Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Into the paranormal world: Never be ashamed of a
scar. It simply means you were stronger than
whatever tried to hurt you.

For  the  last  twenty-five  years,  Roland’s  Iberian
lynx  had  been  used  as  an  attraction  in  curiosity
shows. One night, strangers take him away. Upon
waking,  he’s  disoriented  and  scared…until  he
recognizes  the  scent  of  his  old  friend,  Vane.
Separated  when  Roland  was  sold  and  Vane
wasn’t,  Vane  had  since  been  rescued,  and  now
offers the same freedom to Roland. With the force
of  Vane’s  entire  gargoyle  clutch  behind  him,
Roland finally feels like he can make a new start.
Except,  one  of  the  gargoyles  claims  that  they  are
mates, but Roland can’t sense it, revealing a secret
he never wanted exposed.

Tobias is thrilled to discover that Roland is his

mate  until  the  lynx  shifter  denies  their  bond.
When  the  pretty  shifter  declares  he  can’t  bond
with anyone—and Tobias learns the life-changing
reason why—Tobias vows that it doesn’t matter to
him. He’ll stand by and care for his mate through
any  difficulty.  His  devotion  is  quickly  called  into
question  when  dangers  from  Roland’s  past  force
Tobias  to  spend  time  guaranteeing  his  mate’s
safety instead of spending time with Roland. Can
Tobias prove to his mate that he truly wants him
and doesn’t consider Roland just another duty?

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This  book  is  a  work  of  fiction.  Names,  characters,
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resemblance  to  actual  events  or  locales  or  persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

ISBN: 978-1-77111-926-9

Cover art by Scott Carpenter

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Chapter One

oland slowly roused, consciousness seeping
into his mind, pulling him from the dark

abyss he’d been floating in blissfully. He felt warm
and relaxed and that scared him. Had he done
something wrong, something to anger his captors?
Had they drugged him again?

Cracking open an eyelid, Roland peeked at his

surroundings. Instead of the cold, damp cage he
expected to see, he saw…a fireplace, the glow of
flames illuminating the darkened room.

What the—
He turned his head a bit and realized he lay on

a massive padded cushion and someone had
spread a blanket over him. That explained the
source of the warm and comfortable feeling.

But where am I? What’s going on?
Roland wondered if he’d been sold again. That

must be it. Then, memories—fuzzy from
malnourishment and whatever drugs were still
clearing from his system—surfaced in his mind.

Noises pulled Roland from an uneasy doze. He

Charlie Richards

spotted a massive shadow, then a creature of some
kind appearing out of the darkness. With a slicing
movement of one clawed hand, the loincloth-clad
beast opened his cage. The huge creature opened
the door and moved cautiously inside with him.

Roland crouched in a corner and hissed, more

from fear than in warning.

What the hell is going on?
Then, the creature crouched before him and

said, “I’ve been sent by Vane, Roland. My name is
Geoffrey. I’m a gargoyle, just like Vane. I’m here
to help you.”

Vane? Who is—wait, that name’s familiar.

Gargoyle? What is that?

The creature must have taken his confusion as

acceptance,  for  he  waved  another  person  into  his
cage.  A  human…who  held  a  syringe.  Fear  slid
through  Roland  and  he  hissed  again,  curling  his
lips  back  in  a  low  snarl.  He  pressed  his  back
against the bars of the cage behind him and struck
out  with  one  paw.  The  guards  clipped  his  claws
regularly,  but  the  power  behind  his  blow  could
still hurt.

“Shit,” the human squeaked, stumbling back a

few steps.

“Hey, easy, Roland,” the creature—gargoyle—

Geoffrey murmured. “None of that, now. We’ll get
you out of here, but for everyone’s safety, we need
you sedated. We can’t have you panicking while
we’re flying you to safety.” He lifted a clawed

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

hand and pointed. “This is Leroy. He’s a nurse. He
won’t hurt you.”

Roland hissed again. He didn’t know these

people. He didn’t trust them.

Geoffrey sighed and shook his head. “Guess

we’ll have to do this the hard way. Sorry, buddy.”

That was the only warning Roland received

before Geoffrey lunged at him. Roland struck out,
but  his  blow  barely  seemed  to  register  to  the
massive  male.  The  gargoyle  tackled  him.  Draped
over  Roland’s  back,  Geoffrey  wrapped  his  arms
around him and grabbed Roland’s front legs. The
heavy weight and tight  hold offered Roland little
chance to move.

Roland opened his mouth, intending to yowl,

but  just  that  fast,  the  human  stabbed  the  needle
into his neck. Instead, he hissed and attempted to
snap  at  the  male.  Geoffrey  released  his  right  leg
and grabbed his jaws in a tight grip. Whining, he
scraped  his  blunted  claws  down  Geoffrey’s
forearm.

The gargoyle grunted, but didn’t release his

hold.

Then, whatever the human had injected into

him took effect. His vision swam and lethargy
swamped his limbs. Vaguely, he felt Geoffrey’s
grip ease on him, but he still couldn’t move.

The last thing Roland remembered was that the

gargoyle actually scratched his head and leaned
close to whisper, “Sorry, buddy.”

Charlie Richards

So…where am I now?
While the scents of the gargoyle and the human

that  had  brought  him  there  wafted  in  the  air,
Roland  noted  several  other  people’s  scents
permeated  the  area,  too.  He  peered  around  the
room,  taking  in  the  large,  four-poster  bed,  the
dresser, and nightstands.

The place screamed money.
Money meant the people thought themselves

privileged.  Roland  didn’t  like  people  who  felt
privileged.  Bud  Wallice,  the  carnival  show’s
owner,  where  Roland  lived  as  an  Iberian  lynx,
accepted  payment  from  rich  people  to  parade
Roland around like a pet cat.

Roland found it degrading, worse even than

having  to  lie  in  a  cage  all  day  so  patrons  could
walk around, and stare at him. He wasn’t just an
Iberian  lynx.  He  was  a  shifter,  a  man  who  could
turn  into  a  cat,  who  shared  his  instincts  and
abilities.  He  clung  to  those  ideas,  helping  him
keep sane.

Unfortunately, the fear of giving away that

shifters existed to humans kept him trapped in his
lynx  form.  He  couldn’t  allow  the  cat  out  of  the
bag,  per  se,  and  he’d  been  sold  and  resold  many
times. Occasionally, he wondered if his old pride
had  moved  after  he’d  been  kidnapped…about  as
often as he wondered where he was being held.

Not wanting to think about his pride, his

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

parents, or his brothers and sisters, Roland pushed
those thoughts from his mind. He’d wondered for
years why no one had come to rescue him,
waffling between fearing the worst and feeling
betrayed.

Roland struggled to his feet. He still felt weak,

but  he  could  move,  the  sedative  easing  its  hold.
Padding  slowly  toward  the  balcony  doors,  he
toyed with the idea of shifting.  It’d been so long.
Would he remember how? He paused and stared
out the glass-paned doors.

The sun shone brightly, illuminating a

sprawling green lawn. To the right, it ended at
garden hedges while straight ahead, a pine forest
beckoned. Roland’s jaw sagged, even in cat form.
Could he make it?

Just as he made up his mind to try—hell, when

would he get another opportunity—the squeak of
a door opening reached him from through the
wall. Then, footsteps sounded, telling Roland he’d
missed his opportunity. Fearing what was coming,
Roland crawled under the bed and curled up
against the wall.

Another door opened and a crack of light

illuminated  a  triangle  on  the  floor.  The
unmistakable  silhouette  of  a  person  crossed  the
light,  then  melted  into  the  dark  shadows  of  the
room.

A gruff voice growled, “Roland? Where are ya,

buddy?”

Charlie Richards

Roland tensed. These people knew his name.

How was that possible? He hadn’t told his name
to anyone. Humans had captured him while he’d
been out running with his family. That was years
ago, and he’d been in lynx form ever since.

Wait, there’d been one time…
Red legs ending in black, deadly looking claws

appeared  at  the  side  of  the  bed.  Slowly  the  male
lowered himself to the floor and a face that looked
vaguely  familiar  appeared.  Sunken  eye-sockets,
black  horns,  and  a  skeletal-like  face  should  have
been  scary,  but  the  red  eyes  peering  at  him
sparked a long-buried memory.

Vane!
When the humans had first captured Roland,

they’d sold him to a man named…Larson
Goldman. He’d been tossed into the cage of what
Larson called a demon. Upon seeing the lean, red
creature, Roland had thought he’d be dead for
sure. Instead, once Larson had left, the demon had
spoken to him.

“I don’t want to hurt you, cat, but if you attack,

I’ll defend myself.”

Roland had shifted, revealing shifter’s existence

to the creature. They’d become friends.

“Come on out of there, Roland,” Vane urged.

“You’re safe here. No one will hurt you.” He
settled on the floor next to the bed and beckoned
with one clawed hand. “You have my word.”

Feeling the first dredges of something he hadn’t

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

felt in years, hope, Roland’s tension slowly eased.
He crept forward a few steps, then a few more. He
kept his gaze fixed on Vane, afraid if he looked
away, his friend would disappear. Finally, he
managed to clear the bed frame.

Roland wasted no time crawling onto his

friend’s lap. Heaving a sigh, he settled his head on
Vane’s thigh. The demon had grown since they’d
been forced apart decades ago. His broader thighs
made the position far more comfortable, and he
nuzzled and kneaded, expressing his pleasure.

When Vane wrapped his arm around Roland

with one hand and petted his head with the other,
Roland let out a contented sigh.

Finally, he felt safe.
“You gonna shift?” Vane asked.
Roland had never heard the guy rumble softly

as  he  did  now.  He  figured  he  must  look  horrible
and be acting completely pathetic to get this kind
of  treatment,  but  he  just  couldn’t  help  himself.
After  so  long  being  alone  and  scared,  Roland
needed the comfort.

Not wanting to move, Roland shook his head

and purred.

Vane chuckled quietly for a few seconds, then

they  lapsed  into  silence.  After  a  few  minutes
where Vane just petted and held him, he stated, “I
guess  I’ll  start  at  the  beginning.  First,  I  want  to
apologize  for  taking  so  long  in  finding  you.  I—”
He paused, his voice hitching. “Losing you how I

Charlie Richards

did, then getting beaten, I—” He sounded as if the
memories pained him. “I lost my memory.”

Roland tensed. It was a good thing his claws

were clipped and Vane’s hide was thick, otherwise
he felt certain he’d have inadvertently speared the
male.

Vane sighed. “Gods, I’m so sorry.”
Mewling, Roland tried to reassure his friend.

He  rubbed  his  head  on  Vane’s  thigh.  He’d  been
the  recipient  of  many  beatings  at  the  hands  of
Larson.  Not  to  mention—he  shut  that  thought
down, too embarrassed even to think it.

“I was rescued almost twenty years ago by

Maelgwn  and  a  couple  of  others,”  Vane
whispered.  “He’s  the  leader  here.  They  sat  me
down  and  explained  that  I’m  a  gargoyle,  that’s
why I turn into stone during the day and look like
I do. I learned about our culture. They paid for my
education  and  forged  identification  for  me.  It
wasn’t  until  I  found  my  mate  that  I  remembered
you,”  he  admitted.  “I,  um,  my  mate  and  I  had  a
misunderstanding  and…well,  in  the  end  I  had  a
panic attack and a flashback and—”

Vane’s grip tightened in Roland’s fur for a few

seconds. “As soon as I remembered you, I hunted
you down, and my clutch-mates helped me free
you and the other shifters at that place.” Again, he
sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Roland scented Vane’s self-disgust—huh, a

gargoyle, go figure—and didn’t like smelling it from

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

his friend. The gargoyle had remembered him.
That was the important thing. He had to tell him.

He called to his human form and felt relief that,

after so long, he had no trouble changing. It took
longer than in the past, but he got it done. It felt
strange to have fingers, toes, and skin instead of
fur after living as a cat for decades.

Slowly sitting up, Roland appreciated that Vane

allowed him to stay on his lap. He hadn’t missed
the  part  where  Vane  said  he’d  found  his  mate.
He’d learned about mates from his parents when
he’d started shifting at the age of twelve, knowing
they  were  possessive.  His  father  had  been  so
proud,  saying  because  he  was  an  early  bloomer,
he’d end up a strong lynx.

Now, that’d never be so.
“It’s not your fault,” Roland said, his voice

rusty from disuse. “If it makes you feel any better,
the places I was held after Larson weren’t nearly
as bad.” That was true, too. Sure, living conditions
always sucked because everyone treated him as an
animal, and while the food wasn’t as much as a
shifter needed to live and grow properly, at least
they hadn’t beaten him.

Vane sighed. “It doesn’t.”
Roland shrugged. “My momma used to say

that everything happens in its own time for its
own reason. We shouldn’t question Fate.”

Nodding, Vane hugged him. “You are welcome

here as long as you need. Our doctor is the best

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and our leader is patient. I know you probably
want to contact your family, but—” Vane stopped
speaking.

Maybe he was uncertain what he wanted to say

or how to ask for what he needed. Roland
remembered his friend hadn’t ever been the most
eloquent. He rested his head on Vane’s hard pec
and admitted, “I don’t know if I want to find my
family. What if they never even looked for me?”

“I’m sure they did.” Vane sounded so

confident.

Needing to think on something else, Roland

murmured, “So, I’m really free? Is Mister Wallice
going to come looking for me?”

“You’re really free,” Vane assured. “And if he

knows what’s good for him, he won’t come
looking for you all,” he added, his voice dropping
to an angry snarl. “You are under our clutch’s
protection. You are safe.”

Sighing, Roland closed his eyes and let his body

relax for the first time in what felt like forever.
“Thank you.” After a few seconds, he smiled and
murmured, “Congrats on finding your mate. Is he
around?”

“He is,” stated another voice.
Roland widened his eyes in surprise. He hadn’t

heard  anyone  enter.  Was  he  really  that  out  of  it?
Possibly…between  the  lingering  effects  of
whatever  sedative  was  in  his  system,  along  with
the  shock  and  relief  of  actually  being  rescued,

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Roland figured his body couldn’t handle much
more stress.

Snapping his head around, he spotted not one,

but  several…males.  Roland  thought  he  scented
irritation  or  maybe  anger  from  someone  and  he
figured  finding  a  stranger  in  the  arms  of  your
mate would certainly do it.

Sweeping his gaze over the three males, Roland

noticed  the  tense  set  of  the  human’s  shoulders.
While  his  wide  lips  were  set  in  a  tight  smile,  he
held  out  his  hand  toward  Roland.  “I’m  Matthew
Beakman,”  the  human  stated.  “I’m  Vane’s  mate.
I’m  glad  to  see  you  awake  and…”  At  that,  his
words seemed to stall and he grimaced.

Roland really didn’t want to, but he couldn’t in

good

conscience

stay

his

friend’s

lap…especially  nude.  While  that  wasn’t  a  big
thing  for  shifters,  he  knew  it  was  for  humans.
Sliding  sideways,  Roland’s  ass  hit  the  floor.  He
brought  his  knees  up  and  wrapped  his  arms
around  them,  shielding  himself  from  the
strangers.

“Nice to meet you,” Roland whispered.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” Matthew replied.
Watching Matthew’s hand slowly lower to his

side, Roland felt a bit bad. Still, he couldn’t bring
himself to touch the other man. He turned his
attention to the two gargoyles standing behind
Matthew. Both had green mottled skin, one much

Charlie Richards

lighter than the other gargoyle. The darker of the
two actually had his arms crossed and he scowled.

Uncertainty filled Roland, and his grip on his

legs tightened. “Um, th-thanks for rescuing, um,
us.” He remembered Vane saying that more than
one shifter had been freed.

“You’re welcome, Roland,” the lighter of the

pair  replied.  His  smile  appeared  genuine.  He
stepped  forward  and  crouched  in  front  of  him.
“I’m  Doctor  Perseus.  Me  and  Nurse  Leroy,  the
human  who  came  with  Geoffrey  to  get  you,  will
be  working  with  you  throughout  your
rehabilitation.”

Roland nodded slowly.
“As will I,” stated the second male. “I’m the

clutch second, Tobias. We will move you to my
suite as soon as possible.”

Roland’s jaw sagged open. He swept his gaze

over the massive male, taking in his wide
shoulders and heavily muscled torso. He had thick
limbs ending in black claws. Behind him, Tobias
sported a pair of large black wings.

“Wh-wh-why?” Roland stammered.
Tobias actually appeared insulted. He

straightened as he snapped, “You’re my mate.
How could you think I’d do anything else?”

Feeling the blood drain from his face, Roland

knew he paled. His heart seemed to skip a beat
and he struggled to get enough air in his lungs.
His mate? He couldn’t have a mate. Not anymore.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Two

obias couldn’t help it. His eyes widened in
shock. Was his mate rejecting him? Taking in

the male’s dark hair, pale skin, and sunken form,
he  knew  the  young  shifter—hell,  Roland  didn’t
appear  much  more  than  nineteen—would  need
some time to recuperate. Tobias knew Roland had
been held as an animal for many years, but surely
he  understood  the  importance  of  finding  one’s
mate.

Then, his mate’s scent hit him. Fear.

Hopelessness. Anguish.

What the fuck?
“I won’t make that bad a mate,” he growled,

planting his fists on his hips, offended beyond
anything he remembered feeling before.

Vane’s wide red-eyed and open mouthed

expression told of his own shock. He rested his
hand on Roland’s shoulder. “Roland?”

Jealousy ripped through Tobias’ system, hard

and fast. It’d been bad enough to walk in and see
another man holding and comforting his naked

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

mate. There was no way in hell he’d allow that to
happen again.

“Don’t touch him,” he snarled.
Tobias dropped to his knees and swiped at

Vane’s hand, shoving it away. Then, he paused as
he took in his clearly traumatized mate. Damn, he
really should have broached this in a better way,
but Roland was a shifter. Shifters knew their
mates by scent, didn’t they?

Fighting back a sigh of frustration, Seconds did

not show frustration, ever, Tobias settled his right
hand lightly on Roland’s shoulder. He shivered at
the contact. Gods above, I’m actually touching my
mate. At over four hundred years old, Tobias had
waited a long time to find that special someone.

Damn it, I can’t screw this up!
A need to touch more of the skinny young male

before him surged through him and Tobias settled
his  second  hand  on  Roland’s  flank.  He  rubbed
slowly  over  the  jutting  hip  bone,  up  his  skinny
side,  and  back  down  again.  Damn,  he  wanted  to
explore every inch of this slender shifter.

“Roland,” Tobias rumbled, trying to keep his

tone even and calm. “Talk to me. I understand
you’re young. I’ve waited over four hundred years
to find you, so I can be patient. If you need time—
” He paused, searching for the right words. While
he could be patient, it wasn’t exactly his strong
point. Tobias wasn’t certain how long he’d be able
to wait and didn’t want to set up false hopes. “We

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can work this out,” he finished lamely.

He hated having an audience but figured

sending everyone away would be counter-
productive.

Finally, Roland stopped shaking.
Tobias kept up the light stroking, appreciating

that his mate seemed to be responding to his
touch, at least. Even if he vocally denied their
bond, Roland’s body knew the truth.

Roland turned his head a bit and peered up at

him,  blinking  tears  out  of  his  big  green  eyes.
Normally,  Tobias  would  feel  disdain  at  such
weakness.  All  he  felt  at  that  moment,  however,
was a deep-seated desire to erase the pain marring
the slender oval face of the male before him.

“We can work this out,” Tobias repeated,

hoping it didn’t sound too much like he was
pleading.

Roland closed his eyes for a few seconds, and

Tobias thought he was rejecting him again. Then,
without looking at him, Roland whispered, “It’s
not that I don’t want a mate. I can’t have a mate.”

Confusion filled Tobias, causing him to stop

rubbing his mate’s side. Fortunately, Roland
continued.

“I’m not a child,” Roland told him. “I’m

probably around forty or so, and I’m not
physically capable of mating.”

With those cryptic words, Roland leaped to his

feet and rushed through a door on the left.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Tobias stared at Roland’s ass in shock, even as

his  cock  thickened  beneath  his  loincloth.  “What
the  hell?”  He  rose,  having  every  intention  of
following. Damn it, he’d get an explanation even if
he  had  to  break  the  door  down  to  go  inside  and
get it.

“Wait,” Perseus urged. When Tobias turned

and snarled at him, Perseus held up his hand,
“Please, Second. I think I can help with your
confusion.”

Tobias crossed his arms over his chest. “Well?”
Perseus grimaced and rubbed a clawed hand

over his scalp. “You noticed that your mate
appears…young, yet he said he’s around forty
years of age?”

“Yes,” Tobias rumbled.
When he’d walked in and spotted the skinny

shifter  in  Vane’s  arms,  at  first,  he  felt  bad  for
Matthew, since he and Vane had worked so hard
through  so  many  misunderstandings  already.
Then,  the  young  shifter’s  scent  had  hit  him,  and
he’d taken a second look at the male.

Wild, dark locks fell in disarray around a thin

face. The man’s body appeared too lean, the knobs
of his spine showing clearly down his back. Tobias
wanted to trace those prominent bumps, follow
them to the deep vee of his high, rounded ass. As
far as extra flesh went, it appeared it all remained
on the young man’s butt.

Tobias’ blood had flowed south, heating in his

Charlie Richards

veins. Shock mingled with excitement and
pleasure as he realized that this shifter was his
long-awaited-for mate.

Roland had positioned his skinny arms and legs

in  such  a  way  that  his  genitals  were  hidden.
Tobias  had  checked,  because  while  his  own  cock
plumped  behind  his  loincloth,  betraying  his
attraction to the young male, he couldn’t scent any
arousal from the young shifter.

“How old was Roland when he was dumped in

your cage, Vane?” Perseus asked, his words blunt.

Tobias grimaced at the picture those words

created.

Vane didn’t correct him, answering, “Fifteen

and he stayed with me for two years. He’s been in
captivity a good twenty-five years.”

Tobias frowned. “What does that have to do

with anything?”

Perseus sighed and shook his head. “It’s

something Leroy noticed, Tobias, and after seeing
how young Roland appears, I’m a little worried
about how it will impact you since you claim him
as your mate.”

“What?” Tobias growled. “What did Leroy

notice?” Why couldn’t the man just spit it out?

The overly spicy scent of unease poured off of

Perseus,  and  Tobias  barely  resisted  the  urge  to
slam  the  man  against  the  wall  and  demand
answers.  Finally,  Perseus  peered  at  him  through
his lashes and murmured, “At some point, Roland

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

was castrated, and from his appearance, it was
before he completed puberty. Essentially, his body
is stuck in adolescence, which is why his olfactory
senses haven’t developed enough to recognize a
mate’s scent.”

“By the Gods,” Tobias whispered. He struggled

to wrap his mind around that idea. Licking his
lips, he murmured, “And his claim that he isn’t
capable of mating?”

