Page 27 of Green Ravens (Ravens #2)

Chief Aiken Oakley

Valor

With each step Valor took, his heartbeat quickened.

When he reached the end of the hall, he felt an enticing presence behind the steel door.

It was a solid, secure barrier, but if he wanted past, it wouldn’t be an obstacle.

He placed his palm against the cool metal and his breath hitched at the subtle vibrations. He was right there, just out of his reach.

Valor could hear his ragged breathing.

“Open the door,” he ordered, his voice deep and tight with restraint.

He heard the man inhale, sharp and anxious.

Valor clenched his fists. His muscles twitched as he fought not to react in haste.

“I want to see you,” Valor demanded, softer that time.

He was still met with silence.

Frustration churched inside. He wanted to roar and rage. If he were once a man of patience, he wasn’t anymore.

A barely audible whisper made his breath stop.

“Leave.”

The delicate tone, the slight trembling, it was too much.

Valor’s last bit of control snapped. He reared back and, with unthinkable strength, hurled a single kick at the door and sent it buckling inward.

He saw a blur of motion, unnaturally fast. A man darted through the open space, his silhouette difficult to notice against the darkness behind the glass doors of the terrace.

The night engulfed him as he ran and Valor relished the opportunity to chase and hunt.

Valor crept onto the balcony, marveling at the expanse of the manufactured jungle very similar to his own, with trees that stretched toward the sky.

And there he was.

Perched high in the tallest tree, silent and still, but Valor could hear the frantic beating of his pulse. Could see the rapid rise and fall of his lean chest.

Valor locked his gaze on soft green eyes. The same eyes that watched him in his dreams.

“Come down,” he demanded, trying to be mindful of the bass and authority in his tone.

The man didn’t move.

“Come down, Zorion .”

Nothing.

“I’ve spoken with a potential ally in this facility. I’ve been told about our history. We are connected. Come to me.”

“I can smell you…you want to hurt me,” Zorion whispered.

Then Valor remembered that because of their animal DNA, they were natural enemies.

“No, I do not.”

“I can smell your anger.”

Valor was getting annoyed.

“Last time. Come here, or I will come up and get you.”

Zorion clung to his branch.

Valor managed to wait three seconds before he leaped into the tree.

Zorion scurried a little farther until he could go no higher.

Valor scaled the tree, gripping the bark and slinging himself over the thick branches with ease.

Zorion’s scent was stronger now, potent in a way that made Valor’s blood race. He felt an urge to overtake Zorion, but the man in him was stronger than the animal they infused into his system.

Weeks ago, Valor had overheard the scientists saying the tests they were performing were far beyond the scope of their research.

Perhaps their experiments had errors or defects.

He leaned closer until he and Zorion were face-to-face, their breaths mingling in the cool wind.

Zorion tensed, his pulse even more erratic.

Valor softened his voice the best he could, but there was nothing he could do about the gruffness.

“Don’t be afraid of me. I won’t harm you. I am a man of honor. My name was Oakley. But to you…I am Valor.”

He eased his green hood back until it rested at the base of his neck.

Zorion’s gaze remained suspicious as a hollow ache clawed at Valor’s core.

Valor eased closer and slowly reached toward Zorion’s face. He smoothed his fingertips along the scars on the man’s cheek, hesitant but curious, wondering what had happened. He slid his palm down Zorion’s toned arm until he was clutching his wrist.

A spark flared so hot and strong between them that Zorion flinched.

What Jo said was true. He and Zorion were connected.

But how?

Zorion’s pulse stuttered beneath his fingers as if he was scared, but he didn’t try to remove his hand.

“You can feel it, can’t you?” Valor asked.

Zorion’s parted his lips as if to deny it, but the words never came out. Instead, those beautiful green eyes held Valor’s in an unyielding grasp.

“I know you don’t remember me.” He caressed Zorion’s pulse until it began to slow. “And I don’t remember you, Sawyer . But I don’t need to remember to know that Zorion matters to me.”

Balancing effortlessly on the branches, Valor pulled Zorion toward him until his head rested on his chest.

He rested his cheek against soft white-blond hair. Beneath the scent of wildness lay a faint fragrance of earthy sweetness.

This felt familiar.

With the environment embracing them, resting in nature’s vigil…they slept.