other side of the veil?”

“We thought that was why we were so awkward with each other,” Keegan replied. “Thankfully, that feeling is gone now, but I’m still curious.”

“My beast was the calmest I’ve known him today, but he remains aggressive,” Phillip said. “As hard as I work daily to build my relationship with him, we cannot communicate directly, so I am unsure exactly why he is unruly.”

Victor’s heart broke as he thought again about Phillip’s struggles. Even prior to first shift, his cat had provided him with a sense of calm and fortitude. It was nearly impossible for Victor to imagine anything breaking the bond he shared with his beast. So, he instinctively hated that Phillip lacked the same tight relationship with his dragon.

“I’m so sorry,” Victor told Phillip. “As a shifter, I can’t imagine how frustrating and scary it must be to share your soul with a belligerent beast.”

“I work hard to talk through my frustration both with myself and Alaric,” Phillip confided. “It is not my dragon’s fault I do not understand him or his motives. He is not purposely hurting me, although it takes many potions to allow me to mute the roaring in my ears and his constant desire to assume control of me. Thankfully, this is the second day I have slept just eight hours. I feel optimistic about the future.”

“I’m so glad you’re hopeful,” Keegan replied. “You’re a strong person, and I really like how you refuse to blame your dragon.”

Victor smiled at Keegan. “I agree, Phillip is very impressive.”

“I wish to make a rule that we do not embarrass me with compliments,” Phillip stated.

“Get over yourself,” Keegan retorted. “Victor and I can compliment you whenever we want. Right, Victor?”

“Without a doubt.”

“You should both get out of my room now,” Phillip teased.

Grinning at Keegan’s bright laughter, Victor hoped the part of him awed by the two beautiful men would never fully go away.

∞∞∞

Keegan sucked in a deep breath and released a shaky exhale. A man with a strong, determined chin and deep eyes of charcoal gray turned his attention to Keegan.

“Are you all right?” Phillip asked.

Victor reached out and laid a hand on Keegan’s back. Keegan grinned as he looked down at the lovely man with black liner accenting his rich green gaze. Although Victor was the cat shifter, the man’s touch had Keegan wishing he were the one who could purr.

“Just nervous,” Keegan whispered so only his mates would hear him.

“I thought you were okay with shadow walking,” Victor responded.

“It’s not that,” Keegan replied. “We’re here with the Arch Lich and Lich Sentinel. I have ravenous butterflies eating my stomach.”

“You did not mention being with Alaric and Chand made you nervous,” Phillip said.

“They don’t make you nervous?” Keegan asked.

“No, I consider them friends,” Phillip stated matter-of-factly.

“Trust me, they’re normal people like us,” Victor assured him.

“Sure, but they’re also Fate-chosen leaders,” Keegan remarked.

Before either of the men Fate had so graciously given Keegan could respond, the couple currently making Keegan anxious ventured closer.

“Are you guys ready, or do you need a few more minutes?” Chander asked.

“I am ready. Keegan?” Phillip ventured.

Keegan nodded. “I’m eager to find out if I was a shifter, and I’m hoping we can spend some time with Victor afterward.”

“I’d love that,” Victor assured him. “I have the entire day off.”

“You have every Saturday off now,” Alaric retorted.

“Then I’ll start working on Mondays,” Victor fired back.

“No, Mondays are your days off,” Alaric argued.

Victor crossed his arms, and Keegan missed his touch keenly. “Lower my pay because I’m not getting money for hours I don’t work.”

“I can assure you that is not happening,” Alaric stated firmly.

“To be fair, you always throw in extra hours cleaning or making meals,” Chander pointed out. “If you switch to a four-day workweek, you won’t be overpaid.”

“We can argue about this later,” Victor insisted. “Right now, we should be focused on your shadow walk.”

“No need. The conversation is over,” Alaric said. “Your priority is your mates. They have Saturdays and Sundays off, so you will not work them either.”

“You have no reasonable argument for why I can’t substitute Mondays for Saturdays,” Victor retorted.

“Ignore them, this fight is going to go on probably forever, and Victor will win it,” Chander said to Keegan and Phillip. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’ve brewed this vile-tasting xlenthin tea that’ll allow us to shadow walk. It’ll make us sleepy and feeling a little silly. We’ll lie on the bed, and Keegan, you should concentrate on your past life and on any relatives you may have had. That will help guide us to hopefully get to someone who knew you. After we fall asleep, we’ll be on the other side of the veil. You’ll know we’re there because the edge of our vision will have a grayish haze. We’ll be gone for twenty minutes. If we linger even a second too long, Victor and Alaric will yank us back home through portals, okay? Any questions?”

“I have none,” Phillip replied. “Keegan?”

“Nope, I’m good,” Keegan added. His anxiety had receded. Chander was kind, and he didn’t want his nerves to spill into their trip and ruin it.

“Good, let’s drink this shit fast and see if we can learn anything,” Chander said as he handed two teacups from the nightstand to Keegan and Phillip. Taking the Arch Lich’s advice to heart, Keegan downed the tea in two gulps. The disgusting brew slid down his throat and left a horrid taste in his mouth. It was odd to climb onto a bed with an audience, but Keegan knew time was of the essence.

Chander shuffled to the center and took Keegan’s hand as an overwhelming urge to giggle overtook the fallen knight.

“This isn’t the threesome I thought I’d be having,” Keegan said through his laughter.

“You’re not my type,” Chander guffawed.

A heavy sleepiness overtook the giddiness, and Keegan welcomed it as he concentrated fiercely on his past life and whoever had once called him family or friend. His mind went dark, then he opened his eyes. The edges of his vision were nearly the same pretty charcoal color as Phillip’s gaze. Ahead of Keegan was nothing but a grassy field and a blue-gray sky. There were no buildings and no people in sight.

“You two okay?” Chander asked.

Keegan glanced at the jean-clad sorcerer and gave a quick bob of his head. “Is it normal for the other side of the veil to be so empty?”

“It’s fine. Don’t panic. Let’s start walking. You doing good, Phillip?” Chander asked.

“I am well,” Phillip assured him. “I cannot feel my dragon. As much as he fights me, I find myself missing him.”

“He’s chilling back with your body,” Chander assured Phillip. “Is there a direction you want to go, Keegan?”

Nothing was tugging Keegan toward anything, so he chose a direction at random. It was incredible to know Keegan was on the side of the veil where his spirit had lingered until the Arch Lich had resurrected him. He focused on his past as he committed the tranquil scene of the endless field to memory so he would be able to share it with Victor later. Keegan walked alongside Chander and Phillip as the minutes ticked away.

The longer they journeyed, the more the concern grew on Chander’s noble face. Disappointment flowed through Keegan. It wasn’t the lost opportunity to learn something about himself or the knowledge that he wouldn’t soon have a beast—what frustrated him was failing Phillip.

“I’m sorry, Phillip,” Keegan offered. “This isn’t going to help your dragon.”

“You and Victor help my dragon,” Phillip said. “I refuse to accept your apology.”

“We can try again another day,” Chander commented. “We’ll keep drinking that damn tea and journeying here until you’re both ready to stop.”

“While answers would be nice, I think Keegan is perfect the way he is,” Phillip remarked. “Any future shadow walks will be up to Keegan.”

Overwhelmed by Phillip’s kindness, Keegan kept his thoughts to himself. The truth was Keegan had no desire to repeat the experience of dragging Phillip to the other side of the veil or taking up the valuable time of the Arch Lich. As far as Keegan was concerned, the journey didn’t need to be repeated. Something in his soul told him that no answers were waiting for him.