“Well,” Perseus drew the word out as he swept

his gaze over Tobias, probably searching for how
his words were affecting him.

Tobias growled. “Roland is my fucking mate,

whether he can scent it or not. I want to help him.”

Perseus nodded. “Good. He’ll need it…and

patience,” he added. “Because of Leroy’s
observation,

checked

into

testosterone

replacement therapy, and I think it will help him.
Especially after his comment about not being
capable of mating…which leads me to believe he
doesn’t produce enough testosterone to sustain an
erection.”

Oh, shit. My mate doesn’t get hard? No wonder he’d

seemed so upset about finding a mate. And what if he

never recognizes me as his mate? How will that affect
our bonding?

Tobias didn’t know, but there was only one

way to find out. He glanced toward Vane. “I’ll
find a way to make this work,” he vowed,
uncertain if he spoke the words more for himself

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or to assure the other gargoyle that he wouldn’t
hurt Vane’s friend.

Vane’s eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth,

but closed it just as quickly. Finally, he settled for
a sharp nod.

After taking a few steps toward the closed

bathroom  door,  Tobias  paused  and  looked  at
Perseus.  “Do  what  you  can  to  create  a  shifter
friendly  program.  I’ll  talk  to  Roland  and,  when
he’s ready, bring him to you for...treatment.”

“I’ll put something together,” Perseus

promised.

Nodding, Tobias headed toward the closed

door.

“Good luck,” Matthew called, his tone

tentative.

Tobias looked over his shoulder at Vane’s

human mate. “Thank you,” he responded.

Sweeping his gaze over Matthew, Tobias saw

how he’d pressed his back to Vane’s chest and
pulled Vane’s arms around himself. Matthew had
twined his fingers with his gargoyle mate’s claws.

Tobias found that the desire to do that with

Roland, to hold him just like that, was undeniable.
He realized that Matthew had been persistent,
patient, devious, and strong in winning Vane’s
trust. Tobias mentally reminded himself that he’d
need to be the same.

The others filing from the room pulled him

from his thoughts.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Returning his focus to the closed bathroom

door, Tobias rapped gently. When he didn’t get a
response, he knocked louder. This time, after a
few seconds, he heard a watery-sounding, go away.

Oh, fuck that.
Tobias reached down and gripped the handle.

He wasn’t surprised to find it locked, but that
didn’t stop him. Using his gargoyle strength, he
wrenched the handle and broke the lock, popping
the door open.

Pushing the door wide, Tobias stepped inside

the small room. He glanced around, searching for
his  mate.  His  heart  clenched  in  his  chest  upon
spotting him seated on the floor, wedged between
the  toilet  and  the  wall.  Again,  his  knees  were
pressed  against  his  chest  and  his  arms  wrapped
tightly around them.

Allowing a sigh to slip passed his teeth and

lips, Tobias slowly moved across the spacious area
and  lowered  to  his  knees  before  the  shifter.  He
couldn’t  remember  the  last  time  he’d  kneeled
before a male once, let alone twice, in one evening.
Upon  spotting  the  trembling  in  Roland’s  skinny
body, he couldn’t help but reach for the male.

Roland flinched.
Tobias chose to ignore that. Gripping Roland’s

upper arms, Tobias felt his mate’s cold, clammy
skin. Not liking that one bit, especially with how
little padding Roland had to hold in his body heat,
Tobias pulled his mate out of his hiding space as

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gently as he could.

Roland whimpered and resisted a bit, wriggling

in his grip.

Growling more in warning than irritation,

Tobias rumbled, “Come here, Roland.”

“This won’t work,” Roland whispered.
At least, he stopped fighting and came forward,

out of his self-imposed prison. Tobias took that as
a small win. “Are you averse to me as your mate?”
he asked, truly curious. “Or just a mate in
general?”

To Tobias’ utter shock, Roland actually kept

coming. He pressed close and curled up on his lap,
similar to what he’d done to Vane. Tobias let him.
He  rocked  back  onto  his  ass,  which,  fortunately,
landed  his  back  against  a  wall.  Fighting  back  a
shiver  at  the  sudden  cold,  Tobias  released
Roland’s arms so he could wrap them around the
much smaller male.

“Easy, little one. I’ve got you,” Tobias

whispered, the endearment easily rolling off of his
tongue.

“You don’t want me,” Roland mumbled. “I’m

damaged goods.”

Tobias closed his eyes. His throat constricted.

For just a second, he felt pin pricks hit the backs of
his eyes. Damn it all, he would not cry…not when
he  knew  his  mate’s  words  weren’t  true.  “Who
gives  a  shit  if  you  don’t  have  testicles,”  Tobias
snarled.  Roland  stiffened  in  his  arms,  but  he

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

wouldn’t let go. “The doctor can help you,” he
whispered.

When Roland hunched in on himself, Tobias

wanted  to  bite  his  own  tongue  off.  Instead,  he
thought  quickly  and  blurted,  “I  know  why  you
believe you can’t have a mate.” Okay, maybe not the
best thing to say either, but… “We can work through
this.  If  Fate  didn’t  want  us  to  be  together,  I
wouldn’t  recognize  your  scent  as  my  one  and
only.”

Tobias waited for some response from Roland.

He struggled to keep from tightening his grip as
each second passed in silence, fighting the desire
to hold the man until he agreed to be his. Instead,
Tobias eased his hold enough to stroke one hand
up and down the man’s spine…the naked man.

He had to shift Roland to the left a bit to keep

his  suddenly  aching  prick  from  rubbing  against
his mate’s rounded ass. Oh, but it was difficult. He
could  so  easily  imagine  pulling  the  stays  on  his
loincloth,  freeing  his  erection,  and  sliding  it
between the mounds of his mate’s ass.

Damn, he could ride his mate’s ass to

completion, spilling his seed all over his back,
marking him. Then, every paranormal who
smelled Roland would know he was taken.

Roland shifted his weight, making his intention

to move away apparent. Refusing to allow the
shifter to get away, Tobias demanded, “Tell me
your thoughts.” Would his mate completely refuse

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to communicate? What would he do then? Was his
mate  stuck  in  an  adolescent  mentality,  too?  With
the  way  he’d  crawled  onto  his  lap  and  clung  to
him,  Tobias  wouldn’t  be  surprised.  Not  that
Tobias didn’t enjoy holding and touching Roland,
but  that  could  get  a  bit  awkward  while  trying  to
fulfill his duties.

To Tobias’ surprise, Roland lifted his head and

stared him straight in the eye. “I want you to
release me.”

“Why?” Tobias blurted out the question

without thinking.

Still holding his gaze, Roland grimaced, then

told him, “Because it was unfair to expect comfort
from you when I have nothing to offer you in
return.”

Frowning, Tobias clenched his jaw. He hadn’t

busted into this room just to be sent away.
However—taking in the dirt embedded in the
creases

Roland’s

finger-knuckles

and

acknowledging that the smell of dirt and sweat
permeated the male’s scent—Tobias decided
another tactic might be beneficial.

Instead of releasing Roland, Tobias used his

impressive strength to rock to his feet, still holding
his mate in his arms. Roland squeaked and started
to flail. Tobias cradled the much smaller male to
his chest.

“Easy, little one,” he rumbled.
Roland gaped up at him. “What are you

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

doing?”

“I’m going to show you that you do have

something to offer me,” Tobias stated, his voice
firm. He needed Roland to start listening.

Roland snorted. “Like what?” he grumbled,

finally showing a bit of spirit.

Smiling, Tobias stepped into the oversized

shower  stall.  Because  most  gargoyles  were  quite
large,  when  the  clutch  had  purchased  and
renovated  this  estate,  they’d  made  certain  every
shower stall and every tub was huge. At the time,
Tobias  had  wondered  at  his  clutch-leader,
Maelgwn’s  logic.  Now,  he  appreciated  the
gargoyle’s foresight.

“We are going to get you warm and clean. How

long has it been since you’ve enjoyed a long, hot
shower?”

Roland peered up at the dual shower heads. “I

don’t know.” He whispered the admission.

There were way too many scents on Roland’s

skin for Tobias’ liking, and if he could use the
excuse of warming his mate in the shower to
remove them, he’d do it. Then, Tobias planned to
replace them with his own.

After turning on the water and finding the right

temperature, Tobias moved Roland under the
spray. He picked up the soap and used it to lather
up a cloth. He returned his focus to Roland and
stated, “Having a mate isn’t all about sex, Roland.
It’s about companionship. One of the things mates

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Chapter Three

oland had frozen upon feeling the heated
spray hit him. Tobias’ words barely

registered  to  him  as  the  realization  that  he  was
taking  his  first  hot  shower  in  nearly  twenty-five
years  hit  him.  Tears  beaded  at  the  corners  of  his
eyes  and  he  fought  back  a  whimper  as  he
just…enjoyed.

Then, the feel of a moist, soapy fabric being

rubbed  over  his  skin  caused  him  to  squeal  and
jump  sideways,  out  from  beneath  the  heavenly
stream of water, and he slammed his shoulder into
a  tile-covered  wall.  Hissing,  he  rubbed  his
shoulder, trying to ease the ache.

“Easy, Roland,” Tobias murmured, reaching for

him with his empty hand. He settled his large,
clawed fingers on Roland’s shoulder, replacing
Roland’s hand in gently massaging him.

Roland had to admit, he liked the soothing

touch. He turned his back to the larger male and
pressed into the touch. If he’d been in cat form,
he’d have arched and purred.

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Tobias gently tugged him back under the spray.

“I won’t hurt you. I only want to help.”

At the pleading in Tobias’ tone, Roland felt the

fight leave him. He didn’t want to lead the big
gargoyle on, but Tobias seemed so earnest…and
it’d been so long since someone had taken care of
him.

Roland nodded. “Okay,” he whispered.
Once again, Tobias pressed the soft, soapy cloth

against  Roland’s  skin,  this  time  on  the  opposite
shoulder  of  where  he  still  rubbed,  erasing  the
earlier  pain.  Roland  sighed  and  closed  his  eyes,
enjoying the pleasant sensation of the cloth sliding
over his damp flesh.

Tobias rubbed across Roland’s shoulders,

adding  his  second  hand  to  the  work.  He  swept
down,  first  one  arm,  back  up,  then  did  the  same
with  the  other  before  starting  to  work  the  cloth
down  his  back.  All  the  while,  he  made  an  odd,
rumbling,  humming  noise,  which  Roland  found
strangely relaxing.

Suddenly, it occurred to Roland that he hadn’t

been washed by another since his mother stopped
giving him baths at the age of six. Shyness unlike
anything he’d experienced before flooded him.
Roland covered his groin, hiding his flaccid dick
behind his hands.

Roland hunched his shoulders. He closed his

eyes. Knowing he was skinny and short and
malnourished, he worried the other male would

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

be turned off by his body. Then again, he didn’t
know what he was supposed to do if Tobias was
turned on either.

Having been imprisoned since the age of

fifteen, it wasn’t as if Roland had any experience
with anything of an intimate nature. At that time,
he’d just started admitting—to himself anyway—
that he found the male form more exciting than
the female form. He certainly hadn’t admitted that
to anyone, and yet, Fate knew.

Evidently, Tobias had picked up on his unease,

for he paused in his ministrations of cleaning his
back to murmur, “Hey, now. What is it?”

Hunching in on himself even more, unable to

hide his embarrassment, Roland shook his head
hard.

Strong, thickly muscled arms wrapped around

Roland’s  torso.  Tobias  held  the  pale  blue,  soapy
cloth  in  one  hand  against  his  skinny  chest  while
the claws on the other hand rested on his stomach.
They  moved  slowly,  rhythmically  scraping  and
petting  his  sunken  abs.  Tobias  rubbed  his  head
against Roland’s temple.

“I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong,”

Tobias murmured. “I only want to help.”

With how the gargoyle wrapped him up,

Roland felt the press of something long and hard
against the small of his back. Okay, that answered
one question. Now, what the hell was he
supposed to do about it? Will Tobias expect me to

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please him in some way? Fear flooded him as Roland
registered just how large the erection pressed
against him truly was.

Roland’s body tensed so tightly, his muscles

actually  hurt.  Through  a  clenched  jaw,  he
managed to ask, “Do you, um…do you expect me
to—”  That  was  all  he  could  get  out,
embarrassment  warring  with  the  fear  permeating
him.

Tobias froze for several long seconds, his big

body  still  where  he  wrapped  around  Roland.
Finally,  he  said,  “I  think  I  know  what  you’re
asking,  but  just  to  clarify…do  I  expect  you  to  let
me fuck you?”

Hearing it stated so bluntly, Roland’s cheeks

heated.  He  hoped  the  steam  from  the  hot  water
hid  his  reaction,  then  realized  that  was  stupid
because  Tobias  would  just  pick  up  on  his  scent.
Unable to get his tongue to work, he managed to
nod, his movements jerky.

“No, little one,” Tobias told him. “You’re in no

condition for that kind of activity.”

An odd emotion surged through Roland, and it

took him a few seconds to realize it felt an awful
lot like indignation. “Is-is it because-because I’m—
” Once more, words failed him, so he moved one
hand from his groin only to wave at himself where
he still used his other to cover his cock.

Tobias’ chuckle sounded a little rough before he

rumbled, “Ahh, Ro.” He paused and nuzzled

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Roland’s temple. “That has nothing to do with it.”

If not, then— “Why?” Crap! Did I just ask that?

Do I actually want him to stick that huge dick I feel up
my— He couldn’t even finish the thought in his
head, although he did feel his body flush at the
image in his mind. Even his groin warmed a bit.

“Because, my mate,” Tobias replied. “We just

rescued you from captivity. You’re malnourished,
tired, and in need of a little TLC. You don’t know
me and I don’t know you.” He again nuzzled the
column of Roland’s neck.

Liking how Tobias’ hide-covered jaw felt on the

skin of his neck, Roland tilted his head to give him
more  room,  hoping  for  more.  Tobias  must  have
gotten  the  message,  for  he  rubbed  some  more.
Then,  he  pressed  sucking,  open-mouthed  kisses
up that same flesh from the corner of his shoulder
all the way to behind his ear.

Then, Tobias murmured, “Once we get to know

each other, there will be time enough for sex.”

That odd heating in Roland’s groin actually

intensified. To his shock, his cock actually moved
on its own behind his hands. Excitement of a
different sort filled Roland.

He hadn’t had an erection since before his

capture. After getting castrated by that asshole
Goldman, he had believed he never would again.
Could Tobias actually cause his body to respond?
Was that the mate-pull thing his parents had told
him about—oh, so long ago?

Charlie Richards

Remembering words Tobias had spoken earlier,

Roland turned his head a bit and peered through
his lashes at the dark green figure. “You said the
doctor may be able to help with, um, stuff?”

Tobias lifted his head and met his gaze. His

dark gray eyes met his gaze steadily as he replied,
“Yes. We should go see him after our shower. I’d
like to consult with him on foods, too.”

“Foods?”
Nodding, Tobias reached for the soap and once

more lathered up. As he returned to his cleaning,
he replied, “Yes. While you don’t appear horribly
malnourished, you should definitely be carrying
more weight.”

Roland nodded and returned his focus to the

wall.  How  was  he  supposed  to  interpret  Tobias’
words? Did that mean the gargoyle didn’t like the
way  he  looked?  Roland  hadn’t  had  interaction
with others for decades and he didn’t really know
how  to  interact  with  adults.  He’d  been  just  a  kid
when he’d been caged. Inadequacy filled him.

“Lift your arms, little one,” Tobias ordered,

interrupting Roland’s jumble of confused
thoughts.

While Tobias’ tone sounded soft, it still held

plenty of command, and Roland found himself
instantly obeying. He lifted his arms.

Tobias soaped first one pit, then the other. The

feel of the cloth scraping over the surprisingly
sensitive skin caused him to shiver. Who knew

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

that’d feel so good? He was almost disappointed
when Tobias moved around to his chest, but then
he rubbed the soapy cloth over his nipples.

Roland gasped as heat blossomed across his

chest. His nipples beaded. The skin of his chest
goose-bumped. “Oh!”

Chuckling, Tobias lightly scraped the thumb

claw of his free hand over Roland’s hardened nub.
Sparks of pleasure seemed to follow the few hairs
that trailed down his chest to his groin.

“Like how that feels?”
Roland swallowed hard upon hearing Tobias’

rumbled question. “Mmm-hmm,” he admitted. It
felt really good.

“I look forward to exploring every inch of your

body,”  Tobias  stated,  his  deep  voice  somehow
sounding  even  deeper.  “But  my  time  with  you
grows  short.  The  sun  will  be  up  in  a  couple  of
hours,  and  we  still  have  much  to  accomplish
before then.”

Frowning in confusion, Roland muttered, “The

sun?”

“Yes,” Tobias replied. “I’m a gargoyle. Until

our mating is complete, I will turn to stone during
the day, then awaken to care for you at night.”

As Tobias spoke, his hands swept down

Roland’s  chest,  washing  his  stomach.  Distracted
by  his  words,  Roland  didn’t  consider  Tobias’
destination until he cupped Roland’s flaccid penis
in  one  hand  and  gently  rubbed  the  cloth  over  it

Charlie Richards

with the other.

Roland squeaked, his body jolting.
Tobias released his dick and pressed that hand

to  Roland’s  stomach  and  chest.  He  held  Roland
still  against  his  chest  as  he  continued  to  use  the
cloth  to  clean  his  groin.  “Hush,  Ro,”  Tobias
soothed.  “We’re  just  cleaning.  Exploring  to  give
pleasure will be another day.”

Stilling in Tobias’ hold, Roland sucked in a

lungful of air. He struggled to slow his racing
pulse. He’d never been touched like this, as if he
was something to be appreciated. No, it was
more…cherished, maybe?

Roland thought it felt nice for Tobias to touch

his  penis,  the  feel  of  the  cloth  over  the  wrinkled
skin of his empty sack felt even better. He actually
felt  his  dick  twitch  at  that.  Wow,  maybe  with
enough  work,  he  could  actually  get  an  erection.
Would  Tobias  be  willing  to  work  that  hard,
though?

Tobias moved on to his legs, washing first one,

then the other. He even picked up each foot and
cleaned between his toes. That was weird. Finally,
Tobias tossed the washcloth on a small shelf and
grabbed a bottle. He squirted the thick liquid into
his palm and began working it into Roland’s hair.

Shampoo. Oh, when was the last time his hair

had been washed? Tobias massaged his scalp,
rubbing and rubbing. Roland sighed.

Amazing!

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Finally, Tobias urged Roland deeper into the

spray,  turning  him  this  way  and  that,  rinsing  off
all  the  soap.  After  turning  off  the  water,  Tobias
pushed open the shower door and grabbed a large
towel  and  wrapped  it  around  Roland,  then
proceeded to dry him.

“Come on,” he urged. “Head into the bedroom.

There are sweats and t-shirts in the drawers. Find
something that fits okay. I’ll be right there.”

Roland nodded and followed the big gargoyle’s

instructions.  He  headed  into  the  bedroom  and
opened the top drawer. He pulled out the top pair
of  sweats  and  held  them  up.  Finding  them  way
too  big,  he  checked  the  tag.  XL.  Opening  and
closing  drawers,  checking  tags  of  sweatpants,  he
searched for a medium.

Just as he found it and started pulling them on,

Roland heard a door bang open and someone call,
“Yo, Tobias. You in here? Maelgwn’s lookin’ for
ya.”

Roland yanked the sweats up his first leg, then

shifted his weight and lifted his other leg, angling
for the hole. The door leading out of the bedroom
opened and in strode a red gargoyle with white
claws. Roland froze, uncertainty filling him.

Who was this gargoyle? Was he a friend?
Looking around, the male’s gaze landed on

Roland. His mouth widened into a large smile,
showing off plenty of sharp teeth. “Hey, there,
pretty shifter.”

Charlie Richards

The guy’s greeting snapped Roland out of his

haze.  He  shoved  his  second  leg  in,  but  lost  his
balance  in  the  process  and  landed  on  his  butt.
Grunting  in  pain,  he  struggled  to  get  the  now-
tangled pant leg up his leg.

“Hey, sorry to startle you,” the male stated,

coming toward him. “I’m Kort. I’m looking for
Tobias, that’s our clutch’s second. You know,
kinda like a shifter beta.” He stopped and knelt in
front of him. “You okay? You need some help?”

As Kort reached toward him, Roland finally

managed  to  get  the  sweats  under  his  butt  and
around  his  waist.  He  wasted  no  time  scooting
backward  away  from  the  gargoyle’s  outstretched
hand. He couldn’t say why it was okay for Vane to
touch  him  or  Tobias  to  touch  him  and  not  this
gargoyle, it just was.

Kort pulled his hand back and rested his

forearm on his knee. “You okay?” he asked again.

“F-fine,” Roland managed to say. With several

feet  between  them,  he  stopped  crab-walking  and
pointed  toward  the  bathroom.  “Tobias  is—”
Seeing  the  other  gargoyle  step  out  of  the
bathroom, his hide dried, his thick, black hair still
wet,  and  his  loincloth  back  in  place,  Roland
finished, “There.”

Turning, Kort said, “Hey, Maelgwn sent—”
“Why is my mate on the floor with you

kneeling over him?” Tobias snarled, cutting off the
other gargoyle. He stalked forward, his gray eyes

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

glittering, dark with the promise of retribution.
“What have you done to him?”

Kort lifted his hands to either side of him.

“Nothing, I swear.” His voice squeaked a bit.

Roland realized that, if the furious look etched

on Tobias’ dark features were aimed at him, his
voice would probably crack, too. Along with that
realization, it hit Roland that Tobias was angry on
his behalf…unjustly so, but still.

“I’m fine,” Roland assured, slowly rising to his

feet.

Tobias turned his attention toward Roland, his

expression easing to one of concern as he swept
his gaze over him as if searching for injury. He
held out his hand, palm up.

Knowing what the gargoyle silently requested,

Roland skirted the still kneeling Kort and crossed
to his…gargoyle, mate, friend? He wasn’t sure
what to call Tobias at that point. Sliding his hand
onto Tobias’ palm, Roland allowed the male to
pull him close and tuck him against his side.

Using his other hand, Tobias cupped Roland’s

jaw and tipped his head up so their gazes met.
“Why were you on the floor with Kort kneeling
over you?”

While Tobias’ voice remained gruff, Roland

scented the concern rolling off him. He just knew
that if he said the wrong thing, Tobias would tear
Kort limb from limb. Fear seeped through him and
he prayed he never had that kind of aggression

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directed at him.

Swallowing hard, he admitted, “He startled me

when he came in and I fell over putting on my
sweats. He was just trying to help.”

Tobias lowered his head and openly scented his

neck. “You are upset, fearful,” he whispered. “Did
he do something to upset you?”

