Page 45

Chief Aiken Oakley

Valor

Valor woke to the heat of the sun on his sweat-dampened skin, a satisfied ache in his muscles, a deep hunger gnawing at his stomach, and an empty space in his arms.

He sat up and let out a big yawn just as a familiar bristle of fur rubbed against his back.

“Morning, Neptune.”

The big cat settled beside him, stretching her long body out to bask in the sun.

“You seen my cherished around here anywhere?” he murmured, running his palm along her back.

After a few seconds, Valor spotted Zorion perched on a smooth boulder. He was a vision of strength and grace, naked and drenched in sunlight.

His toned body glistened, droplets of water tracing paths down the contours of his chiseled torso.

Zorion’s long, platinum hair was darker when wet, slicked back and clinging to his shoulders as he crouched in perfect stillness, eyes locked on the water’s surface.

Valor watched, mesmerized, as Zorion slowly lifted his arm, flexed his wrist, fingers poised, waiting. Then, in a blur of movement, he struck.

Zorion plunged his hand into the water with the speed of a striking hawk, and when he yanked it out, he held a writhing fish tight in his fist.

Valor’s breath caught.

He had always known Zorion was fast, but this…this was beyond what he’d seen during their training.

Omega had honed Zorion’s instincts to an unnatural degree, his strikes now faster than the eye could track.

As Zorion began to walk toward the shore, a piercing cry split the calmness of the morning.

A huge eagle with its wings spread wide enough to create shade descended toward Zorion, its talons gleaming like polished onyx as it plummeted with unstoppable force.

What the…?

At the last second, it flared its wings, catching the wind with a power that defied gravity, and landed on Zorion’s right shoulder as if it belonged to him, as if they were one.

The huge raptor’s golden eyes gleamed with challenge as it glared at the fish in Zorion’s grasp. It let out a sharp screech, flexing its bronze-colored wings.

With an easy smirk, Zorion lifted the fish just out of reach. The eagle lunged, snapping its beak at the prize, but Zorion moved fluidly, teasing the great bird with a fondness that spoke of a bond.

Valor chuckled when Zorion was close enough to hear him. “You tempt fate playing with him like that.”

Zorion rubbed his temple along the bird’s stark white chest. “He knows better than to challenge me.”

The eagle let out an offended cry before retreating into the sky. Valor watched it soar, feeling the thrill deep inside as he shifted his gaze back to Zorion. His cherished was truly a sight that stole his breath and reason.

Zorion squatted near him and Neptune leaped to her feet and took off into the woods.

“You don’t have to run, Neptune,” Valor called after his friend.

“Why do you call her Neptune?” Zorion asked as he set the flopping fish on one of the stones around their makeshift firepit. “Wasn’t he the god of the sea? I’m pretty sure cats hate water.”

Valor shrugged as he began to start another fire.

“I have no clue. The name just came to me, and it stuck.”

“Interesting.” Zorion took a small blade from one of the pockets of his tunic. “I got breakfast.”

He and Zorion sat around the fire, eating chunks of the trout and fruit he’d picked from the trees near the waterfall.

“I wanna take another dip before we go—”

Valor caught Zorion’s wrist before he could get up. He slowly pulled Zorion down until he sat between his legs with his back to his chest.

Valor took one of the apples and began to cut it into small wedges.

He held a piece to Zorion’s lips. His gaze locked onto Valor’s with a hunger that had nothing to do with food.

“Eat,” Valor said, his voice rough with authority.

Zorion parted his lips and allowed Valor to place the slice on his tongue. As he bit, the juice ran down his chin, and Valor leaned in and licked away the remaining sweetness from his bottom lip.

The sugary taste of the apple complemented Zorion’s natural flavor so well that he wanted to smear the juices all over him.

An image of Zorion with his eyes closed and mouth open in a beautiful jungle flashed before his eyes.

For a moment, neither of them moved as the world held still.

It was the strongest feeling of déjà vu ever.

Zorion turned and gazed into Valor’s hooded eyes as if he were feeling the same sensation.

Valor sliced another piece and pressed it to Zorion’s soft lips, but this time, Zorion didn’t bite immediately. Instead, he gripped Valor’s wrist and slid the fruit into his mouth with deliberate slowness, sucking on Valor’s fingers.

The gesture sent a pulse of heat straight to his groin.

Valor knew there’d never be a day in their lives where he wouldn’t crave and want to be inside Zorion.

As they moved closer, lips hovering near enough to inhale each other’s breaths, the distant rumble of a helicopter shattered the intimacy of their moment.

That sound only meant one thing.

After two years, Jo was back.

He and Zorion exchanged looks that shifted their minds from love to war. The passion, the quiet comfort, the reprieve, were gone in an instant, replaced by something strong and deadly.

They’d trained for this moment.

They were ready.

It was time for their revenge.