“N-no.”
“Then, why?” Tobias demanded.
“Y-you’re angry,” he blurted. Searching Tobias’

face, trying to figure him out, he continued,
“People hit when they’re angry.”

Tobias’ jaw sagged open. His breathing hitched

and his face actually somehow paled. “I’d never hit
you. You’re my mate.”

Swallowing hard, Roland nodded. Right, the

gargoyle  believed  they  were  mates.  He’d
forgotten.  Except…  “My  dad  said  he  and  mom
were  mates,  but  when  they  argued  they  hit  and
threw  stuff  at  each  other  or  us.  I  learned  to  stay
out of the way,” he whispered.

Roland watched Tobias’ Adam’s apple bob as

he waited with bated breath for a response.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Chapter Four

very instinct in Tobias screamed for him to
wrap up his mate in his arms and to promise

him  that  he’d  never  hurt  him,  no  matter  what.
Unfortunately,  from  the  fear  and  confusion
pouring off the young shifter, Tobias didn’t think
he’d  believe  him,  no  matter  what  his  own  scent
might  project.  From  the  sounds  of  it,  trust  of
others  had  been  shattered  long  before  he’d  been
kidnapped.

Still, Tobias couldn’t help but try. Continuing to

cradle Roland’s jaw and nape, he told him,
“Although I can’t predict what the future will
bring, I will never purposefully hurt you, Roland.”

Roland continued just to stare, his gaze

sweeping over his face a couple of times.

Tobias rubbed his thumb over Roland’s thin

lips  and  smiled.  “Let’s  go  see  the  doc,”  he
murmured,  before  leaning  down  and  pressing  a
light peck to the corner of his mate’s mouth. While
he  would  have  loved  to  engage  in  a  proper  lip-
lock, he didn’t plan to have his first true kiss with

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his mate while in front of another.

Turning toward Kort, who wisely averted his

eyes from Roland’s bare torso, Tobias asked,
“Why did Maelgwn send you?”

Kort slowly rose to his feet as he replied, “He’s

asking for a status update on the rescued shifters.”

Tobias frowned. “I’m headed down with

Roland to see Perseus. Let him know I’ll check in
before roost.”

Although a flash of surprise crossed his face—

which he quickly hid—Kort nodded. “Yes,
Second. I’ll report back.”

After sliding his arm around Roland’s torso

possessively, Tobias urged his mate forward and
out of the room.

Waking from roost, Tobias gave himself a full

body shudder. He spread his wings up and away
from his sides and stretched his arms over his
head. While he wanted to track down his mate,
immediately, he knew he needed to check in with
Maelgwn first.

Tobias had just managed to get to the parapets

before the sun had risen. He’d only had a chance
to check in with his chieftain due to how long he’d
been with Roland and the doctor. He’d hated
leaving and had ended up calling Vane to come sit
with his mate, so he could go see his chieftain.

Hopping off the roof, Tobias headed into his

chambers. He made a quick stop in his bathroom

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

to take a piss and brush his teeth and hair. He
pulled his dark locks into a queue at the nape of
his neck, then strode from the room.

Deciding to skip the morning meal for now,

hoping that he could talk his mate into joining him
for  a  more  private  meal  in  a  bit,  Tobias  strode
swiftly  toward  Maelgwn’s  study.  He  knocked
briskly  on  the  door  only  to  wait  impatiently  for
several  seconds.  Finally,  he  heard  his  chieftain
shout for him to enter.

Tobias pushed the door open and the smell of

spent seed hit his senses. Smirking, he peered
toward the desk and spotted Maelgwn’s human
mate, Bobby, curled up on the chieftain’s lap. The
human’s cheeks sported a rosy glow.

“Good evening to you two,” Tobias rumbled,

amused at the darkening flush working its way
across Bobby’s cheeks.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Bobby

replied gamely. “The little lynx, right?”

As he nodded, Tobias crossed the room and

settled in one of the large chairs in front of the
desk. “Roland, Vane’s friend.”

“Having a shifter as a mate makes it easier,

doesn’t it?” Bobby asked, cocking his head and
glancing up at Maelgwn’s face, offering him a shy
smile.

The chieftain smiled down at him while

running a hand down his arm.

Bobby leaned into the gargoyle’s touch and the

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smile quickly turned heated.

Damn, will I ever have that kind of look directed at

me by Roland?

Tobias sure hoped so. “Normally, I’d say yes,

since they already know about the paranormal
world and mates, but there are…extenuating
circumstances,” he admitted.

When he’d swung by Maelgwn’s office the

evening  before,  he  hadn’t  had  the  chance  to
explain  everything  to  his  chieftain,  only  telling
him  that  all  the  shifters  were  beginning  to  come
around and Perseus was treating Roland, his mate,
last.  After  that,  he’d  promised  to  swing  by  first
thing  upon  waking  and  he’d  headed  to  his
balcony.

“Explain,” Maelgwn commanded.
Sighing, Tobias ran his hands over his thighs,

giving away his unease to Maelgwn.

“Surely it’s not that bad,” Maelgwn

commented.

Tobias watched the muscles in his chieftain’s

arm  tense  as  though  he  tightened  his  grip  on  his
own  mate.  Appreciating  the  telltale  sign  that  his
chieftain  understood  problems  with  a  mate,  he
explained,  “My  mate  was  castrated  before
finishing puberty. He doesn’t recognize me as his
mate.”

He watched the blood drain from Bobby’s face

even as Maelgwn moved the hand that had been
resting on his desk to below it. Tobias guessed it

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

was to either cup his own balls or maybe his
mate’s.

“Oh, God,” Bobby whispered. “The poor

thing!”

“I’d prefer that information be kept quiet,”

Tobias requested.

“Of course,” Maelgwn instantly assured. “It’s

on a need to know basis.”

Bobby nodded quickly, his green eyes big as

saucers in his pale face.

Clearing his throat, Tobias continued, “Raised

voices  scare  him,  which  isn’t  surprising.  I  found
that  out  when  I  yelled  at  Kort.  When  I  assured
Roland  that  I  wouldn’t  hurt  him,  reminded  him
that he’s my mate, he said his parents were mates
and not only hit each other when angry, but threw
things  at  each  other.”  He  paused  and  shook  his
head. He didn’t understand how  mates could act
that  way toward each other…unless they  weren’t
fated  mates.  Maybe  Tobias  needed  to  verify  that
Roland understood the difference.

“He has no trust in the mate-pull,” Maelgwn

mused. “Interesting.”

Tobias growled. “Interesting? That’s what you

think that is?” He lurched to his feet and started
pacing. “I have a temper, Maelgwn. You know
that,” he snapped.

“No kidding,” Maelgwn commented dryly.
Snarling, Tobias curled his lip in frustration.

“Roland not only doesn’t believe we’re mates, so

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even if I manage to woo him, he won’t believe that
when I do express my anger I’d never hurt him.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Tobias paused in

his pacing and scowled at his chieftain. “What the
fuck am I going to do?”

Maelgwn smiled, showing off plenty of sharp

teeth.  “You  will  be  yourself,  Tobias.  You  are  my
second, and I know you’re a good man. You will
show  him  that,  even  if  you  slip  up,”  he  stated
firmly.  Then,  he  offered  a  smile.  “And  it  doesn’t
hurt to remember that your friends will help. All
you have to do is say something.”

Tobias jerked a nod. He did often forget that.

Asking for assistance in anything wasn’t
something he chose to do if at all possible. Could
he though, for the sake of his mate?

Probably.
“I’d be more worried about mating, actually,”

Maelgwn stated, cutting into his thoughts. “Can
he—” He paused, grimaced, then tried again.
“Can Roland get an erection? Can he claim you?”

Tobias just knew if his chieftain’s blue skin

hadn’t been so dark, the big gargoyle would have
been  blushing.  While  he  knew  from  where
Maelgwn’s concern stemmed, his cheeks clenched
at the reminder that the easiest way to complete a
gargoyle bond was by having his mate fuck him. If
Roland couldn’t claim him, he couldn’t go through
molt. That meant he’d never gain a human  form,
and  he’d  be  doomed  always  to  turn  into  stone

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

during the day, having half a life with his mate.

“Perseus put him on testosterone replacement

therapy. It works for humans, so they can have a
normal  sex  life,”  Tobias  explained.  “The  thing  he
doesn’t  know  is  proper  dosage,  so  he’s  starting
with  what  a  human  would  be  given.  He’ll  check
Roland’s  levels  daily  and  slowly  up  it  until  it’s
where it should be.”

“How does he know what a shifter’s regular

level is?” Bobby asked curiously.

Turning his attention to the human, Tobias

reminded the man, “There are plenty of shifters
here. He’s worked on them many times.”

Bobby lifted a hand, palm out, probably

expressing an apology for questioning him. “I
really hope it works out.”

“Thank you,” Tobias replied. He sure hoped it

worked out, too. Just thinking about erections and
mating had his cock thickening in his loincloth.
Other than his right hand, he had no intention of
doing anything about it, though. He refused to
take his mate until he knew Roland could enjoy it
as well. He’d never been known for patience, but
in this, he refused to budge.

“Okay, tell me about the other shifters,”

Maelgwn ordered.

Easing back into the chair, Tobias placed his

arms on the rest and rubbed the fabric idly with
his claws. “The albino alligator has yet to change.
Vane and I assured him that we only wish to help

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him  and  he  seemed  to  understand.  He  allowed
Perseus to draw blood and he didn’t give the doc
any trouble when he and Leroy gave him as much
of  a  physical  as  they  could  while  he  was  in  his
animal  form.  He’s  currently  staying  close  to  the
pond southwest of the house.” The gargoyles that
monitored security were instructed to keep an eye
on the alligator, so they’d at least know if he made
a move to leave, shift, or even come inside.

“The boa shifted as soon as he woke yesterday,

sometime  during  the  day.  His  name  is  Caladon
O’Hara.  He’d  been  in  captivity  for  six  years  and
was  imported  from  an  island  in  the  South  Sea,”
Tobias  explained.  “I’ve  offered  Raymond  and
Vane’s services to assist him in locating his pack or
whatever he calls it. When he seemed uncertain, I
even  offered  Caladon  access  to  our  clutch
computers so he could search for himself. I’m not
sure if he’ll take it, though.” Frowning, he crossed
his  arms  over  his  chest  as  he  mused,  “I  get  the
impression  he’s  not  certain  if  he  wants  to  go
back.”

Maelgwn nodded. “Well, if I ended up missing

and no one came looking for me, I’m not sure I’d
bother returning, either.”

Tobias mentally agreed.
“Assign a gargoyle to Caladon, maybe Kort or

Holden. Either has a light schedule at the
moment,” Maelgwn suggested, referencing a pair
of unmated gargoyles who worked shifts in

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

cleaning the manor or cooking in the kitchens.
“Ask Gus if he’d be interested in spending some
time at the pond. Maybe picnics with Tible and his
son.”

Nodding, Tobias made a mental note to swing

by  the  mated  couple’s  suite.  As  a  rhino  shifter,
Gus  would  probably  enjoy  swimming  with  the
alligator,  and  Tobias  knew  that’s  why  his  leader
had suggested him. Gus’s mate, Tible, was a small
gray  gargoyle  and  together  they  had  a  fairly
newly hatched son, Vaclar.

“I’ll ask him,” Tobias assured. Leaning forward,

he  moved  to  rise,  when  Maelgwn  held  up  his
hand  to  stall  him.  Fighting  his  need  to  complete
his  duties  so  he  could  go  see  his  mate,  Tobias
cocked  his  head  and  lifted  a  brow  ridge  in  silent
question.

“I received a report from Greg earlier today,”

Maelgwn told him.

Tobias straightened in his seat. Greg had

remained in Idaho to monitor Bud Wallice and his
people.  Bud  owned  a  curiosity  show  in  Idaho.
That  was  where  they’d  found  Roland,  Caladon,
and  the  alligator.  Vane’s  mate,  Matthew,  had
arranged  to  purchase  Caladon  in  his  snake  form,
and  Tobias  and  a  few  others  had  used  the
distraction to slip into camp and rescue the other
two.

He’d snagged the alligator while the gargoyle

Geoffrey had gotten Roland.

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“And?”
“A police report has been filed for the missing

lynx  and  alligator  and  Wallice  has  given  them
Prentiss’  name,”  Maelgwn  stated.  “The  police
have  discovered  that  it  was  a  false  identity  and
they  tracked  down  the  box  company  we  used  to
move the snake.”

“Damn, at least we paid for everything with

cash,” Tobias mumbled.

“Well, now I have police from up there coming

here being escorted by Detective DeSoto to speak
with  Einan,  since  his  name  was  on  the  rental
contract,” Maelgwn told him. He ran a hand over
his  face  and  sighed.  “I  need  a  massive  aquarium
and  I  need  Caladon  in  it.  Then,  I  need  everyone
who can’t appear human to stay in their rooms.”

Tobias grimaced. “Damn, Caladon’s not going

to  like  that.”  No  shifter  wanted  to  voluntarily
climb into a cage, even if they were assured to be
getting  out  quickly  enough.  “Wait  a  minute,”  he
murmured,  an  idea  coming  to  him.  “What  if  we
use  the  arboretum  as  his  cage?  Then  we  don’t
have to build anything. Hell, he’ll probably love it
in there for sunning anyway.”

Maelgwn cocked his head. “Hmm, I do like that

idea.”

“I’ll set it up. I’ll have Cornelius make a beware

of boa sign or something,” Tobias added. Then, he
shoved to his feet. “And the other shifters?”

“If they can’t stay human, they need to stay

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

scarce,” Maelgwn warned.

Tobias nodded again. “I’ll spread the word.

When are we expecting them?”

“DeSoto tipped me off that their flight should

land first thing. They’ll be coming in the
morning.”

“And Prentiss? How do we explain him?” Gods

above, could my life get any more complicated? “Vane
sure as hell isn’t gonna allow his new mate to be
placed in the line of fire.”

Maelgwn nodded. “I know. Leave that to me.

I’ll think of something.”

Tobias actually felt relief. And that’s why he’s the

leader. He gets to fix the tough shit. “Then I’m gonna
go find Caladon and let him know what’s up, then
ask Cornelius to make that sign and give Einan a
heads up of what’s going on.”

After pecking a kiss to Bobby’s temple,

Maelgwn eased his lover off of his lap and gained
his feet. “I’ll speak with Vane and Matthew.”

Turning, Tobias headed toward the door. After

pulling the door open, he held it for the other two
men. He saw the tense set of Maelgwn’s
shoulders. Reaching out, Tobias touched his
chieftain’s upper arm to gain his attention.

The other gargoyle turned to him, his

expression questioning.

Tobias grinned. “We’ve been through worse

than this.”

Maelgwn cocked his head before he chuckled

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and nodded. “You remember the days we had to
rely on humans to shield us? Now, with so many
of us having mates by our sides, we don’t have to
rely on outsiders.”

“Yep,” Tobias agreed. “Life’s getting better and

better all the time.”

“That it is.”
Heading off toward the south wing, Tobias’

growling  stomach  made  him  regret  not  stopping
for at least a quick burrito from the breakfast bar.
As  he  moved  swiftly  through  the  place,  the  fact
that  he  moved  toward  his  mate  pushed  through
his mind.

Tobias paused at Roland’s door. He placed his

palm on the wooden panel, knowing all he had to
do  was  step  inside  and  he  could  see  him,  touch
him.  Bowing  his  head,  he  wrapped  his  wings
tightly  around  him  and  pulled  his  hand  away.
Tobias turned and strode to the next door.

Duty called.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Chapter Five

oland lifted his head from the pillow created
by his forearms and listened. For just an

instant,  he’d  thought  he’d  heard  a  scrape  at  the
door. He cocked his head when the scent of Tobias
wafted  oh-so-faintly  across  his  senses.  To  his
surprise,  he  actually  felt  his  cock  twitch  at  the
scent…or  maybe  it  was  the  memory of  the sweet
way  Tobias  had  washed  him  in  the  shower,
touching every part of him.

When no knock sounded, Roland lowered his

head back to his arms. Upon returning to his suite
with  Vane  that  morning—after  his  friend  had
escorted  him  to the  dining  hall  and  made  certain
he  ate  until  he  was  stuffed—Roland  had  spotted
the fireplace in the front room. The rug in front of
the hearth had called to him. Vane had helped him
build  a  fire.  Then,  after  he’d  left,  Roland  had
curled  up  in  front  of  it  and  hadn’t  bothered  to
move except to use the bathroom.

He figured it’d have been more comfortable to

lie there in cat form, but after living as a lynx for

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decades, he couldn’t convince himself to shift back
just yet.

Once again, the scent Roland recognized as

Tobias tickled his senses. Confused, Roland rose to
his  feet  and  crossed  to  the  door.  Roland  pressed
his  ear  to  the  door  and  his  heightened  shifter
hearing  easily  picked  up  the  sound  of  footsteps
and the mumble of low voices.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Roland

stepped back, gripped the handle, and pulled the
door open. He peered into the hall, then stuck his
head through the opening and glanced around.

Roland spotted the retreating forms of two

males, one very tall and extremely slender and the
second one, who stood a couple of inches shorter
but was far broader, was a dark red gargoyle.

“Tobias?” He couldn’t have said the gargoyle’s

name in more than a whisper as he unconsciously
took a step forward.

Still, the gargoyle turned, confirming his

suspicion.  Tobias  held  up  a  hand,  obviously
asking  for  the  other  man  to  wait.  Tobias  strode
toward  him,  and  for  an  instant,  Roland  worried
the gargoyle was upset that he’d interrupted.

Then, Tobias smiled, showing off a few of his

sharp teeth. “Roland.”

The way Tobias said his name caused an odd

warmth to fill Roland’s chest. He’d never felt
anything like it and wasn’t certain what to make
of it. “Hey, I, um—” Roland wasn’t certain what to

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

say. He wasn’t even entirely certain why he’d
wanted to know if Tobias was near.

Tobias rested a hand on his shoulder. He

squeezed lightly, then used his thumb to massage
Roland’s collarbone. “I have a couple of duties to
attend to, then I’d planned to seek you out,”
Tobias told him. “Will you join me for a meal in a
while?”

“Um, what time is it?” Roland asked

tentatively,  uncertain  how  long  ago  he’d  eaten
with  Vane.  Glancing  toward  the  other  male,  he
wondered what they were doing together. Tobias
said that he and him were mates, so shouldn’t he
have  sought  him  out  first  upon  waking  from  his
sleep? Roost, that’s what Vane had called it.

“It’s about ten thirty,” Tobias told him.
“You’ve been up for a while,” Roland

mumbled.

Tobias nodded. “I had to see Maelgwn and give

him my report,” he told him. “I ran out of time
yesterday.” He winked. “Too long with the doc,
I’m afraid.”

Roland jerked back a bit, feeling a lot like he’d

been  smacked.  Too  long  with  the  doc?  That
actually meant Tobias felt he’d spent too long with
him, didn’t it? Is that why he hadn’t come for him?
He thought his duties were more important? Was
it because he hadn’t acknowledged the mate  pull
between  them?  Irritation  filled  Roland.  It  wasn’t
his fault he’d been captured, held, castrated. None

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of it was his fault. Hell, if it was anyone’s fault, it
was his parents and his pride for not helping him.

“No,” Roland replied softly. “I have an

appointment with Doctor Perseus in a little bit.”

Tobias nodded. “I see. Should I meet you

there?”

Roland shrugged, wishing he’d never given in

to curiosity and stepped through the door. He
didn’t want to know that Tobias thought his
duties were more important than he was.

I’m too damaged. What if I were to get well? Would

he be more interested then?

“No, thanks,” Roland whispered. He needed to

be fixed first. Then, maybe Tobias would want to
spend more time with him. “I’d like to see Doctor
Perseus alone.”

“Oh.” Tobias pulled his hand from Roland’s

shoulder. “I see.” He cocked his head. “Then, I’ll
catch up with you later.”

“Okay,” Roland whispered, stepping backward

into the doorway of his room. “Good luck with
your duties.”

Without waiting for a response, Roland took

another  step  backward  and  shut  the  door.  He
didn’t  understand  the  odd  ache  in  his  chest.  He
knew  he  didn’t  feel  the  mate-pull  toward  the
gargoyle,  but  the  male  had  been  so  nice,  so
attentive. Too bad it didn’t last very long.

Well, it wasn’t as if he understood the mate-pull

anyway. Maybe he should just move on. Finding

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

his parents would be a good start. Vane had said
he’d help him. His old friend said he’d become
quite the computer expert, which was how he’d
found Roland.

Roland’s pride had a computer in their main

lodge,  but  no  one  in  his  pride  had  been  wealthy
enough  to  have  one  of  their  own.  While  in  his
cage, he’d seen people poking at their phones and
understood  the  concept  that  they  were  tiny
computers.  Technology  had  come  a  long  way
since he’d been locked up.

Did he really want to face his pride members

like this though? Perhaps he’d just feel better
knowing he had a choice.

Decision made, Roland reopened his door and

peeked out, hoping Tobias had gone. The gargoyle
confused him, attentive one minute then too busy
the next. Pushing thoughts of Tobias away,
Roland made his way slowly down the hallway.
Vane had given him directions, so he knew how to
get to his friend’s room.

Before long, Roland stopped before a door,

hoping it was the right one. He knocked. After a
moment, it was opened and Roland found himself
staring at a tall male that appeared Native
American.

“Oh,” Roland murmured, taking a step

backward. “I’m sorry. I must have the wrong
room.”

“Roland, hey,” the man greeted. “You have the

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right room. Come in.”

The Native American swung the door wider,

and that’s when the scent of the male caught
Roland’s attention. His jaw sagged open in shock.
“Vane?”

The male glanced down at himself, then peered

at Roland and grimaced. “Yeah, sorry. I forgot you
haven’t seen me like this, yet. Come on in.” He
swung the door wider and beckoned him forward
with one bronzed hand.

Roland moved forward, his gaze sweeping over

Vane from head to toe. While the man wore a
loincloth as a gargoyle would, Vane’s human form
looked a lot like a Native American who decided
to take up body building. His long black hair hung
to his shoulder blades and he had plenty of muscle
on display.

“Hey, Roland,” Matthew greeted from further

in the room. The human rose from where he’d
been seated on the sofa. “How are you doing
today?”

“Uh…okay,” Roland decided on.
The sound of the door closing caught his

attention, and he glanced over his shoulder just in
time  to  see  Vane  exchange  a  look  with  his  mate.
Vane  returned  his  gaze  to Roland  and,  wrapping
his  arm  around  Roland’s  shoulders,  urged  him
toward the couch.

“Have a seat, buddy,” Vane urged. “What’s

going on in that brain of yours?”

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Roland found himself urged onto the sofa. “I

was just considering asking you to help me find
my family. I might not contact them, but I’d like to
at least have the option.”

Matthew patted his shoulder. “I’ll get coffee

and the laptop.”

“I don’t drink coffee,” Roland mumbled. He’d

tried some that morning and found it awful.

“Oh, okay. Sorry. That didn’t even occur to

me,” Matthew commented. “I think we have some
orange juice.”

Roland appreciated the offer and his mouth

actually salivated with the idea of tasting the
tangy beverage. It’d been…yeah, years. “I’d love
some!”

Vane plopped on the sofa beside him, grinning.

“Damn, buddy. Orange juice has you excited, but
you  ran  from  the  prospect  of  a  mate  yesterday.”
Vane rubbed his hands over his face, then reached
out  and  grabbed  Roland’s  hand.  Gently,  he
massaged  his  fingers  and  tendons  in  both  of  his,
then asked, “Talk to me. I know you just got here
and everything is probably a jumble in your head.
You need time to adjust. What can we do to make
this transition easier?”

Swallowing hard, Roland glanced from Vane’s

concerned  expression  to  where  his  human  hands
clasped  Roland’s  own.  “I’m  really  not  sure,”  he
admitted. “My parents said they  were mates, but
they  were  a  pretty  volatile  couple.  I  mean,  they

Charlie Richards

didn’t  even  curb  the  fighting  when  my  siblings
and  I  were  in  the  room.  Maybe  that’s  why  they
didn’t  bother  looking  for  me.  Because  they  had
other cubs.” That idea hurt, but it made sense. His
parents had always seemed more concerned with
copulating  and  producing  cubs,  not  actually
taking care of them.

“I’m sorry, Roland,” Vane said. “That’s not how

all  matings  are.  Hell,  you’ll  see  a  bunch  of  great
examples  of  good  relationships  here  if  you  take
the  time  to  get  to  know  the  guys.”  He  shrugged.
“Fate  knows  what  She’s  doing  even  if  we  don’t
most of the time.”

Roland frowned. “Fate? What are you talking

about?”

Vane lifted a brow. “Fate. The one who chooses

fated mates. Your perfect match.”

“Perfect match? What do you mean?”
Scowling, Vane asked, “Has no one explained

Fated mates?”

Roland shrugged and shook his head. “My

pride didn’t have a lot of members, so most people
found someone they thought they could make
good, strong cubs with and mated. Sometimes,
love wasn’t even involved.”

“Ah, I’m sorry,” Vane rumbled. “Finding your

fated  mate  is  like…finding  the  other  half  of  your
soul when you didn’t even realize it was missing.”
He  smiled  toward  the  doorway  where  Matthew
had  disappeared.  “Your  body  craves  being  with

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

your mate, even when you don’t understand why.
You  want  to  touch  that  person,  make  certain
they’re  safe,  cared  for,  happy.”  He  returned  his
gaze  to  Roland,  a  light  shining  in  his  reddish-
brown eyes. “You still have to work hard to create
a  relationship,  but  the  rewards  are  more  than
worth the effort.”

“Oh,” Roland murmured. If mates craved being

with  each  other,  why  had  Tobias  been  with  that
other guy? Still full of doubt, he murmured, “Even
though  Tobias  assured  me  we’re  mates,  I  don’t
seem  to  scent  him  as  mine.  Perseus  said  it’s
because  of…”  He  let  the  sentence  trail  off  as  he
waved at his groin. He didn’t want  to admit that
he wanted to be around the man, if just to feel his
arms around him because it made him feel safe.

“I thought Tobias understood that,” Vane

stated.

“Sure, in theory,” Roland grumbled. He pulled

his  hand  out  of  his  friend’s  grip  and  crossed  his
arms over his chest. “Yesterday he was all sticking
close and attentive, but today he hasn’t even come
to see me. I saw him in the hall and he was with
someone  else.  He  told  me  he  had  some  things  to
do  first  but  wanted  to  catch  up  with  me  later.
What the hell is more important than a recovering
mate?”  He  realized  he  sounded  like  a  petulant
child.  Geez,  did  not  finishing  puberty  mean  he’d
end  up  acting  like  a  teenager  his  whole  life?  He
really didn’t want that.

Charlie Richards

Vane cocked his head and narrowed his eyes.

“Look I almost fucked up my own mating by not
communicating, so my advice is to talk to him,” he
told  him.  “You’ve  been  through  a  lot,”  he
reiterated.  “Consider  this.  Tobias  is  our  second.
He  has  powerful  instincts  and  aggression  held
carefully in check by Maelgwn. We stole you and
the  alligator  from  Bud’s  property.”  He  shrugged.
“If  it’d  been  up  to  me  and  Tobias,  we  probably
would have killed Bud and his people.” He smiled
wryly.  “Maelgwn  is  a  good  leader.  He  keeps  us
from doing things we shouldn’t. Things that could
brand  us  rogue  or  draw  unnecessary  attention  to
our kind,” he admitted.

“So,” Roland whispered. “You’re saying he’s

violent and I should be wary of him?”

Why the hell would his friend tell him this?

Was it because he worried about his safety? He
saw the way Vane’s jaw clenched, and Roland
tried to figure out his friend’s intent.

Matthew rejoined them, chuckling and shaking

his head. “No, that’s not what Vane means, at all.”
Vane popped up and grabbed the tray of drinks.
Matthew murmured his thanks, then placed the
laptop on the coffee table.

“Then, what?” Roland demanded, tired of

riddles and not understanding what was going on
around him. Maybe he should just go back to bed
for a couple of days until everything made sense.

“Vane’s still a bit rusty at this whole

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

communication  thing,”  Matthew  said,  handing
Roland  the  tall  glass  of  orange  juice.  He  then
placed his empty hand on Vane’s upper arm and
rubbed,  probably  intending  to  soften  the  words.
After  Vane  gave  his  mate  a  cock-eyed  smile  and
shrugged  one  shoulder,  Matthew  returned  his
focus to Roland. “Vane means, Tobias’ very strong
instincts  lead  him  to  care  for  those  under  his
protection,  his  family,  with  almost  single-minded
determination  and  focus.”  He  smiled  at  Roland,
his hazel eyes twinkling. “Tobias believes you are
his mate, therefore, even more important than his
family, his clutch.”

“And him doing his duties before seeing me

is?” he quietly  pressed. He couldn’t seem to help
it.  That  Tobias  claimed  to  be  his  mate,  then  did
other  things  hurt…probably  more  than  it  should.
Was that the mate-pull?

Roland didn’t know.
“Taking care of you,” Vane said, picking up his

coffee. “Tobias does his duty first to assure your
safety, Roland.” He took a sip of his coffee, then
sighed.

Frowning, Roland cocked his head. “Huh?”
Matthew and Vane exchanged a glance. Then,

Vane  growled  low  in  his  throat  and  wrapped  a
possessive arm around his mate. “It’s why  I’m in
human  form,  at  the  moment,”  Vane  told  him.
“Cops  from  Idaho  are  flying  in  and  Detective
DeSoto  is  escorting  them  here.  Now,  they  don’t

Charlie Richards

have any real jurisdiction, but I guess DeSoto’s
chief has a good history of inter-precinct
cooperation.”

“Oh, God,” Roland whispered. When

something cold splashed on his hand, he glanced
down  and  realized  his  hands  trembled.  He
wrapped  his  second  hand  around  the  glass,  too,
trying to steady it. His heart pounded in his chest
and  he  struggled  to  swallow  around  the  lump  in
his throat. Bringing the glass to his lips, he gulped
several swallows, quickly draining it. Once he felt
like  he  wasn’t  about  to  shake  out  of  his  skin,  he
whispered, “What do I do? Should I hide?”

Vane shook his head. “You need to stay in

human form, Roland. I’d offer to have you stay
here, but because me and Matthew were directly
involved in buying the boa from Bud, we have to
meet with the detectives,” he explained.

“Oh.”
“They shouldn’t be here long,” Matthew

assured. “If you’d like, we can have someone stay
with you? Maybe Sapian and his mate, Missy.
They’re super nice.”

Suddenly, that three day nap sounded better

and better. He shook his head. “N-no, thanks.” He
sure  as  hell  didn’t  want  to  have  some  people  he
didn’t  know  come  sit with  him  as  if  he  needed  a
babysitter.  “Thanks  for  the  orange  juice,”  he
murmured, rising to his feet. “I gotta go.”

Matthew took the empty glass from his hand

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

while Vane settled a hand on his shoulder. “You
okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” he lied. From Vane’s scowl,

Roland figured the gargoyle knew it, too. Still, he
forced a smile and said, “I gotta go see Doctor
Perseus. He was gonna run some more tests.”

That at least was true.
Vane nodded. “Feel free to call me if you need

anything at all.”

Roland nodded and strode toward the door.

“Thanks again,” he mumbled, forcing a smile,
glancing between the pair, seeing identical looks
of concern on their faces. With a wave, he headed
toward the doctor’s suite.

If Tobias was putting his duties first to keep

him safe, he obviously thought he needed
protecting. Maybe, if Roland proved he wasn’t so
damaged, he’d get more attention instead.

What can I do to speed up my healing?

Charlie Richards

Chapter Six

obias stalked through the manor, using his
long stride to eat up the distance between

himself  and  his  mate.  He’d  been  trying  to  track
down his young shifter since meeting with Einan
and  Cornelius.  That  was  over  an  hour  ago.  It
didn’t  make  him  any  happier  that  setting  up  the
arboretum  to  look  legitimate  to  hold  a  boa  had
taken a bit longer than he’d planned—he’d had to
find someone to repair three broken glass panes.

First, Tobias had checked his mate’s room, but

he  hadn’t  been  there.  When  he  came  out,  he’d
spotted  Kort  passing  the  hallway.  As  much  as  it
galled  him  to  ask  the  gargoyle,  Tobias  had
appreciated  the  male  being  able  to  tell  him  that
he’d seen him go into Vane’s room. Unfortunately,
when  he  swung  by,  the  big  gargoyle  had  given
him  a  funny  look,  then  told  him  Roland  had  left
some time before to see Perseus.

When he’d reached the hospital wing, Roland

had already been gone from there, too. With over
half the evening gone, he wanted to spend the rest

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

of his available time getting to know his mate. He
couldn’t do that, however, if he couldn’t find the
little male, and he was getting frustrated. If
Roland wasn’t in his room, he didn’t know where
else to look.

Once again at the suite currently assigned to

Roland—this  would  be  so  much  easier  if  he’d
followed his instincts and immediately moved his
mate  to  his  own  suites—Tobias  knocked  lightly.
He’d wanted to give his mate time to accept him,
but having to track him down was intolerable. He
yearned  to  wake  from  roost  and  see  his  mate
inside waiting for him. Hell, he should be holding
the  man  in  his  arms  every  night.  Well,  whenever
they slept anyway.

“Who is it?”
Roland’s soft call through the door yanked

Tobias back to the matter at hand...wooing his
mate. “It’s Tobias,” he replied.

For several seconds, nothing happened. Finally,

Roland replied, “I know.”

Frowning, Tobias rested one clawed hand on

the door. He struggled to find an acceptable way
to  respond.  As  a  dominant  gargoyle,  he  could
demand  to  be  let  in  and  the  far  more  submissive
lynx would probably do  it, but he didn’t want  to
force  his  mate  to  allow  him  entrance.  He  wanted
his mate to welcome him.

He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.

Shaking his head hard for a second, he wondered

Charlie Richards

what  he’d  done  to  be  barred  entrance.  Then,  it
occurred  to  him,  maybe  he  needed  to  ask.
“Roland,”  he  murmured.  “Little  one,  will  you  let
me in?”

“Y-yeah.”
Even with Roland’s stuttered confirmation, it

still took him a few seconds to open the door. As
soon as the shifter cracked the door open, the
heavy, earthy scent of Roland’s arousal hit Tobias
like a sucker punch in the gut.

Shock hit Tobias’ system first, followed quickly

by  lust,  sharp  and  poignant.  His  blood  flowed
south  too  quickly,  leaving  him  lightheaded  for
several  heartbeats.  Growling  low  in  his  throat,
Tobias  stalked  through  the  partly  opened
doorway. When he kicked the door closed with his
foot, he noted a rolled up towel on the floor. His
brows drew together, then he slowly slid it against
the  door,  pressing  it  to  fill  the  crack  between  the
bottom of the door and the floor.

That explains why I didn’t smell him at all.
That didn’t explain just what the hell was going

on  with  Roland.  When  he’d  taken  his  mate  to
Perseus  yesterday,  the  doctor  had  claimed  it
would take days, maybe even weeks before they’d
figure out the level needed to see results. From the
scent  permeating  the  room,  Perseus  had  been
mistaken.

Tobias slowly swept his gaze over the darkened

room, his gaze finally landing on Roland. His

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

mate rested on the sofa, his back pressed into the
corner created by the back and arm, his knees up
and his feet on the cushion before him. Roland
had his arms wrapped around his knees and
rocked a bit in place.

Concern warred with the ardor coursing

through Tobias’ veins, allowing him to ignore his
rock-hard erection. While he knew he tented his
loincloth obscenely, he still kept his movements
slow as he paced toward his mate.

Roland watched him warily. Sweat beaded on

the  shifter’s  brow  and  temple.  The  closer  Tobias
came  to  the  shifter,  the  thicker  the  scent  of  his
arousal  hung  in  the  air,  almost  cloying  in  its
intensity. Roland flicked out his tongue, licking his
bottom lip. His gaze fixed on Tobias, and he began
to pant softly.

Clamping down on his lust, Tobias slowly

kneeled  before  the  obviously  distraught  male.
“Talk  to  me,  Roland,”  he  urged,  trying  to  sound
soothing.  Reaching  out,  he  rested  his  left  hand
gently  on  his  mate’s  calf  while  placing  his  other
hand  on  his  shoulder,  feeling  hot,  clammy  skin.
“What’s going on?”

“I don’t want you to be mad,” Roland

mumbled, his gaze sliding away. His twined
fingers tightened, his knuckles turning white, and
he rocked a bit more.

Tobias scraped his thumb nail over the tendon

that ran from just under his jaw to his collarbone.

Charlie Richards

“I can’t promise to not get upset,” he murmured,
choosing his words carefully. “But I can’t help if
you won’t trust me…and that’s all I want to do.”

“I used extra.” Roland whispered the

admission, peering at him through his lashes.

Tobias almost blurted out, extra what, but then

it hit him. “More gel?”

Roland nodded, his eyes widening, dominating

his face, even in the low lighting. “A lot.”

Perseus had prescribed the human dose

equivalent for the first few days to see what affect
it  had  on  Roland.  He  didn’t  want  to  injure  the
shifter  if  the  human  testosterone  replacement
topical gel didn’t agree with his system. Evidently,
his  mate  hadn’t  been  quite  as  patient  as  he’d
seemed yesterday in the visit.

Damn. “I’m not angry,” he assured.
“I thought, if I wasn’t…wasn’t so damaged.”

His voice hitched at his own words. Before Tobias
could  come  up  with  a  way  to  convince  his  mate
that  he  didn’t  consider  him  damaged,  Roland
continued. “If I were well, I wouldn’t need for you
to  make  sure  I’m  safe.  Then,  you  could  spend
more time with me.”

Tobias struggled to understand where this

admission was coming from. “I’ll always want to
make certain you’re safe,” he admitted. “It’s wired
in my blood. That will never change.”

Roland’s brows pinched together and he

scowled at his kneecaps. “Y-you’ll always—” he

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

paused  and  shook  his  head.  His  hands  tightened
and  loosened,  making  white  lines  appear  and
disappear  on  his  knuckles.  “But  I  want—”  His
words  hitching,  Roland  moaned  a  bit,  his  body
tensing under Tobias’ fingers.

Whatever he’d been trying to say, Tobias

vowed to figure it out later. Right now, something
was very wrong. “I just want to know how to
help,” Tobias assured. “Let me help you.”

Looking at him, Roland’s anguished gaze met

his. “I hurt.”

“Where, little one?” Tobias instantly responded.

Instinct drove him to find out how to soothe his
mate. “What can I do?”

Slowly, Roland stretched out his legs, the near

one  hanging  off  the  edge  of  the  sofa  toward  him
and  the  far  one  against  the  back  sofa  cushion.  “I
tried to jack off, but that  just  hurt more,” Roland
whispered.

Tobias stared at the slender, maybe seven and a

half  inch  prick,  jutting  up  from  a  bed  of  springy
black  curls.  Already  the  slit  oozed  pre-cum  from
the center of an angry-looking red cap and it took
every  bit  of  Tobias’  considerable  self-control  to
keep  from  leaning  forward  and  licking  up  the
tasty-looking bead.

Holy fuck!
Forcing his gaze higher, to peer into his soon-

to-be lover’s eyes, Tobias saw the confusion
and…hope, glittering in Roland’s amber depths.

Charlie Richards

“Let me know how this feels,” Tobias murmured
as he skimmed his left hand up his mate’s calf and
along his inner thigh.

Tobias rested his fingertips in the crease of

Roland’s  groin,  gently  petting  the  sensitive  skin.
He  stretched  the  tips  of  his  claws  outward  a  bit,
threading  through  his  pubes  and  along  his  skin.
To  his  pleasure,  Roland  gasped  and  his  erection
jerked.

“Oh!”
“Hmm,” Tobias hummed at that response.

Very nice.
Sliding his other hand up to cup his mate’s

nape and jaw, Tobias leaned forward. Desire to
taste his mate’s lips surged through his veins. He
wanted to swallow the sounds of his lover’s desire
down, feel them tremble his lips, tickle his throat.
Tobias closed the final distance and enjoyed the
first taste of his mate.

He opened his mouth just a bit and wrapped

his lips around his mate’s plump bottom lip,
sucking lightly on it. Swiping his tongue along the
seam of Roland’s mouth, he nipped gently on the
lip he kissed. Roland gasped softly, the move
opening his mouth just a bit.

It was enough.
Tobias pressed his tongue into that space,

forcing  Roland  to  open  wider.  The  earthy,
masculine  goodness  of  his  mate  exploded  across
his  taste  buds.  Tobias  wanted  more,  so  much

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

more, but he also didn’t want to scare his
inexperienced lover.

Licking his way around Roland’s mouth, Tobias

explored him. He mapped his mouth, flicked
Roland’s teeth, slid along his tongue, and
massaged his palate.

Tobias felt Roland’s near hand grab his upper

arm  and  press  closer, trying  to  get  more,  and  his
heart  thudded  at  how  his  mate  melted  into  his
touch.  Planting  his  left  foot  next  to  the  couch,  he
used  the  hand  on  Roland’s  inner  thigh  to
encourage  him  to  move  his  left  leg  over  Tobias’
raised  knee.  The  move  spread  his  mate  wider,
giving Tobias more room to play.

Scraping his claws gently across the sensitive

skin  beneath  Roland’s  springy  black  pubes  once
more,  he  worked  his  fingers  ever  closer  to  his
mate’s dripping cock. Tobias reached the base and
gently  massaged  the  taut  skin  where  shaft  met
groin, running his first two fingers back and forth,
then up the underside’s first inch.

Roland squeaked and yanked his mouth away,

peering down at where Tobias touched him.

Tobias followed his mate’s gaze. He saw the

rosy hue coloring his mate’s neck and chest as his
shifter  gasped  for  breath.  He  watched  Roland’s
abs  clench  and  quiver  as  his  dick  jerked  and
tapped  against  them.  Several  strings  of  pre-cum
stretched  from  his  cock  head—nearly  translucent
strands like spider’s silk—to his abs.

Charlie Richards

“Hurts,” Roland whimpered. “Make it stop.”
“Okay, little one. I’ve got you,” Tobias assured.
Grabbing the base of his mate’s dick, Tobias

lifted the shaft away from Roland’s abs, making it
point  straight  up.  He  lowered  his  head  and
swallowed his mate’s erection to the root. Mindful
of  his  teeth,  he  sucked  up,  then  went  right  back
down.  He  swiped  his  tongue  over  the  engorged
head, tasting slightly salty and sweet pre-cum.

Delicious.
Tobias released the base of his mate’s dick, no

longer needing to stabilize the shaft in his mouth.
Moving his hand down, he gently fondled the soft
skin of his sack. Roland gasped, telling Tobias that
even though he no longer had testicles, fondling
his sack still gave his lover pleasure.

So much so that, without warning, Roland

screamed and shot.

The first forceful blast hit the back of Tobias’

throat, but he managed to pull up enough to taste
the  second  shot  and  the  third.  He  swallowed  his
mate’s  slightly  bitter  cum  quickly,  still  sucking
lightly,  doing  his  best  to  prolong  his  lover’s
pleasure.

While the shaft in his mouth stopped shooting,

it didn’t soften. He listened to his mate’s panting
breaths  for  several  heartbeats  before  lifting  his
head.  He  moved  his  hand  back  to  Roland’s
erection,  again  playing  with  the  now  spit-slicked
base.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Tobias watched as Roland slowly came down

from his endorphin high. Smiling, he asked, “You
feeling a bit better, my mate?”

Roland slowly opened his eyes. He blinked a

couple of times, obviously struggling to refocus.
“Wow,” he whispered. “Jacking off when I was a
kid never felt like that.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth,

Roland flushed. Tobias knew that, this time, it was
caused  by  embarrassment.  He  figured  Roland
probably  hadn’t  meant  to  say  that  out  loud,  but
people  let  the  damnedest  things  slip  when  they
were floating in post-orgasmic bliss.

Wanting to relax his lover, Tobias smiled. “I’m

glad you enjoyed it.”

Suddenly, Roland shifted his hips almost

restlessly. He frowned at his cock, then at Tobias,
then he closed his eyes and shivered. Goose
bumps broke out on his arms.

“What is it, Ro?” Tobias could guess, seeing as

his mate’s dick hadn’t softened one bit. “Is your
body easing? Or do you need more?”

When Roland snapped his eyes open and

peered at him, Tobias gasped. Roland’s deep
green eyes had turned feral and he growled low in
his throat.

Tobias knew he stared at his mate’s lynx.

Roland held his body tense where he lay sprawled
on the sofa, his leg draped across Tobias’
knee…all except his still bobbing and once more

Charlie Richards

weeping  cock.  Acting  on  his  instincts  to  care  for
and  soothe  his  mate,  Tobias  trilled  softly,  the
sound vibrating his throat and chest. Holding his
lover’s  gaze  he  leaned  forward,  until  their
proximity  forced  him  to  look  at  his  destination,
Roland’s temple and ear.

Nuzzling the side of Roland’s face, Tobias

continued to trill. He pressed his chest to Roland’s
hoping the contact would calm the young shifter.
Slowly, the tension eased from the lean body.

“That’s the way,” Tobias crooned. “I’d never

hurt you. You’re mine and I’m yours. We’ll get
through this together.”

“Together.”
Roland’s whispered word didn’t sound like a

question, but Tobias affirmed it anyway. Anything
to help his lover settle. “Yes. Together.” He knew
he must still be hurting—hell, Tobias’ dick didn’t
feel any better. He didn’t want to push but he
desperately needed relief and nothing sounded
better than sliding his aching cock into his naked
mate.

“Mine.”
“Mmm-hmm, yours,” Tobias assured.
“Mine,” Roland repeated, much more gruffly.
Roland’s head moved against Tobias’, moving

forward and down. Canines pierced his shoulder.
Pain speared  Tobias and he opened his mouth to
cry  out  in  surprise.  Then,  bliss  unlike  anything
he’d  felt  before  slammed  through  his  body.  The

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

sensation  traveled  straight  to  his  balls.  They
pulled  flush  to  his  body  and  cum  spurted  up  his
dick,  coating  the  inside  of  his  loincloth  as  his
orgasm swamped his senses.

Struggling to regain some semblance of thought

remained difficult for Tobias, since Roland
continued to suckle on his neck. The strong
sucking sensation transferred straight to his cock,
keeping him hard and ready.

“Holy fuck,” Tobias muttered, yanking lube

from the pouch attached to his loincloth. “You
started our mating.”

Pulling the stays of his loincloth, Tobias barely

managed  to  keep  from  returning  the  bite  as  he
freed  his  throbbing  shaft.  Instead,  with  Roland
still  clamped  onto  his  neck,  he  eased  his  shifter
sideways, off the sofa, and into his arms. He rose
and  settled  them  both  on  the  couch,  Roland
straddling his lap this time.

Tobias hissed upon the feel of Roland’s hard

shaft  pressed  against  his  own.  Roland  moaned
around  his  mouthful  of  flesh  and  began  rocking
his  hips.  Grunting,  Tobias  quickly  squirted  slick
onto his fingers and tossed the tube aside.

Sliding the fingers of his slicked hand down

Roland’s  cleft,  Tobias  urged  his  hips  to  still  with
his  other  hand.  Upon  hearing  Roland’s  whine  of
frustration,  he  urged,  “Hold  on  just  a  sec,  Ro.  I
gotta  stretch  you  and  I  don’t  want  to  hurt  you
with my claws.”

Charlie Richards

Injuring or hurting his mate in any way was not

an  option  for  Tobias.  He  wanted  his  mate  open
and  begging  for  his  dick.  Roland  had  started  the
process, flooding Tobias with a need to dominate
his  mate,  show  him  who  the  alpha  of  the  pair
would be. At the same time, he knew he couldn’t
just  ram  his  cock  in  and  claim  his  lover.  Roland
needed gentle this first time.

Tobias’ warring instincts caused his hands to

tremble as he struggled to control himself.
Fortunately, Roland obeyed, shivering under his
touch.

Sliding his claws down his mate’s crack, Tobias

reveled  in  the  soft  skin  under  his  fingers.  He
found  Roland’s  opening  and  paused,  massaging
the  entrance.  Working  the  muscle,  he  relaxed  the
opening, readying it for his invasion.

When Roland whimpered and rocked his ass

toward his questing fingers, Tobias could wait no
longer. He slid his first finger inside the hot body
draped over his chest. Instantly, Roland’s body
clenched upon his invading finger.

Tobias moaned upon feeling the hot vise

around his digit. His cock flexed where it pressed
against Roland’s own.

Need slammed through Tobias, need to get his

dick into his lover as fast as possible.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

Chapter Seven

eeling the thick finger moving in and out of
his ass finally yanked Roland from the

pleasant  haze  he  floated  in.  He  gasped  and
snapped  his  head  up.  Tobias  grunted  and  stilled
his  finger,  meeting  his  stare.  Roland  flicked  his
gaze  from  Tobias’  surprised  expression  to  the
wound  he’d  just  pulled  his  teeth  from…none-to-
gently,  judging  by  the  ragged  edges  to  the  bite
mark.  Seeing  the  blood  ooze,  Roland  licked  his
lips and swallowed.

Unable to help himself, Roland tipped his head

back  forward  and  swiped  his  tongue  over  the
mating  mark.  He  whimpered,  the  taste  of  the
blood  on  his  tongue  causing  his  cock  to  jerk,
surprising him with the intensity of his lust.

When Tobias had touched his empty sacks, the

shock  of  him  actually  touching  him  there  had
combined  with  the  pleasure  it’d  caused.  He’d
come  in  seconds,  enjoying  the  most  intense
orgasm in his memory.

Roland couldn’t remember the last time his cat

Charlie Richards

had wanted something so badly and his control
had slipped. Laving his tongue over the claiming
mark, he felt the desire to sink his canines in once
more and again, enjoy Tobias’ exquisite-tasting
blood.

Tobias started moving the finger in his ass

again. Roland thought it a curious sensation. Not
painful, really, just…odd. However, glancing
down at the thick shaft rubbing against his own,
he had no idea how something that large would fit
inside of him.

Evidently, something must have clued Tobias

onto Roland’s thoughts, for he softly stated,
“Don’t worry, Roland. I will make certain you’re
good and ready. Then, I’ll show you how to take
me.”

“You, um, you swing both ways?” Roland

gasped. This guy was the clutch second. Surely he
didn’t bottom. He flushed at the idea that created
in his mind.

Tobias chuckled as he slid a second finger into

Roland’s channel alongside the first. “Not
normally, but the easiest and quickest way for a
gargoyle to complete his bond with a male mate, is
to be fucked by him,” he stated bluntly.

Roland gasped, but not from hearing Tobias’

blunt  explanation.  The  added  stretch  from  the
second  finger  was  more  than  a  little
uncomfortable,  sending  a  burning  sensation
through his butt. Tensing, Roland’s body clamped

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

down on the invading digits.

Sliding his fingers out a bit, then back in, Tobias

urged, “Easy, Roland. Just relax. I got you.”

Suddenly, Tobias touched something inside

Roland’s channel that sent the most wonderful
sparks shooting up his stalk. Goose bumps broke
out over his groin. “Oh, more,” he cried.

“You got it, little one,” Tobias growled, his lips

curving into a self-satisfied smile as his eyes
darkened to a stormy gray.

Tobias started working that spot inside each

time he thrust his fingers into him.

Roland grabbed onto Tobias’ shoulders and

hung on, panting hard. After several more hits to
that spot, he couldn’t stay still any longer. He
rocked backward wanting those fingers deeper,
needing something more.

“More,” Roland insisted.
He wasn’t certain what he needed, but his body

burned. His cock leaked, and the skin of his groin
tingled.

“I’ll give you what you need, my mate,” Tobias

growled. “Just one more finger. Don’t want to hurt
you.”

While Roland appreciated the gargoyle’s

concern,  he’d  never  felt  fire  like  this  surging
through  his  body  before.  The  tingles  that  had
started in his groin had traveled up his chest. His
nipples  were  hard  nubs  and  actually  hurt.
Uncertain if that was normal, he lifted his hand to

Charlie Richards

his own chest and touched one nipple,
whimpering at the odd sting that seemed to shoot
down his chest.

“Ah, sensitive nipples,” Tobias murmured

gruffly. “Good to know.” He skimmed the hand
that had been resting on Roland’s hip up his body,
skimming along his ribcage, sending prickles of
sensation across his skin.

Roland couldn’t stop rocking his hips, moving

between the fingers filling his ass and the pressure
of the gargoyle’s dick against his own. Groaning,
he blurted, “Is that normal?”

Tobias hummed. “Some are more responsive

than others,” he murmured. Offering a smile that
promised pleasure, he stated, “I appreciate a
responsive lover.”

Some emotion Roland didn’t recognize

slammed through him and he snarled, “You’re
mine!” He just kept himself from sinking his
canines back into Tobias’ shoulder.

“Yes,” Tobias purred. “I’m yours.”
As he spoke, Tobias pinched one of Roland’s

beaded  nipples  just  as  he  slid  a  third  finger  into
Roland’s ass and pegged that hot spot inside him.
Between the man’s words and actions, all concerns
about prior lovers fled. “What is that?” he whined.
Sparks  danced  through  his  system,  setting  his
blood  on  fire  and  making  his  body  jolt  in  his
lover’s grip.

“That, my sweet little mate,” Tobias crooned.

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

“Is your prostate.” He pegged that spot again. “It
can bring you much pleasure. So can this,” he
added, pinching and twisting his swollen nipple.

Roland yowled as his dick jerked and spurted a

dollop of pre-cum.

“Mmm,” Tobias rumbled, releasing his nipple.
Panting, his eyes wide, Roland watched Tobias

reach down between them. Tobias swiped his
thumb across the head of his dick and scooped up
the bead of fluid. The touch across his sensitive
head caused a groan to escape him. Then, he saw
Tobias stick out his tongue and lick the fluid from
his digit.

Roland’s jaw sagged open.
Tobias winked. “You taste delicious, little one.”
Having never tasted himself, Roland couldn’t

really say.

“Now, my mate. I’m going to claim you,”

Tobias stated.

Roland thought the gargoyle’s voice sounded

strained. He spotted the lines of tension in the
gargoyle’s face, neck, and arms. Yet, as Tobias
guided him up a bit and removed his fingers from
his chute, his movements remained gentle.

Without Tobias’ fingers in him, Roland’s

channel felt empty. He clenched his hole and
moaned. “Please,” he murmured. “Fill me.”

Tobias growled low. “Hell, yeah.”
Roland felt something press against his

opening, something large and blunt. Swallowing

Charlie Richards

hard, he gaped at Tobias. His gargoyle’s dick felt
so huge pressing against his opening, but Roland
felt so empty.

“Push out for me, Roland,” Tobias urged. “Let

me in.”

Nodding, Roland did his best to obey. Taking a

deep  breath,  he  pushed  out  and  pressed  against
Tobias’  shaft.  After  a  few  seconds,  the  head
popped  inside  him.  Pain  shot  through  his  ass.
Gasping, he tensed.

Tobias grunted. A strained expression crossed

his face, but he still gave Roland a reassuring
smile. “Take a deep breath and focus on relaxing,”
Tobias urged. “Take your time. No rush.”

Roland swallowed hard, struggling to obey.

Forcing  his  lungs  to  take  in  first  one  slow  deep
breath,  then  another,  he  focused  on  relaxing  his
body.  Roland  knew  he  wanted  this,  wanted  this
gargoyle  who’d  come  for  him,  whose  scent  filled
his body with need.

Fixing his gaze on Tobias, Roland pushed out

again and sank down a bit on his lover’s dick.

Gods  above,  I  have  a  lover.  Tobias  wants  me,  even
though  I’m  damaged.  Wanting  to  please  this
gargoyle that wanted him no matter what, Roland
began moving in earnest, rocking back and forth,
slowly  taking  more  and  more  of  his  lover’s  cock.
Sweat  beaded  at  Roland’s  temple  and  he  panted
hard, but his butt finally rested on Tobias’ thighs.

Tobias’ hold on Roland’s hips tightened,

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

holding him in place. “Stay still, little one,” he
gasped out. “Gods above, you feel good.”

Roland did as commanded. He stayed in place

and breathed through the burn.

Tobias kept one hand on Roland’s and rubbed

his ribs lightly with the other. “So sexy,” he
rumbled, moving his other hand higher. Tobias
flicked his thumb claw over Roland’s nipple.

Hissing, Roland’s body jerked. The large shaft

spearing  him  jostled  within  the  confines  of  his
body  and  pressed  against  that  spot  inside  him,
sending bursts of pleasure through him. “Oh,” he
gasped.  The  desire  to  move,  to  feel  more  of  that,
burned through him. He wriggled on Tobias’ lap,
trying to get his lover’s erection to move over that
spot again.

“Ah, that’s the way to show me you’re ready,”

Tobias growled. “Hands on my shoulders, Ro.”

Roland obeyed the command, his thumb

landing on the claiming mark. Rubbing over the
healing wound, he resisted the urge to lean
forward and lick it. Damn, he could hardly resist
his cat’s instincts to lick, nip, and bite.

Tobias’ large hands lifting him slowly yanked

Roland’s attention back to his mate’s face. Well,
crap, I’ve finally admitted it. His cat had known
before he did.

Meeting Roland’s gaze, Tobias held his ass

several inches above his groin. He started
thrusting slowly. Roland gasped at the friction to

Charlie Richards

his inner muscles. Tingles worked from his
channel through his groin. An odd sensation
vibrated at the base of his spine.

“Oh, more,” he pleaded. “Feels…feels good.”
“This will make it even better,” Tobias assured.
Tobias snapped his hips upward, driving his

erection deep inside him. He hit Roland’s gland,
tearing a moan from his throat. His jaw sagged
open as sparks shot through his system.

Tobias set up a quick, steady rhythm, driving

into him over and over. Roland felt as if his entire
body  was  on  fire  and  his  head  lolled,  his  eyes
sliding  closed.  Bliss  blanketed  his  system.  His
orgasm  broke  over  him  like  a  wave  on  the  sand.
He howled as pulse after pulse of ecstasy coursed
through his system.

“So beautiful,” Tobias rumbled. “Yeah, grip my

cock. Gonna make you mine, lynx. Gonna take
care of you.”

Roland managed to pry open his eyelids and

peer  at  him.  Holding  Tobias’  gaze,  he  tilted  his
head  and  smiled,  anticipation  coursing  through
him.  Tobias  didn’t  leave  him  waiting.  The
gargoyle pulled him close, burying his cock deep,
leaned forward, and bit.

Feeling Tobias’ sharp teeth sink into his skin,

Roland  opened  his  mouth  to  scream,  but  instead
of pain, the fire of pleasure coursed through him.
The  sensations  zinged  straight  to  his  groin  and
Roland  found  himself  blindsided  by  a  second

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

orgasm.

“Tobias!”
His lover growled, sending vibrations through

his shoulder and down his chest, making him
tingle.

Nice.
Roland sagged against his lover’s chest,

gasping, panting, struggling to catch his breath.

When he’d given in to temptation and used the

testosterone  gel  over  and  over,  wanting  to  see
some  kind  of  response  from  his  body,  he  never
would have imagined this. He didn’t know if his
lover was responding to his arousal or because he
no  longer  thought  he was  broken.  Except,  Tobias
had  touched  Roland’s  empty  sacks.  He  knew  he
wasn’t a whole man.

What did that mean?
Tobias growled low in his throat. “Whatever

you’re thinking about, stop,” he ordered. Cupping
Roland’s nape, Tobias forced him to tilt his head
so he could look into his eyes. “Stop thinking so
hard. We’re mates. We belong together. For better
or worse. It’s you and me, Ro.”

Sighing, Roland nuzzled Tobias’ neck. “Yeah,”

he replied simply, uncertain what else to say.
After losing Vane, he hadn’t had anyone to rely on
for over twenty years. What would it be like to
truly trust another person?

Tobias’ fingers wrapped around Roland’s penis.

He looked down, gasping at the sight and feel of

Charlie Richards

the gargoyle’s dark green hand stroking up and
down his still hard dick.

Damn, how can I still be hard?
“I’d guess it’s a combination of overdosing and

pheromones,”  Tobias  told  him  softly,  making
Roland  realize  he’d  said  his  thought  aloud.  The
gargoyle  shifted  his  hips  and  his  erection  jostled
and slid inside Roland’s chute. “See, little one. I’m
still  hard  for  you,  too.  The  need  to  complete  our
bonding is a natural instinct.”

Gasping as Tobias’ grip on his dick drove his

arousal higher, Roland tried to process that. “S-so
to soften, we need to complete our bond?”

Tobias grinned, showing off plenty of teeth.

“I’d like to see if that’ll do it. Unless you’d like me
to take you to see the doc?”

Snickering, Roland admitted, “I prefer trying

option one first, please.”

Chuckling, Tobias nodded. “Me, too.” Tobias

wrapped his arms tightly around Roland and
pushed forward, standing, easily carrying his
weight.

Roland squeaked and clung to his lover’s broad

shoulders. The dick in his butt shifted and slid in
and  out  just  a  bit  with  each  of  Tobias’  steps.
Moaning  at  the  exquisite  ride,  Roland  mumbled,
“Oh, holy crap. That feels good.” Rotating his hips
a  bit,  he  felt  Tobias’  dick  slide  deeper  with  each
step  and  an  image  of  him  coming  just  like  this
popped  into  his  head.  “Do  you  ever  pace  your

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

office?”

Tobias’ brow ridges shot up, his surprise

evident. “Occasionally.” He stopped beside the
bed, making Roland realize they’d reached the
bedroom. “Why?”

Fighting back a sigh of disappointment at the

stimulation  stopping,  Roland  admitted,  “I  bet  I
could  come  while  you  paced  your  office,”  he
murmured, his face heating at his admission. Still,
for some reason, he couldn’t get the image out of
his  head  or  keep  his  tongue  from  continuing,
“You’d walk back and forth, back and forth.” He
groaned at his mental image. “I’d bounce up and
down  on  your  shaft  until  I  came,  marking  you
with my fluid.”

When Tobias growled, it rumbled through his

chest and even his dick, vibrating Roland inside
and out. Roland grunted. “Oh, wow.”

“Yeah, wow,” Tobias stated. “I do like the

sound of that. We’d—” Stopping, Tobias grunted.
“Damn, I can feel the pull of the sun. We don’t
have much time.”

Concerned, Roland asked, “Not much time? For

what?”

Tobias eased him off his cock, drawing a moan

of loss from Roland, and laid him onto the bed.
Holding Roland’s gaze, he stated, “I turn to stone
during the day, Roland. I’ll do that until our bond
is complete. Then, I’ll go through molt, which will
allow me to take on a human form and only need

Charlie Richards

to turn to stone occasionally to rest.”

When Tobias glanced toward the window,

Roland followed his gaze and he realized it was
no longer pitch black outside.

“You either fuck me hard and fast, completing

the  bond,  or  we’ll  have  to  wait  until  tomorrow
evening.”  Tobias  leaned  close,  his  dark  face
earnest.  “This  is  your  call,  Roland.  I  hate  leaving
you needing, but if you need more time, it’s yours.
All you have to do is ask.”

To Roland, there was no decision to make at all.

He knew his mate wanted to complete their bond.
He’d been forward about it from day one. “I want
you,” he replied, discovering that it was true. He
didn’t know everything about the male, yet, but
he wanted to find out. “Tell me what to do.”

“I’ll get myself ready quickly,” Tobias told him,

opening the lube and pouring some onto his
fingers.

Roland hadn’t even realized the gargoyle had

brought it with him. He watched in fascination as
Tobias reached behind himself and grunted.
Wanting to see, Roland wriggled out from under
the male and crawled around his lover.

Upon seeing one of Tobias’ thick digits spearing

his  own  ass,  Roland  gasped.  His  dick  jerked  and
oozed  and  he  suddenly  felt  hot  all  over.  When
Tobias  shoved  a  second  finger  in  and  started
twisting his hand while pulling them in and out in
small  increments,  Roland  gripped  the  base  of  his

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

dick and moaned.

Tobias peered over at him and grinned. “You

ready, Ro?”

Roland liked the nickname and he liked the

throaty quality of his mate’s voice even more.
“Yeah.”

“Slick up and get behind me. Take me, my

mate.”

Grabbing the tube Tobias indicated, Roland

didn’t  need  to  be  told  twice.  He  quickly  popped
the cap and drizzled some onto his bobbing prick.
Hissing,  Roland  squeezed  the  base  again  while
jacking  his  erection,  covering  himself  with  the
lube.

Tobias gripped his wrist, gaining his attention.

He winked. “Careful. Don’t want you to blow
until you get in me.”

“Yeah. Right.”
Roland knee-walked forward, getting behind

his  lover.  As  he  watched,  Tobias  slid  his  fingers
out of his hole and lowered to his elbows, offering
himself.  For  just  a  second,  Roland  stared  at  the
lube-slicked  hole,  excitement  coursing  through
him.

Licking his lips, Roland guided his penis to

Tobias’ offered opening. At the first touch of his
sensitive head to the firm muscle, a shiver worked
through him. Excitement and anticipation coursed
through him, and he shoved…hard.

When the head of his dick slid through the

Charlie Richards

muscle,  stretching  it,  Roland  groaned  at  the
exquisite  pressure.  Wanting,  needing  more,  he
kept  pushing.  Blissful  heat  and  pressure
swallowed his length. Roland moaned in pleasure.
He grabbed onto Tobias’ hips and used the hold to
start jacking his hips. He watched his dick slide in
and  out  of  his  gargoyle,  felt  the  pull  of  his  inner
muscles  massaging  his  dick.  His  body  felt  so  hot
he feared he’d combust.

“Tobias,” he whimpered, knowing, somehow,

unbelievably, he tipped on the edge again.

“Do it,” Tobias growled. “Fill me up, lover.”
At the forceful tone, Roland moaned and

obeyed.  He  sank  in  deep,  as  far  as  he  could  go,
into his mate.  His dick felt as if it swelled within
the  confines  of  his  lover  and  fluid  spurted  from
him, filling his lover’s channel.

Leaning over his lover’s back, his body

shuddering,  Roland  sank  his  canines  into  the
highest  flesh  he  could  reach,  the  thick  flesh
beneath Tobias’ shoulder blade. As his lover’s life-
essence  once  again  flowed  over  his  tongue,  he
smiled at feeling his lover jerk and groan beneath
him. Roland joined his lover in moaning when he
felt the rhythmic massage on his still-buried shaft.

Roland hummed and slid his canines free, then

licked the wound, sealing it. “Wow.”

Tobias chuckled beneath him. “Definitely.”
Fortunately, Roland’s penis finally began to

soften. As he slipped free, he couldn’t help but

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

notice the fluid and slick around his prick and
dripping down Tobias’ thighs. Why the hell did
that make him so proud?

Tobias rolled to his back, grabbing Roland and

dragging him to his chest. He caught Roland’s
mouth with his own and thrust his tongue in
deep. He opened quickly to his mate, loving how
it felt like a thorough claiming. By the time Tobias
broke the kiss, Roland panted, struggling to catch
his breath.

Grinning up at him, Tobias murmured, “Thank

you, my sweet Ro.”

Roland snickered. “Shouldn’t I be thanking

you?”

Shrugging, Tobias replied, “Mutually beneficial

then.” He threaded his claws through Roland’s
hair, massaging gently. “When I go through molt,
it’s painful, but don’t be afraid. I’ll be fine.”

Roland nodded. “Okay.”
Tobias closed his eyes and sighed. “The sun

rises. Soon, I’ll be able to hold you, pleasure you,
keep you safe at all times.” He smiled slightly. “I
don’t want you to see this.” He crooked a finger.
“Kiss me. Then, please leave. I’ll come out in a few
minutes.”

Not knowing what to say, Roland nodded. He

leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to
Tobias’ lips, then eased off his lover’s chest and
rose. Walking toward the balcony door, Roland
paused with one hand on the handle of the French

Charlie Richards

doors. He looked over his shoulder and smiled,
then headed onto the balcony.

While the morning air was chilly on his naked

skin,  Roland  strode  to  the  railing  anyway.  He
rested  his  hands  on  the  stone  and  stared  out,
watching  the  sun  rise.  He  thought  about  the
changes to his life in just a short forty-eight hours.

“Thank you, Vane,” he whispered.
While it had taken a long time, his friend had

come  for  him.  He’d  met  a  kind,  if  dominant,
gargoyle  that  seemed  to  want  to  care  for  him.
Kidnapped at fifteen, Roland had never learned to
stand on his own two feet, and while part of him
wanted  that  chance,  he  liked  the  idea  of  not
having it thrust upon him all at once even better.

Tobias would help him learn.
Thinking of his lover, Roland glanced over his

shoulder  at  his  doors.  He’d  forgotten  to  ask  how
long molt would last. After a few minutes staring
at  the  doors,  he  headed  toward  them.  Roland
hesitated  only  an  instant  before  curiosity  got  the
better  of  him.  He  pulled  open  one  door  and
peeked into the bedroom.

Roland saw Tobias’ form in the morning light,

still on the bed. Moving slowly toward his lover,
he frowned. A few steps later, Roland gasped. He
ran the last few steps and knelt beside the bed.
Reaching out, he rested his hand on Tobias’ hand.

“Oh, no,” he whispered, fighting back tears.
Tobias was stone.

Charlie Richards

Chapter Eight

rapping his arms around himself, Roland
swayed on his feet. He fought a wave of

lightheadedness. Focusing on where he touched
his mate, he concentrated on his breathing until
the black spots faded.

He knew he should have eaten more. The

cinnamon toast Doctor Perseus had given him had
long since worn off, as had the meal he’d enjoyed
with  Vane.  He’d  been  instructed  to  eat  after
applying his gel, but…well, that hadn’t turned out
quite  like  he’d  planned.  Then,  he’d  expended  far
too  many  calories  enjoying  his  first  erection  in
twenty-five  years  with  Tobias.  Not  that  he  was
complaining about that.

Damn it! Why didn’t it work?
The idea that they weren’t really mates popped

into his head, but his lynx instantly snarled at that.
He itched idly at the drying cum on his chest.
Suddenly, his hand froze and his gaze lowered to
his hand, then his groin. His hand trembled as he
lifted his flaccid dick and stared at the empty

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

pouch beneath.

Swallowing hard, Roland fought against the

tears that pricked the backs of his eyes.

Roland released himself and strode to the

phone  attached  to  the  wall.  Picking  up  the
headset,  he  held  it  against  his  ear  as  he  scanned
down  the  list  of  numbers.  He  punched  in  the
numbers for the doctor’s wing and listened to the
other end of the line ring twice.

“Nurse Leroy. How can I help you?”
“I-is Doctor Perseus there?” Roland asked. He

didn’t know if he wanted to tell his problems to
the human nurse. Would he even be able to help?

“Afraid not. Is this Roland?”
“Yeah.” Roland glanced over his shoulder at

Tobias. He couldn’t wait. He wanted answers
before his mate woke up. “Do you know anything
about gargoyle matings?”

Leroy remained quiet a moment, then stated,

“I’ve been learning. You, um—” Leroy paused for
a second, then told him, “The doc said there’ll be
complications because of your current inability to
get an erection. That should solve itself in time.
You just gotta have patience.”

“Uh, that’s not actually the problem,” he

muttered, fighting to keep the heat from his
cheeks even though he knew the other man
couldn’t see it.

“Oh, well what’s up?”
Roland grimaced at the human’s open curiosity.

Charlie Richards

While  shifters  weren’t  prudes  by  nature—hell,
they  got  naked  together  quite  often  to  shift  and
run—he’d  barely  had  the  birds  and  the  bees
conversation  before  getting  kidnapped.  He  sure
hadn’t talked openly about sex with anyone.

“Hey,” Leroy said, cutting into his thoughts. “I

can’t help if I don’t know the problem.”

Sighing, Roland grimaced. Damn, that sounded

familiar…so many problems. He sucked in a huge
breath then blurted out, “I-fucked-and-claimed-
Tobias-and-he-did-the-same-to-me-but-he-still-
didn’t-go-through-molt.” He said the words so
fast he wasn’t certain Leroy could understand.

“Uh,” Leroy started. “Could you slow that

down a little for me? Did you say you already
started bonding?”

“No, we completed our bond…well, according

to Tobias,” Roland told him. “He thought he’d go
through molt this morning, but didn’t, and now
there’s a stone gargoyle stretched out on my bed.”

“Damn,” Leroy muttered. “I’m fairly new at

working with gargoyles. I don’t understand all the
nuances, yet.”

Rubbing a hand over his face, Roland struggled

to  figure  out  who  to  talk  to.  He  knew  Vane  and
Matthew  were  busy  working  with  Maelgwn
because  the  detectives  were  supposed  to  arrive
soon.

“Shit, the detectives. What if they need to

search rooms? They’ll find him!”

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

“Hey, easy, Roland,” Leroy soothed. “Don’t go

borrowing trouble.” Roland listened to the human
breathe  for  several  seconds,  but  he  didn’t  know
what  else  to  say.  Finally,  Leroy  said,  “I’m  gonna
go  find  Einan  and  Cornelius.  Maybe  they’re
available. If not, they’ll be able to tell me who has
time to get to you. Just sit tight. Don’t let anyone
in that you don’t know, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks.”
“Sure,” Leroy assured. “I’ll be there as soon as I

can with back-up.”

After that, the line disconnected. Slowly,

Roland hung up the phone. He turned and stared
at Tobias again. He didn’t even fight the urge to
go to his mate. Tracing his fingertips over what he
knew was a dark green brow ridge when not
sleeping stone, Roland leaned down and pressed a
soft kiss to his mate’s frozen lips.

Roland straightened and swept his gaze over

his  lover’s  form.  His  gaze  snagged  on  his  stone
groin and his dick where it rested against his left
thigh, impressive even while flaccid. Wait,  where
had  he  left  his  loincloth?  He  should  really  clean
the white flecks from his groin, abs, and chest.

Striding to the front room, Roland glanced

around and spotted Tobias’ loincloth on the floor
near the sofa. His face heated as he thought about
what they’d done there, a smile coming unbidden
to his lips. Shaking his head at himself, he grabbed
the small bit of fabric and folded it as he returned

Charlie Richards

to the bedroom. He laid the scrap on the foot of
the bed, lightly touched Tobias’ clawed foot, then
headed to the bathroom.

Since he had a few minutes, he figured he’d get

cleaned  up.  He  didn’t  relish  the  idea  of  seeing
anyone  with  cum  on  him.  He  knew  a  shower
wouldn’t clear away Tobias’ scent from his skin—
and  he  found  he  liked  that  fact—  but  he  at  least
wanted to be clean when Leroy came.

Roland showered, then took a few minutes to

wipe down his gargoyle before throwing a blanket
over him, covering him from the waist down.
Silly, maybe, but since it was the only thing he
could do for the guy… Finally, he dressed in a pair
of sweats, climbed onto the bed, and pressed close
to his lover’s warm, stone body.

Sleep caught up with him quickly.

The loud knock on the door roused Roland. He

rubbed his face groggily  before swinging his legs
over the side of the bed. He sighed and glanced at
the  clock.  Ten  in  the  morning.  He  couldn’t  have
been  asleep  for  more  than  an  hour  or  so  and
fatigue weighed heavily upon him.

Someone pounding on the door again got

Roland moving.

Roland grunted as he pushed to his feet. After

rounding  the  bed,  he  leaned  over  and  pressed  a
quick  kiss  to  Tobias’  mouth,  then  hustled  to  the
front  room  just  as  another  series  of  knocks

Coaxing His Skittish Lynx

sounded, followed by a deep voice he didn’t
recognize calling his name.

“Who is it?” Roland called.
“Einan and Cornelius,” Roland heard the deep

voice say.

“And Leroy. Open up,” Leroy called as well.
Unlocking the door, Roland pulled it open and

peered  at  a  bronzed  skin  male  that  appeared
human but scented as gargoyle. He had his hand
wrapped  protectively  around  a  man  with  a
bulging  belly  whose  scent  seemed  shifter  mixed
with something else. Roland decided they must be
Einan and Cornelius, because he recognized Leroy
from when he’d been rescued.

“Come in, please,” Roland offered, stepping

back. He couldn’t help but stare at Cornelius’
massive belly. If he didn’t know better, he’d think
the guy looked—

“Yeah, I’m pregnant,” Cornelius commented.
Roland yanked his gaze away from the man’s

middle and met his eyes. He flushed with
embarrassment at being caught staring.

Fortunately, Cornelius’ green eyes twinkled

and he grinned. “Doctor Perseus tells me it’ll only
be a few more days before I’m due to lay our egg.”
He beamed up at Einan who wore a proud if
somewhat nervous expression at his mate’s words.

Gaping, Roland mumbled, “P-pregnant? Egg?”

What the crap?

Cornelius’ sighed as he lowered himself to the

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100

sofa. “Yeah, gargoyles can get their male mates
pregnant, so watch out.” He waggled his brows.

“Holy shit!” Roland squeaked.
Leroy shook his blond-haired head and rested a

slender hand on Roland’s arm. “Don’t let
Cornelius freak you out, cutie. I know for a fact
that Doc Perseus gave you cinnamon toast earlier
today. As long as you eat a couple of slices a day,
you’ll be just fine.”

Roland nodded quickly. “I’ll remember,” he

mumbled. He wondered why Tobias hadn’t told
him. Did the gargoyle want, uh, cubs?

Einan clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sure

Tobias didn’t fail to tell you on purpose. Now,
why don’t you tell us what happened and we’ll
see what we can do to help.”

Immediately, Roland felt his face flame. He had

to clear his throat twice before he managed to
mumble, “We, uh, we bonded. You know?” He
cut a look at Einan, hoping for the gargoyle’s help.

The dark-haired male in human form’s brows

shot up. “Tobias allowed you to fuck him? Huh. I
didn’t know he had it in him.”

The comment confused Roland, since his lover

hadn’t seemed in the least bit reticent about
bottoming. He’d thought he’d done it before…of
course, they’d kinda been in a hurry. Still, Roland
nodded.

Einan grunted, then crossed to the door to the

bedroom and pushed it open, peeking in. “So, you

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101

fucked him, he fucked you, and you exchanged
mating bites,” he mused slowly. Leaning in the
doorway, he turned to look at Roland. “And, yet,
he didn’t molt.”

“Yeah,” Roland whispered. He exchanged a

look with Leroy who offered him a reassuring
smile. Sighing, Roland admitted, “There are
extenuating circumstances.”

“Oh?” Einan crossed his arms over his chest.

“What would that be?”

After a sigh, Roland whispered, “I was

castrated.”

From the corner of his eye, Roland saw

Cornelius pale and cover his balls. In front of him,
Einan  shifted  away  from  the  wall  restlessly  and
his  hands  clenched.  The  male  frowned.  “So,  you,
uh…”  He  cleared  his  throat,  then  finished,  “So,
you don’t have any balls? How does that work?”

Leroy, thankfully, answered for him. “Without

the right amount of testosterone, it’s difficult for a
man to get and sustain an erection. Doctor Perseus
and  I  came  up  with  testosterone  replacement
therapy  for  him.  I’m  not  sure  why  he  reacted  so
fast to it, but evidently he did.” Leroy smirked and
cocked a brow, but didn’t question him further on
that,  which  Roland  appreciated.  Instead—his
voice  clinically  detached—he  continued,  “While
the testicle creates the semen and a majority of the
testosterone,  it  only  makes  up  about  five  percent
of  what  we  ejaculate.  The  rest  is  created  and

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102

stored elsewhere and mixes with the semen when
a man orgasms.”

Einan’s dark eyes appeared a bit glazed over, as

if  he  didn’t  understand  some  or  all  of  what  the
nurse  had  just  explained.  It  was  Cornelius  that
actually  spoke  up.  “Oh,  well  then  it’ll  just  take
longer, that’s all.”

Roland focused on the shifter, hope filling him

to discover a possible answer. “You think?”

“I don’t top and Einan doesn’t bottom,”

Cornelius  stated  matter-of-factly,  nodding  as  he
spoke. A  suggestive smirk curved one side of his
mouth  as  he  told  him,  “But  he  loves  how  I  taste
and  sucked  me  off  plenty  of  times.”  He  winked.
“Just  have  Tobias  suck  you  off  a  few  times.  His
molt will be more painful, but it’ll happen.”

Even while the blood flowed to his face, heating

his face in what he knew was a fierce flush,
Roland felt hope surge through him. “Yeah?” he
murmured. “You think so?”

“Totally,”

Cornelius

replied,

sounding

completely confident.

“But, babe, you have semen in your ejaculate,”

Einan pointed out.

Cornelius rolled his eyes and snorted. “So.

What about Sapian and Missy? Sapian went
through molt.”

Roland didn’t know who they were but Einan

seemed to, for understanding crossed his
expression. “Right,” Einan drew the word out as

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103

he focused on Roland. He explained, “Sapian is a
gargoyle mated to the human woman, Missy.”
Smirking, he pointed out, “Women don’t have
semen and they obviously can’t fuck their mate.”

Not following, Roland drew his brows together.

“So how does it work, then?”

“A gargoyle mated with a female would go

down  on  her  just  like  we’d  go  down  on  our
mates,”  Einan  said  with  a  shrug.  “Women
produce  fluids  during  sex.  There’s  no  semen
involved, so it’s not nearly instantaneous like with
a  male,  but  it  does  happen.  Eventually,  the
gargoyle consumes enough of her fluid to initiate
the molt.”

As Einan had spoken, Roland felt his face

getting hotter and hotter. He wrapped his arms
around his torso and mumbled, “Um, okay.”

Leroy slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t

think on it too much.”

Fortunately—or not—Roland didn’t get a

chance to dwell on it. A knock at the door
sounded, followed by Maelgwn calling, “Roland?
It’s Maelgwn. Do you have a moment?”

Before any of them could speak, Einan held up

his hand, asking for silence. Striding to the couch,
he grabbed the throw blanket off of the back and
wrapped  it  around  his  mate,  hiding  his  stomach.
Next, he motioned for the pair to follow them. In
the  bedroom,  he  crossed  to  the  bed  and  scooped
the  frozen  form  of  Tobias  into  his  arms.  “Leroy,

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104

open the balcony door. Roland, get in bed and act
sick.”

Without question, Roland obeyed. Einan

carefully  maneuvered  out  the  door  and  into  the
morning  air.  Too  busy  settling  the  covers  over
him, he didn’t catch what Einan said to Leroy, but
when  he  strode  back  into  the  room,  he  offered
Roland  a  wink  then  headed  to  the  front  and  the
door where Maelgwn called again.

Roland strained his ears and heard Leroy greet

Maelgwn  and  the  men  with  him,  who  were
introduced  as  a  number  of  detectives.  With  his
shifter  hearing,  Roland  was  able  to  hear  Leroy
caution  the  men  to  be  quiet  as  Roland  was  sick
and Leroy was there caring for him.

Knowing his mate was safe—hell, there was no

way Einan would allow anything to happen to his
second—Roland pretended to be sick.

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105

Chapter Nine

obias woke from roost slowly, as he did every
evening. Except, something felt off, different.

Memories came to him in a rush. He’d claimed
Roland. His mate had claimed him. Except, Tobias
hadn’t gone through molt.

Jerking to a sitting position, Tobias glanced

around frantically. He recognized the upper
parapet. “How the hell—”

“Welcome back,” Einan greeted. “Roland has

been a bit worried.” Einan grinned and tossed
something at him.

Tobias frowned, catching it on reflex. Holding it

up, he realized it was his loincloth. “I should have
gone through molt. What happened? How’d I end
up here?”

“When you didn’t enter molt, Roland called

down to the doc’s office looking for Perseus. Since
Perseus was roosting, too, he got Nurse Leroy,”
Einan explained. “Leroy contacted me, so me and
Cornelius headed to Roland’s suite with the nurse.
After hearing you and Roland’s unique

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106

circumstances, we were able to come up with an
explanation and put your mate’s mind at ease.”

They did? “How?”
Einan snickered. “Your mate has no semen. It’ll

take longer to initiate the molt. Be patient.”

“Damn, I didn’t think of that,” Tobias

grumbled, running a clawed hand over his face.

“Just suck him off a few times,” Einan told him.

Then, smacking him on the arm,  he added, “And
explain  male  pregnancy  to  him.  I  had  Cornelius
with  me  and  we  kinda  shocked  the  shit  out  of
him.”

Roland. Pregnancy. Sex. Shit!
“I fucked him and didn’t take precautions,”

Tobias muttered.

Einan pushed to his feet and held out his hand.

Tobias  took  it  and—a  bit  dazed—allowed  the
enforcer  to  pull  him  to  his  feet.  “Don’t  worry
about  it,”  Einan  told  him,  using  his  free  hand  to
pat his shoulder. “Perseus fed him cinnamon toast
before  letting  him  leave  his  office  last  night.
You’re covered.” He smirked and pointed down at
his groin. “In that area anyway. Just make certain
you  keep  feeding  him  that  or  something
equivalent.”

After rolling his eyes, Tobias secured his

loincloth  around  him.  He  couldn’t  remember  a
time  he’d  entered  roost  without  it…maybe  back
when  he  was  still  a  hatchling.  “No  kidding.  I’d
like  a  little  time  to  get  to  know  my  mate  before

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107

throwing  a  hatchling  into  the  mix.”  Heading
down  the  parapet’s  stairs,  he  called  over  his
shoulder,  “How’s  Cornelius  doing,  by  the  way?
He’s close to due, right?”

Grunting his confirmation, Einan told him,

“Perseus thinks within the week.” He scoffed.
“Damn. Me! A father. Just…damn!”

Tobias laughed. “Better you than me, bud.”
“Don’t want kids?”
Upon reaching the bottom of the narrow

stairway, Tobias pulled the door open and
stepped through, then waited for the enforcer.
“Maybe someday,” he admitted. “Right now, I just
want to make my mate happy and healthy.”

“A good goal, to be sure,” Einan agreed,

gripping  his  shoulder  and  squeezing  lightly.  His
expression turned serious as he told him, “You’re
fucking  heavy  in  stone  form.  I  had  to  carry  you
from Roland’s bed and fly you up to the parapet.
Otherwise,  you’d  have  been  discovered  by  the
detectives. They wanted to talk to Roland since he
was a new arrival.”

Tobias growled low in his throat. “Damn it.

That’s  why  we  rushed  the  fucking  mating.  I’d
wanted  to  be  there  for  him!”  Then,  remembering
how  he’d  found  Roland  the  evening  before,  hard
and needing, he added, “Well, one of the reasons.
Is he okay?”

Not bothering to wait for a response, Tobias

strode swiftly down the hallway. It took every bit

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108

of self-control Tobias had to keep from jogging
through the place. As it was, he figured it’d have
been faster to fly to Roland’s balcony and let
himself in that way.

Oh well.
Einan fell into step beside him as he answered,

“Don’t worry. He’s fine. Leroy told our guests he
was sick, so all Roland had to do was huddle in
bed, answer a few questions, and act sick. It didn’t
take long for the detectives to move on.”

“Good,” Tobias responded. Still, he wanted,

needed to see for himself.

Finally, Tobias knocked on his mate’s door.

Again, the thought that he needed to move his
lover into his own suite entered his mind. He even
bet that now his lover would be amenable.

“Who is it?” Roland asked.
Tobias smiled at the sound of Roland’s soft

voice. Hearing his mate speak went straight to his
balls. His cock thickened in his loincloth even as
relief filled Tobias since it meant Roland was
indeed safe. “It’s me and Einan.”

The door was yanked open and Roland stared

up at him.

Seeing Roland wore only baggy, gray sweats,

Tobias drank in the miles of pale, smooth skin.
While Roland’s ribs still protruded a bit, as did his
hip bones, Tobias had never found another sexier.
He stepped forward and buried one clawed hand
into Roland’s shaggy, black hair, using the hold to

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109

tilt his lover’s head back.

Tobias peered into Roland’s deep green eyes as

he wrapped his other arm around his mate’s waist
and pulled him flush against him. Reveling in the
way  Roland  came  willingly,  Tobias  almost  lost
himself  in  his  mate’s  expressive  green  eyes.  He
saw  concern,  relief,  and  even  affection.  Someday,
he hoped to see love, because he knew he was well
on his way to falling hard for his little lynx.

Patience.
Backing up his mate a bit, Tobias pressed the

small shifter into the wall. He lowered his head
and rested his forehead against his mate’s as he
murmured, “Hey. You okay?”

Roland nodded, his face moving against Tobias’

own. “Better now,” he replied, offering a shy
smile.

After what they’d done the evening before,

Tobias thought that look the sexiest fucking thing
he’d seen in over a century. “Good.” Tobias licked
across the seam of Roland’s mouth, tasting traces
of orange juice, bacon grease, and his mate.
“Mmm, you taste good.”

Snickering, Roland replied, “Glad you think

so.”

Tobias appreciated that his mate felt

comfortable enough to tease, telling him the man
grew more comfortable with him. Palming his
mate’s ass, he lifted Roland higher against him. He
pressed the shifter’s back against the wall, then

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110

released his jaw and used his now free hand to
encourage his lover to wrap his legs around his
waist, aligning their groins.

Finally, he gave in to the desire that never

seemed  to  be  far  away  when  around  Roland.  He
pressed his cock against his lover’s, pleased to find
his  mate’s  dick  at  least  half-hard.  Capturing  his
shifter’s mouth, he  swept his tongue in deep, the
flavors  he’d  tasted  earlier  exploding  across  his
sensitive taste-buds.

Growling low in his throat, Tobias rocked his

hips, rutting against his mate in a firm, slow
rhythm. He thrust his tongue around his mate’s
mouth in a parody of what he wanted to do with
his dick and his mate’s ass. Need to feel his lover’s
chute clamped around him again heated his blood.

Tobias felt Roland’s arms tighten around his

neck,  his  fingers  digging  into  the  tendons  of  his
neck  and  one  shoulder  blade.  His  mate’s  heels
pressed  into  his  ass.  Roland’s  dick  thickened,
filling and hardening against his own.

“Well, I guess this is our cue to leave.”
Pulling his lips from Roland’s, Tobias panted

harshly as he looked over his shoulder at a
grinning Cornelius. The shifter stood wrapped in
Einan’s arms. Both men smirked at them.

Tobias hadn’t even been aware that Cornelius

was  in  the  room,  but  why  Einan  had  walked  the
entire  way  with  him  finally  made  sense.  It  also
bespoke  of  how  distracting  his  mate  was  to  him.

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111

He’d have to learn to be more careful.

Right then, though, Tobias wanted them gone.

“Thank you for taking care of my mate when I
could not.” He tried to keep the growl out of his
voice, but knew he didn’t quite succeed.

Einan lifted one brow ridge while Cornelius

snickered. “Our pleasure,” Cornelius replied.
“We’ll catch up with you both later.” He pointed
at Roland and winked. “Don’t forget your toast.”

Roland’s face flushed, turning a slight pink

color as he mumbled, “I won’t.”

Taking Cornelius’ hand, Einan led his mate

from the room.

As soon as the door clicked closed, Tobias

reached over and flipped the lock in place. He
returned his hand to Roland’s ass while focusing
on his mate’s face. “I apologize for not telling you
about gargoyles and the pregnancy thing. I didn’t
expect anything to happen this quickly, but that’s
no excuse.”

Roland offered an understanding smile,

although his face still held a rosy hue. “Only one
person has to remember. Fortunately, the doc did
it for you.”

“I’ll be sure to thank him,” Tobias stated. “Not

that I would be averse to making a baby with you,
I’d like more time with just you first.”

Actually smirking, Roland teased, “That’s

because you’re not the one who has to carry the
egg.” Then, he sobered. “I admit the idea of going

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through what Cornelius is about to kinda freaks
me out.”

“Understandable,” Tobias replied. Hell, it

freaked him out and he’d grown up with the idea.
Lowering his head, he pecked a quick kiss to his
mate’s lips. “So, as much as I want to get back to
what we were doing, I’d like a chance to get to
know you, too. Have you eaten?”

Roland nodded, nibbling his bottom lip. “I

didn’t know if you would be by as soon as you
woke or get some work done first.”

Tobias hated that he’d put that doubt into his

mate. Grimacing, he slowly lowered Roland to the
floor,  then  led  him  over  to  the  roaring  fireplace.
Sitting  on  the  throw  rug,  he  leaned  against  the
sofa and encouraged his lover to settle on his lap.
“I  apologize  I  did  that,”  Tobias  murmured.
Cupping Roland’s jaw, he smiled down at his man
and  said,  “I  won’t  make  that  mistake  again.  I’d
like  to  move  you  into  my  suite,  so  I  can  see  you
first  thing  every  day.  Then,  when  I  finally  do  go
through  molt,  we  can  curl  up  together.  I’m  sure
we  have  plenty  of  things  to  share  with  each
other.”

“I’d like that,” Roland replied, the smile

lighting his eyes and face. “You think we have
plenty of things to discuss?”

“Sure we do,” Tobias instantly responded,

grinning his own pleasure at having his mate
agree. “For example, I was one hundred and fifty

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113

seven  when  I  left  my  birth  clutch.  I  was  a  late
baby,  and  my  parents  had  passed  over  a  century
before  that,”  he  explained.  He  smiled  at  the
memory  of  his  parents.  They’d  been  so  in  love.
Tobias hoped to have that kind of connection with
Roland someday. Continuing, he explained, “Most
of the other gargoyles in the clutch weren’t mated,
so when the chieftain decided to move our clutch
to  Canada,  there  wasn’t  much  resistance.  He
wanted the longer evenings,” Tobias added with a
shrug.  After  almost two  centuries,  he  rarely  even
thought about his old clutch.

“I’d met Maelgwn years before when our

clutches  traded  information  and  we  considered
each other friends. He’d just taken over this clutch
at that time and still had a fair bit of unrest when
he  heard  my  clutch  was  moving.  Maelgwn
approached me about becoming his second. I liked
the  idea  of  gaining  rank,  plus  I  trusted  and
respected  him  as  a  leader.  So,  I  came  here,  and
here I’ve stayed.”

Roland grinned. “So, no family drama,

just…you got a better job offer?”

“Exactly,” Tobias responded, even knowing

Roland teased. He winked. “What about you? You
said your parents were mates but they didn’t get
along? How about siblings. You mentioned
brothers and sisters. How many of them? Do you
plan to find them?”

Laughing, Roland cuddled against him,

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rubbing his head against Tobias’ neck where he’d
bit him. “Wow, full of questions.”

Tobias shrugged, then pecked a kiss to his

mate’s temple. “I want to know everything about
you.”

“We’ll get there,” Roland assured quietly. “For

now,  let’s  just  say,  Vane  and  Matthew  explained
fated mates and my parents were not that. People
in  my  pride  mate  for  best  gene  matches,”  he
added,  curling  his  lip  and  shaking  his  head.  “I
have  three  sisters,  all  older,  and  one  brother,
younger,  and  I’d  like  to  find  them.”  Pausing,  his
brows  furrowed  as  he  softy  told  him,  “I  don’t
know  if  I  actually  want  to  talk  to  them.  I
mean…it’s  been  twenty-five  years.  Why’d  they
never find me?”

Hating the despondency suddenly filling

Roland’s  scent  and  tone,  Tobias  growled.  “I’m
sorry  you  went  through  what  you  did,”  he
rumbled.  “If  I  could  take  back  your  kidnapping
and still keep you, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

Roland nodded, meeting his gaze.
Tobias stared into his mate’s green eyes. His

heart felt as though it skipped a beat when he saw
the emotions swirling in their depths. Roland hid
nothing from him, not his belief in Tobias’ words,
his relief that Tobias felt that way, or his growing
affection for him.

Adjusting his position, Roland straddled

Tobias’ lap and cupped his jaw. “I know,” he

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115

whispered.  “I  wouldn’t  take  it  back  either.”
Roland  feathered  his  thumbs  across  Tobias’  lips,
sending  a  shiver  down  Tobias’  spine.  “This  is  so
much  better,”  Roland  continued.  He  leaned
forward  and  pressed  a  soft,  lingering  kiss  to  just
Tobias’ bottom lip. “I like the idea of fated mates. I
like  having  you  care  for  me.  I  like  how  it  feels
when I’m wrapped up in your arms.”

Tobias’ blood pounded faster and faster in his

veins the more Roland admitted.  Damn, how did I
get  so  lucky?  Deciding  that  they’d  done  enough
talking Tobias tightened his arms where they were
wrapped  around  Roland,  flushing  their  bodies
together. “Enough talking,” Tobias stated gruffly,
his  voice  deepening  with  his  rising  desire.  “Let’s
get  back  to  what  we  were  doing  when  I  first
walked in. I believe we have some more bonding
to do.”

“Okay,” Roland whispered breathlessly.
“Good,” Tobias rumbled. Still holding his lover

tight,  he  rolled  to  his  feet  and  strode  toward  the
bedroom.  The  way  they  rubbed  with  each  step
reminded him of the fantasy Roland had admitted
to him. Grinning, he closed the door behind him,
then  leaned  against  it.  “I  seem  to  remember  you
saying you wanted to ride my cock while I walked
around,  didn’t  you?”  He  saw  Roland’s  eyes
widen,  so  he  lowered  his  voice  to  a  throaty  purr
and  offered,  “Fancy  a  moonlit  walk  in  the
garden?”

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Roland’s jaw sagged open, expressing his shock

clearly. The dilating of his eyes betrayed how
much his mate liked the idea.

Winking, Tobias lowered his lover to the floor,

then made quick work of removing his loincloth.
He held out his hand, silently asking.

A breathy chuckle escaped Roland as he

reached out and took Tobias’ hand, peering shyly
through his lashes at him. Grinning, his heart
thumping with anticipation, Tobias asked, “What
happened to the lube, Ro?”

Roland tugged lightly on his hand and Tobias

allowed  his  mate  to  lead  him  to  the  bed.  After
glancing  back  over  his  shoulder  at  him,  still
smiling  and  blushing,  Roland  reached  under  his
pillow and pulled out the tube.

Tobias urged his mate to lie on the bed with his

legs  hanging  off.  He  gently  gripped  one  of
Roland’s  calves  and  placed  it  on  the  edge  of  the
bed.  Giving  his  mate  a  wicked  smile,  Tobias
reached  down  and,  using  a  claw,  sliced  open  the
crotch  of  the  sweatpants,  opening  his  groin  to
Tobias’  gaze. “So you don’t get cold,” he purred,
winking  at  Roland’s  shocked  expression.  Once
again  focusing  on  his  mate’s  groin,  Tobias
carefully  maneuvered  Roland’s  semi-hard  cock
out of the gaping hole. He gently petted the base
then skimmed his claws lightly over the soft skin
of his empty sack.

Roland’s breathing hitched, drawing Tobias’

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117

attention back to his lover’s face. His sexy shifter
rested back on his elbows. With his face and chest
flushed, he panted breaths between parted lips.

“Beautiful, sexy, amazing. Love how you

respond to my touch,” Tobias crooned.

Licking his lips, Roland swallowed hard

enough to make his Adam’s apple bob. “Y-you
don’t mind touching my…my—” Roland glanced
down at his groin.

It took a second for Tobias to understand to

what he referred, but then he smiled, hoping he
appeared reassuring. “I love every part of you,” he
assured. “I think you’re perfect just the way you
are.”

His brows shooting up, Roland appeared

unconvinced.

Tobias knew his mate saw himself as less than

and he hoped someday his sweet shifter would
believe him. In the meantime, he planned to give
Roland as much attention and pleasure as
possible.

With that thought in mind, he popped the cap

on the lube and drizzled a liberal amount onto the
fingers  of  his  right  hand.  He  reached  down  and
place  one  wet  digit  against  Roland’s  star,
massaging  the  opening.  Pressing  gently,  he
carefully dipped the tip of his digit into Roland’s
ass.

“Oh!”
At Roland’s gasp, Tobias looked up and

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searched  his  mate’s  face.  He  growled  in  pleasure
at the shifter’s heavy-lidded look. Smiling, he slid
his  finger  in  a  bit  further  while  pitching  forward
and  resting  his  other  hand  on  the  bed.  Tobias
settled his mouth over Roland’s lips.

Tobias kept half his concentration on stretching

his mate as he thrust his tongue into Roland’s
mouth. Wrapping his long tongue around
Roland’s appendage, he stroked that muscle while
massaging his mate’s chute-muscles.

When Roland whimpered and moaned into his

mouth,  Tobias  reveled  in  the  sounds  his  mate
made. He increased his efforts, licking and petting
his  mate’s  tongue,  teeth,  and  gums.  He  slid  a
second  finger  into  Roland’s  channel  beside  the
first, then crooked his fingers and rubbed over his
prostate.

Roland grunted and groaned and Tobias drank

the sounds down. He loved that he could cause his
mate such pleasure. Roland started rocking his
hips in time with Tobias’ finger thrusts, meeting
him, his body unconsciously begging for more.

Tobias didn’t make his mate beg. He slid a third

finger into his lover, stretching him wider,
preparing him for Tobias’ thick cock. Tobias could
hardly wait to bury his throbbing shaft inside his
mate again. His dick bobbed and jerked—seeming
to dance in time with the noises his mate fed
him—jutting straight out from his groin.

Needing some friction, Tobias pressed his body

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119

closer. He grunted when he felt the wet head of
his dick slide across Roland’s inner thigh.

Turning his head, breaking the kiss, Roland

gasped. “Now. I feel you against my leg. I want
you in me now. Please.”

His mate practically hissed the words and

Tobias couldn’t deny him. He eased his fingers out
of his lover’s ass, then gripped his shaft with that
same  hand  and  gave  himself  a  quick  stroke,
spreading  the  leftover  lube.  Guiding  his  cock  to
his  mate’s  stretched  and  lubed  hole,  Tobias
returned his focus to Roland’s gaze.

Tobias discovered Roland looking down,

watching  his hand where he held himself against
Roland’s  star.  Watching  Roland  as  his  mate
watched  him,  Tobias  slowly,  insistently,  thrust
forward.

Roland gasped. His eyes widened, but his

pupils dilated, expressing pleasure instead of
pain. Tobias thrust slowly, forward and back,
sinking more and more into his mate.

Licking his lips, Roland panted and lifted a

hand.

Still moving, Tobias watched as his lover

reached  down.  When  Roland  tentatively  touched
where they connected, his fingertips sliding along
Tobias’  dick  as  well  as  Roland’s  own  stretched
muscle, it was Tobias’ turn to shudder. The look of
wonder  on  his  mate’s  face  combined  with  his
sensual touch almost shoved Tobias over the edge.

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Tobias grabbed Roland’s wrist gently in his still

partially slicked hand, drawing his mate’s hand
away from him. Roland’s gaze snapped to his,
giving him a questioning look. Smiling, he winked
as he admitted, “If you keep doing that, I’m going
to come, which will completely ruin my plans.”

A shockingly smug smile crossed Roland’s

pretty features. “We certainly wouldn’t want
that.”

“No. Definitely not,” Tobias rumbled, fighting

down his chuckle. “Let’s go take a walk.”

Without preamble, Tobias slid his arms around

Roland,  held  him  tight,  and  heaved  them  both
upright. Roland slid his arms around Tobias’ neck,
canted  his  hips,  and  wrapped  his  legs  tightly
around  his  hips.  Tobias  grunted  as  his  cock  slid
the rest of the way into his mate.

Roland moaned and wriggled a bit in his arms.
Tobias growled his approval as his mate’s

rectum muscles massaged his cock. “So good.”

“Yeah,” Roland responded breathlessly.
Moving across the floor, Tobias headed to the

balcony’s  French  doors,  threw  them  open,  and
headed outside. He hefted Roland a bit higher on
his  hips,  securing  him  in  place  with  one  arm
around  him  just  under  his  shoulder  blades.  With
his  right  arm  under  Roland’s  ass,  he  slipped  his
hand  into  the  slash  he’d  made  in  the  crotch  of
Roland’s sweats, giving him a better grip.

Tobias stepped on a chair, then the balcony

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121

edge,  spread  his  wings,  and  took  off.  Roland
squeaked and clung to him tighter. Blood singing
through  his  veins,  Tobias  felt  almost  intoxicated
with  the  heady  feeling  of  having  his  cock  in  his
mate’s ass as he soared through the air.

Tobias flew slowly across the yard. Tilting the

angle of his wing-beats, Tobias steadied them in
the air just above the treetops. From this vantage
point, he could see the expanse of the large garden
labyrinth below them.

“Take a look around, Ro,” he urged. “See the

world from above.”

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Chapter Ten

oland groaned and shuddered. He felt Tobias
begin to slowly rock his hips, keeping in time

with the gentle rise and fall caused by his lover’s
wing beats. His gargoyle’s dick slid in and out of
his chute just a bit, massaging his prostate just
right.

Gathering his courage, Roland lifted his head

from where he’d tucked his face against the crook
of  Tobias’  neck.  He  tipped  his  head  back  and
stared into his lover’s face for several seconds. The
affection  and  feral  pleasure  etched  across  his
features—all  directed  at  him—took  Roland’s
breath away.

“Tobias,” Roland whispered.
“Hello, sexy,” he crooned.
Roland loosened the death-grip he had on

Tobias’ back, managing to slide his hand until he
cupped the gargoyle’s nape. He struggled to keep
his breathing steady as his nerves fought with the
exquisite sensations shooting from his rectum to
burn through his groin.

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123

Holding his mate’s gaze, Roland started to

move tentatively against him. He gasped when
just that bit allowed Tobias’ cock head to rub over
his gland even harder. “Tobias,” he gasped.

Tobias smiled smugly, then jerked his chin to

the right. “Check out the view, Ro. I promise we’re
not that high and I’d never drop you.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” Roland quickly

reassured.

Roland

had

complete

faith

his

mate…something  he  hadn’t  felt  for  anyone  since
before  his  kidnapping.  This  gargoyle,  though,
would always come for him, care for him, treasure
him.  Tobias  hid  nothing  with  his  expression,
letting Roland see it all. Roland’s heart thundered
in  his  chest  for  a  new  reason,  echoing  the
unspoken  profession  gleaming  from  his  mate’s
eyes.

Panting softly, Roland proved his faith in his

mate and slowly peered to the right. He gasped as
a grin stretched his lips. He glanced at his lover,
seeing the pride on his gargoyle’s face, then
returned to looking around the dark yard.

They hovered just over the treetops, which

were  about  twenty  feet  tall.  That  was  more  than
what  Roland  considered  not  that  high,  but  since
Tobias  was  a  gargoyle,  Roland  knew  his
perceptions  were  a  bit  different.  The  nearly  full
moon illuminated the area with the aid of sporadic
outside  lights,  both  lanterns  on  posts  and  foot-

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124

high walkway lights.

As Roland looked, Tobias changed his wing-

beats and they began to move along the tree line.
He  saw  the  garden  hedges  created  a  number  of
walls, while, from his vantage point, he made out
a  number  of  trellises  with  various  hanging  vines
created  a  variety  of  others.  Although  the  flowers
were  mostly  closed  for  the  evening,  his  lynx
senses  gave  him  exceptional  night  vision  and  he
spotted a variety of colors peeking from  between
the edges of the leaves closed around the buds.

The entire ensemble appeared to be a maze

with a number of both large and small fountains
and benches interspersed throughout.

“It’s amazing,” Roland whispered.
“We’ll explore that together someday,” Tobias

told him. He leaned closer and purred throatily
into his ear. “We’ll find all the best secret spots to
steal an intimate moment.”

Roland’s breath caught in his throat. The effect

of  the  idea  Tobias’  words  created  in  his  head—
sneaking  into  a  little  used  lane  and  finding  a
secluded  park  bench  and  having  his  mate  bend
him  over  and  fuck  him—combined  with  how
Tobias  took  that  moment  to  adjust  the  angle  and
speed of his hips, nailing his gland straight on.

Sparks danced through Roland’s body and he

barely managed to gasp out, “D-don’t you know
the maze?”

“No,” Tobias replied, his voice going husky and

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125

deep. “Goshen, our gardener, changes it every
year. He fills in some openings and creates others.
It’ll be fun to discover every crack, won’t it?”

Moaning, Roland nodded. “Y-yeah.” An

especially forceful snap of Tobias’ hips caused him
to grunt. “G-gonna come.” He tried desperately to
hold back, this experience so wonderful and
intimate he wanted it to last forever.

“That’s the idea, my mate,” Tobias rumbled.

“After you come, I’m going to lay you down on a
park  bench  and  lick  all  your  cum  off  of  you.  I’m
going  to  explore  your  body,  discover  every  spot
that makes you groan, moan, and scream, then I’m
going  to  suck  your  cock  and  make  you  come  all
over again. I’m going to drain you dry.”

At his mate’s graphic description, Roland had

no  hope  of  controlling  himself.  He  moaned  as
Tobias pegged his gland once more, and that was
it.  Roland  fell  headlong  into  release,  spurting  his
ejaculate  between  them,  his  body  jerking  and
twitching in the safety of his mate’s arms.

Growling, Tobias clutched Roland close.
Roland reveled in the gentle strokes along his

spine, the pleasant vibration of his mate’s trilling,
and the massage and release of the hand on his
ass. “Tobias,” he mumbled, his senses reeling with
bliss. He nuzzled his mate’s neck, mouthing kisses
along the tendons. “So good.”

For a second, Roland felt as though his stomach

pitched, then he felt something against his back.

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He  snapped  his  eyes  open—uncertain  when  he’d
closed  them—and  peered  up  at  his  lover.  He
realized  Tobias  had  landed  somewhere  in  the
garden and settled him on the smooth surface of a
marble  bench.  Tobias  jacked  his  hips,  thrusting
into  him  over  and  over.  Roland  moaned,  rocking
up  to  meet  his  every  thrust,  more  than  happy  to
welcome his mate into his body.

Looking up at Tobias, seeing his fierce

expression, the lines of tension on his mate’s face,
Roland grabbed his mate’s jaw and brought him in
for a kiss. He thrust his tongue in deep, tasting his
lover, matching him thrust for thrust.

Tobias growled into Roland’s mouth, nipping

his tongue. His hips stuttered. Roland felt his
lover’s thick shaft swell in his rectum, then Tobias
pressed his forehead against Roland’s collarbone
as Tobias emptied into him, flooding him with his
cum.

Warmth filled him from the inside out and

Roland couldn’t help but smile. “Mmm,” he
hummed. “Love how it feels when you fill me. So
complete.”

Groaning, Tobias slowly eased out of him. He

grinned down at him. “You and me both, little
one.” Once free of Roland’s body, Tobias lowered
his head and licked his way into Roland’s mouth.

Roland was only too happy to open to his lover,

welcoming his tongue and sucking on the
appendage. Tobias rumbled, a pleased sound,

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127

filling Roland with pride that he could please his
lover.

Tobias ended their slow make-out session, then

pressed a butterfly kiss to the corner of his mouth,
then his chin. He skimmed his lips along Roland’s
jaw line as his claws traced each rib. Reaching the
skin behind Roland’s ear, Tobias suckled the soft
flesh.

Whimpering, Roland tilted his head, offering

more room. Renewed heat fired through his veins.
The wet suction seemed to transfer straight to his
cock, making his dick thicken and his groin tingle.
Roland shifted his hips restlessly and one hand
cupped Tobias’ skull, threading through his hair.

“Mmm,” Tobias hummed.
The vibration yanked a moan of pleasure from

Roland’s throat.

“Hot spot,” his lover crooned. “Gonna

remember that.”

“Oh, yeah,” Roland mumbled, shifting

restlessly. “More.”

Tobias chuckled. “There are more hot spots to

find,” he murmured, skimming his lips down the
column of his neck, nipping as he went.

Roland watched through half-mast eyes as

Tobias continued down his collarbone, then down
his  pec.  His  breath  caught  in  his  throat  as  he
watched  Tobias’  progress.  A  whine  escaped  his
throat  when  Tobias  finally  hovered  over  his
nipple.

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Looking up at him, Tobias’ gaze clashed with

his own. A grin curved the gargoyle’s thin lips
right before he pursed them and blew. Roland
gasped as the warm breath caused goose bumps to
rise on his chest and his beaded nipple tightened
almost painfully. Tobias slowly slid his tongue out
and swirled it all around the hardened bud.

“Aargg!” Roland grunted through clenched

teeth. “That hurts but I like it,” he whined,
confusion flooding him. “Wh-why? Never liked
pain before.”

“Easy, sexy,” Tobias soothed, rubbing his hips.

“Not all pain is bad. It’s just how we’re wired. If
your lover uses it the right way, it can make the
coming pleasure so much better.”

Roland frowned, still uncertain, but he trusted

his lover. “O-okay.”

Tobias smiled up at him. “We’ll stick with

licking and light pinching  for now,” he told him.
“Maybe  we’ll  work  up  to  biting  or  even  getting
these  pierced.”  He  winked.  “Time  will  tell.”  He
pinched Roland’s opposite nipple for emphasis.

Roland gasped when that sent a sting of

unmistakable pleasure zinging down his spine.
“Oh!” Yeah, that was so much better.

Nodding, as if figuring something out, Tobias

leaned down and opened his mouth, drawing the
nipple  he’d  blown  air  over  into  his  mouth.  The
warm  haven  surrounding  his  tight  bead  felt
almost  as  wonderful  as  when  Tobias  had  sucked

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129

his dick.

I bet I could come just from this.
Tobias popped off of his nipple and chuckled.

“Have no fear, my mate. I’ll find plenty of ways to
make you come.”

His lover’s gruff words made Roland realize

he’d spoken out loud. Instead of being
embarrassed, Roland snorted and grinned. “I’ll
hold you to that.”

Winking, Tobias replied, “I look forward to it.”

He  started  licking  and  nipping  across  each  rib,
starting  on  the  outside,  working  to  his  sternum,
then moving across the other side, only to start all
over  again  on  the  other  side.  As  he  traced  each
bone,  he  murmured,  “Right  now,  I’m  going  to
clean  your  cum  off  your  chest,  just  like  I
promised.”

Roland watched as he did just that. His soft lips

caressed his skin, his calloused hands kneaded his
nipples, and his warm breath created goose
bumps on his skin. Anticipation coiled in Roland’s
gut, building his pleasure unlike anything he
could have imagined.

Tobias licked and cleaned Roland’s chest and

moved down to his stomach. He released Roland’s
nipples, and Roland just managed to keep in his
moan of dismay. Then, Tobias eased the elastic
band over his bobbing erection, sliding the ruined
sweats down and off his legs.

Staring in wonder, Roland’s heart raced as

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130

Tobias licked up the last bit of cum from his
sunken abs. He twitched away from his mate’s
questing tongue when it delved into the dip of his
left hip.

Chuckling, Tobias peered up his body at him,

his eyes smoldering. “Ticklish?”

“Seems so,” Roland replied breathlessly.
Tobias hummed and resumed his cleaning.
Roland’s breathing sped up as Tobias drew

closer and closer to his oozing dick. Instead of
sucking him down, his mate licked his way
around the base and sides of his shaft and Roland
almost swallowed his tongue.

Then, that same talented tongue swiped over

his empty sack.

His entire body erupting in flames, teased

beyond endurance, Roland opened his mouth on a
silent scream. His body spasmed and his dick
erupted, squirting out several more strands of
ejaculate as his orgasm swamped him. Cresting on
waves of bliss, Roland floated with pleasure.

Roland smiled loopily at the sound of Tobias’

smug hum and the scrape of his lover’s tongue
once more licking up his fluids.

Seconds later, Tobias’ face appeared above him,

smirking down at him. Roland felt the nudge of
his lover’s hard cock at his hole. “Ready for one
more?” he asked as he pressed insistently and slid
his dick back into him.

Lifting his legs and wrapping them around his

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131

lover’s waist, Roland let out a throaty groan. “I
don’t think I can,” he admitted. His body already
felt like mush, sated and relaxed.

“You will, my love,” Tobias vowed. “You will.”
Then, Tobias started a swift thrust and retreat

rhythm, repeatedly driving into his body.

Roland moaned, reveling in his lover’s taking.

He didn’t think his softened prick would thicken
again, but he sure loved how it felt when his mate
took him.

Tobias leaned close to his ear and growled,

“Tasting you, seeing you respond to my touch,
drives me wild. I’m so close, Ro, and I insist on
taking you with me.”

Whining, Roland thrashed his head. “C-can’t,”

he slurred.

“You can,” Tobias insisted. Then, his lover

opened his mouth, clamped onto his shoulder,
and sank his teeth deep.

Roland orgasmed, screaming Tobias’ name as

he did. As his dick jerked and spurted, black spots
danced across his vision. The bliss caused by that
final orgasm swept him away and his vision
dimmed, and Roland realized his mate had been
right.

Tobias had made him come again.

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132

Chapter Eleven

roaning, Roland rolled over in his bed.
Wait, my bed?

Easing to a sitting position, Roland looked

around.  His  brows  creased.  He  didn’t  recognize
his  location.  Okay,  not  my  bed.  He  knew  he
remained  in  the  gargoyle  manor,  since  the  room
he  rested  in—while  larger—still  had  a  similar
layout  to  his  own  suite.  Still,  he  didn’t  recognize
anything.

Roland calmed himself and took a long, deep

breath…then,  he  smiled.  “Tobias.”  His  mate’s
scent  hung  heavy  in  the  air,  telling  him  that  he
resided in his mate’s quarters. The sun streaming
through the windows  told Roland that he’d  slept
through the  night,  and  since  Tobias  wasn’t  there,
he  guessed  his  mate  still  hadn’t  gone  through
molt.

Flopping back on the bed, Roland felt the ache

in his ass and remembered the wonderful evening
of lovemaking he’d enjoyed with his mate. He
couldn’t stop his smile. Damn, his mate was

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133

sweet. Sighing, he stared up at the ceiling and he
just knew he sported a goofy grin.

He lay there for several minutes before his

stomach  rumbled,  pulling  him  out  of  the  doze
he’d sunk  into. Deciding  he wanted food enough
to  venture  out,  Roland  sought  out  the  shower,
then  dressed  in  sweats  and  a  t-shirt  he  found  in
the dresser. They fit him comfortably,  which told
Roland  that  his  mate  had  made  certain  he  had
things available in his size.

Once again, Roland found himself grinning.

Damn, I’ve got it bad!
Shaking his head, Roland opened the front door

and peered around. He didn’t recognize the wing
he stayed in, but he did recognize a few of the
scents. It smelled like Einan and Cornelius often
traveled this hallway.

Roland followed his nose to find the most likely

door and knocked, hoping his new friend was
home. Shifting restlessly from foot to foot, after a
short expanse of time, he thought about leaving.
Then, his sensitive ears heard footsteps.

Seconds later, Einan pulled open his door. His

dark gray brow ridges shot up and he cocked his
head. “Roland? Can I help you?”

Again, Roland shifted his weight. He wrapped

his arms around his stomach and admitted, “I fell
asleep while out with Tobias last night and he left
me in his bed. Um…” He cocked his head and
admitted, “I’m kinda hungry and wondered if

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134

Cornelius was available for whatever meal is
being served about now?”

Einan grinned, his low chuckle lighting his gray

eyes.  “Of  course,  Tobias  would  want  you  in  his
bed.  With  your  bond  incomplete,  he’s  probably
going  out  of  his  mind  with  territorial  instincts.”
Einan  called  over  his  shoulder,  saying,  “You  up
for a trip to the dining hall, stud?”

Cornelius’ voice called, “Sure, what’s up?”
“We have a guest who needs a tour,” Einan

replied, obviously speaking to his mate.

Cornelius appeared at Einan’s side. He grinned

upon  spotting  Roland.  “Hey!”  he  greeted.  “Sure.
That  sounds  like  a  great  distraction.”  He  focused
on Roland while palming his protruding belly. “I
swear.  If  little  Buckley  doesn’t  want  to  be  laid
soon, I’m gonna start reading up on what females
do to try to induce labor.”

Roland fought back a smile as Einan wrapped

his arm around Cornelius’ shoulders and tugged
him close. He pecked a kiss to his mate’s temple
and muttered, “Soon, babe. Be patient.”

Rolling his eyes, Cornelius scoffed. “Yeah. I’m

sure you’d be saying that if you were the one
carrying the egg.”

“You know if I could take this burden from

you, I would,” Einan murmured.

Cornelius turned to face his mate and wrapped

his arms around his shoulders. Standing on his
toes, he pressed a kiss to his mate’s lips. “I know,”

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135

he replied. “Patience just isn’t my strong suit.” He
grimaced. “You know that.”

Einan chuckled. “I know.”
The gargoyle captured Cornelius’ mouth for a

few seconds in a kiss that made Roland blush and
look away. The male’s gruff words drew his
attention back to the couple.

“Go eat. I have a few things to get done. I’ll

catch up with you later.”

“Sounds good. I can always use another meal,”

Cornelius teased, winking.

Einan laughed, patted his lover on his ass, then

walked away.

Cornelius turned back to him and wrapped his

slender arm around Roland’s waist. “Let’s go eat.”

“Have you had your cinnamon today?” Nurse

Leroy asked.

Roland felt heat flush his face. “Yes,” he

mumbled, unable to meet the human’s gaze. Even
his  ears  burned.  After  he  and  Cornelius  had
finished  a  meal—where  he’d  eaten  far  more  than
he  ever  remembered  eating  at  one  time  and  he
could almost feel his lynx happily licking his paws
in  his  mind—his  friend  had  showed  him  around
the  manor,  then  led  him  to  the  doctor’s  wing  for
his daily check-up.

“Double what I recommended,” Cornelius

piped up, amusement coloring his tone.

Leroy’s cupid bow lips curved up at the sides,

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136

betraying his own mirth. “Well, better to overdo it
than under do it.”

Cornelius laughed. He reached forward and

slapped Roland on his knee. “Yep, Roland here
doesn’t seem to want kids.”

“Not right now,” Roland replied defensively.

“Maybe eventually.”

“And well you shouldn’t,” Leroy stated, giving

Cornelius  a  mock  glare  before  returning  his
attention to Roland and giving him a sunny smile.
“You’re  well  on  your  way  to  being  healthy,  but
you’re  not  one  hundred  percent,  yet.  No  need  to
tax  your  body  over  something  you  have  years  to
get around to.”

Roland grinned at the short, slender human. He

appreciated that the human agreed with him.
“Thanks.”

Leroy shrugged. “Just giving you a medical

point of view.” He glanced toward Cornelius, his
gaze  flicking  over  the  male’s  form.  He  grimaced.
“Personally, the idea of carrying a child freaks me
out.  I  mean…men  weren’t  designed  to  carry
children, so for some gargoyle’s seed to fuck with
my  body  and  change  the  laws  of  nature?  No
thanks.” His smile appeared forced as he peered at
Cornelius again. “No offense.”

Fortunately, Cornelius snickered. “No worries.”

He shrugged. “I’d always planned to use a
surrogate, so this wasn’t so much of a stretch for
me.”

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137

“Well, you’re doing very well,” Leroy told

Roland, patting him on the thigh. “Get out and get
some sun. The gardens are beautiful here.”

Roland’s face flushed at the mention of

gardens.

“Mmm,” Cornelius hummed, eyeing him

speculatively. “I think someone already knows
how lovely the gardens are.”

“Shut up,” Roland mumbled. The burn reached

his ears.

Cornelius laughed. “Well, I’m supposed to get a

little exercise every day,” he said. “Why don’t we
take a short walk in the woods behind the
gardens? Has your lynx been out since you’ve
been here?”

Trepidation flooded Roland. “Leave the safety

of the manor?”

“Don’t worry,” Cornelius assured. “The

grounds are secured. Lots of cameras.”

“Um, okay,” Roland conceded. His cat would

like that.

“Well, have fun,” Leroy told him, rising to his

feet. “Exercise is always a good idea.” He winked.
“You know…other than what you’ve been doing.”

Again, Roland felt his face heat.
Cornelius chuckled and grabbed his arm,

pulling him to his feet and toward the door.
“You’ll get used to us,” Cornelius told him.

“Yeah, right,” Roland responded absently.

Turning, he waved at Leroy. “Thanks for

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138

everything.”

“No prob,” Leroy responded. “I’ll see you

tomorrow.”

After Cornelius added his own goodbye, he led

Roland toward the back of the house. Stepping
outside, Roland couldn’t help but smile as the sun
warmed his face. Shielding his eyes, he glanced up
at the clear blue sky and smiled. His cat stretched
in anticipation.

Yeah, I guess I do need to get out.
“Hey, guys, watch your step,” a deep voice

called.

Roland pulled his gaze from the sky and found

a  tall,  well-built  blond  standing  a  few  feet  away.
He  pointed  at  Roland’s  feet.  Looking  down,  he
spotted  a  crisscross  of  red  lines  suspended  about
six  inches  off  the  ground  by  stakes,  and  one  of
them crossed the four steps in front of him.

“Hi, Marty,” Cornelius greeted. “What are you

doing?”

The male, Marty, shoved the pencil he held

behind his ear. He stepped over the red string and
strode toward them, his gait long-legged and
loose. Smiling, he waved around at the massive
grid. “Maelgwn wants a deck.”

“Oh, okay,” Cornelius responded. He pointed

at a much smaller grid off to the side. “And that?”

“Area for a gazebo and hot tub,” Marty replied.
“Nice.” Cornelius somehow danced on his toes.
Roland had no idea how the heavily pregnant

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139

shifter  moved  like  that.  Carefully,  he  walked
down  the  stairs  and  stepped  over  the  strands.
“That’ll be nice,” he all but lied. He’d rather have
grass beneath his toes or his paws and the tree-line
beckoned.  When  was  the  last  time  he’d  actually
been on a run? Remembering, he grimaced.

With my parents.
I need a new memory.
He’d rather have made it with Tobias, but now

that he was out there—breathing the fresh air, the
moist earthy soil, and the fragrant pine—a need to
run  nearly  overwhelmed  him.  Carefully  stepping
over  the  remaining  threads,  his  focus  riveted  on
one thing,  he headed toward the forest, stripping
his t-shirt over his head.

“Hey,” Cornelius called. “You in a hurry?”
“Yeah,” Roland replied, glancing over his

shoulder at the other shifter where he seemed to
be chatting with Marty. “I need…” He returned
his attention to the forest, unable to explain.

“I get it,” Cornelius said, hustling to catch up.

“Your lynx calls.”

“Yeah,” Roland admitted.
After he stripped, Roland wasted no time

initiating his shift. Over the sound of his muscles
popping and tendons snapping, he heard Marty
say, “There’s no way I can let you walk the
grounds alone. Einan would kill me.”

“Why? Your own mate has the place totally

secure,” Cornelius argued. “Roland needs to run,

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140

so I’ll just wander behind him.”

“What if you go into labor?” Marty pointed out.
With his shift completed, Roland turned and

bumped his head against Cornelius’ side, trying to
express his gratefulness for this opportunity.
Cornelius grinned and ruffled his fur before
tugging on an ear tuft.

“I thought lynx were orange,” Marty stated,

eyeing him. “What’s with all the black?”

“He’s Iberian,” Cornelius stated. “Their

coloring’s a bit different.”

Roland chuffed and turned, ready to run.
Evidently, Marty must have thought he’d

offended Roland, for he called, “Hey, buddy. No
insult intended. You’re a very pretty…cat.”

Turning to look at the human, Roland chuffed

again, then took off running.

“Apology accepted,” Cornelius said behind

him. “Let’s go.”

For a couple of hours, Roland bounded through

the  forest,  climbed  up  and  down  trees,  and  even
leapt from limb to limb. He reveled in the feel of
the  dirt  and  pine  needles  beneath  his  paws.  He
enjoyed  how  the  warm  wind  ruffled  his  fur.  His
favorite  part  though,  was  the  freedom  to  run
again.

Occasionally he scented both Cornelius and

Marty. It seemed the pregnant rhino shifter had
convinced the human to go with him. Padding

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141

through the forest, Roland slowly made his way in
the general direction of his friend’s scents.

Roland found them sitting in a clearing.

Pausing at the edge, he took in their backs and the
lines of tension visible through their shoulders
and necks. He wondered what was wrong and a
niggle of concern worked through him.

Pausing, Roland tried to figure out if he should

go to them or go back to the manor and get Einan.

“Here, kitty-kitty-kitty,” a nasal-sounding voice

sang.

Roland recognized that voice and fear sliced

through him.

Ryker—the head guard from the carny show

he’d been rescued from—stepped out of the
bushes to his left. In his hand, he held a weapon, a
tranquilizer gun.

Yowling, Roland spun on his haunches and

lunged toward the man. He knew he couldn’t get
away, but maybe if the others—

Ryker fired the weapon. A green-feathered dart

pierced  Roland’s  shoulder.  Still,  his  momentum
carried  him  into  the  guard.  With  the  last  of  his
strength,  Roland  sank  his  teeth  into  the  man’s
shoulder  as  they  tumbled  to  the  ground  as
darkness swallowed his senses.

“Hey, Roland, wake up.”
Roland whimpered and tried to pry an eyelid

open. He wanted to tell the person shaking him to

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leave him alone, so he could sleep, but all that
came out was an unintelligible mewl.

“Cornelius, he’s coming around,” that same

guy said.

“Come on, Roland,” Cornelius’ distinctive voice

pleaded. “Shake the tranquilizer. You’re stronger
than that.”

Tranquilizer…what?
Memories slithered through his mind, hazy and

unfocused.  Running  through  the  forest,  climbing
trees,  thinking  he  needed  to  find  Cornelius  and
thank  him.  It’d  been  getting  late  and  he’d  been
getting tired.

Then—Roland whined and jerked. The clearing,

the carny show guard, Ryker, and the tranquilizer
gun. At least I got a good bite in, Roland thought
maliciously, a snarl ripping from his throat.

“Hey, it’s me, Cornelius. And you remember

Marty. We’re your friends,” Cornelius’ voice came
again, concerned and urgent.

Realizing he still growled, Roland ceased the

noise. This time, he managed to open his eyelids.
Blinking  a  few  times,  he  took  in  their
surroundings.  A  cave,  he  was  in  a  cave…with
Cornelius  and  Marty.  The  big  human  appeared
angry  and  scented  slightly  acrid.  Marty’s  jaw
clenched,  his  eyes  narrowed,  and  his  gaze
constantly swept the opening of the cavern.

Roland followed his gaze and realized they

must have been in a mine or something, judging

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143

by the old, rusty grate with a shiny new padlock.

Cornelius, however, appeared extremely pale

with sweat beading on his top lip and temple.

Roland started to ask if his friend was all right,

then realized he was still in lynx form. Quickly, he
initiated his shift. As soon as he was human
enough, he rolled toward his friend, finishing
reshaping his limbs on the move.

Reaching Cornelius, he gripped the other

shifter’s hand. “Are you okay?”

Cornelius tipped his head to meet his gaze,

staring at him with pain-filled eyes. “I’m in labor.”

“Shit!” Roland hissed. “Stay calm,” he told him,

even though he felt his own pulse spiking.

At least his friend nodded sharply.
Marty knelt beside them. “I can open the lock,”

he told them quietly. “We can get out of here.”

“I don’t think I can run,” Cornelius whimpered.

He clutched his stomach for several long
agonizing seconds, then gasped out, “Son of a
bitch.”

Rubbing a hand over his face, Marty met

Roland’s gaze. “Can we carry him?”

Roland shook his head. “I’m still too weak,” he

admitted. “I’m assuming we’re fairly close?”

Marty nodded. “A couple of miles. These guys

aren’t too smart, but they are well armed. They
have armor piercing rounds that will work very
well on gargoyles.”

“Damn…oh, damn.” Roland shook his head

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hard. “No, no, no—”

“What?” Cornelius snapped just before

groaning in pain.

“Something I overheard once, but never really

thought  about  because  I  didn’t  really  understand
gargoyles,”  Roland  admitted.  “Bud  Wallice,  he’s
the  owner  of  the  show,  he  was  talking  to  Ryker.
He told the guy that if you control the person the
demon  is  linked  through,  then  you  could  control
the  demon.  I  never  really  thought  about  it  again,
but…” he grimaced and turned to Marty. “If you
can get out of here, do it. Bring help. They won’t
harm us.”

Marty glanced back and forth between them.

“Are you sure?”

Cornelius jerked a nod. “Look, they’re going to

be coming whether you go or not, but this way
will be quicker and you’ll be able to warn them
about the armor piercing rounds.” He paused and
gripped his stomach.

“Breathe through the pain,” Roland urged. “It’ll

pass faster.”

Scowling, Cornelius curled his lip.
Roland grabbed Cornelius’ hand in a show of

support while looking at Marty. “Go. Lock us in
behind you. It’s better that way. We’ll tell them
you wandered down the mine shaft.”

Marty scowled and glanced between them.

Cornelius nodded. Finally, Marty stood and
crossed to the gate. He pulled a pocketknife from

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145

his boot and some kind of small file from the end,
then went to work on the lock. It didn’t take the
human long, and he was soon easing the gate
open and slipping through.

Looking back at them, Marty offered a tight

smile as he clicked the lock back in place.

Then, he was gone.
Roland returned his focus to Cornelius.

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Chapter Twelve

he first thing Tobias became conscious of was
the pain. It tore through his body like liquid

fire in his veins…and not the good kind. He
couldn’t stop the roar of anguish even if he’d tried.
His skin felt as if someone were trying to fillet him
with a dull, rusty knife and his muscles ached as if
he’d run a marathon. Even his bones ached.

Finally, Tobias managed to open his eyes and

suck in a huge lungful of air. Black spots danced
across his vision, but it was the bright light that
forced him to slam his eyelids closed again.

Tobias focused on taking one breath after

another.  After  what  felt  like  an  eternity,  the
burning  sensation  undulating  just  under  his  skin
began  to  dissipate.  Groaning,  Tobias  hoped  the
end  was  in  sight.  He  cracked  his  eyelids  open
again and took in the blue sky above him.

Shock coursed through him. Blue sky?
Jaw sagging open in shock, Tobias peered up

for the first time at a daytime sky. “How?”

“You with us, then?”

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147

Tobias jerked his head left and spotted Vane

seated next to him on the roof. His blood-red skin
gleamed in the sunlight and his black-clawed
hands were clenched…as was his jaw.

“What the fuck just happened? Why am I

awake?”

Vane sighed, and something in the big

gargoyle’s  expression  made  Tobias  think  he
wasn’t  going  to  like  the  answer.  “I  heard
screaming  and  realized  it  was  you.  No  one  ever
mentioned  a  gargoyle  could  go  through  molt  in
the middle of the day while stone.”

That was what had happened? Why? “I’ve

never heard of that either,” he admitted.

“Maybe something in you felt your mate was in

trouble, and it triggered the completion of your
bond.”

“Roland?” Tobias’ heart tightened in his chest.

He lunged to his feet and glared at the other
gargoyle. “Where the fuck is my mate?”

Vane slowly rose, and while the red gargoyle

stood a couple of inches taller than him, he
averted his gaze. “We’re trying to figure that out.
Marty and Cornelius are missing, too.”

Lifting his arms to the heavens, Tobias let out

an anguished cry, screaming his mate’s name. His
body felt as if it were on fire again, but this time
only for a second or two, as he returned to
gargoyle form. Lowering his arms, he glared at the
beautiful sky above him. He’d always wanted to

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share the first time he saw the sky with his mate
and now—

Tobias cut off that train of thought. He refused

to give in to despondency. His mate needed him.
Turning and glaring at Vane, he growled, “Tell me
everything,” then spread his black wings and
leaped from the roof.

Vane followed. He spoke as they flew. “Leroy

said  Cornelius  escorted  Roland  to  see  him,  then
left a little after two. They talked about going for a
run.  Marty  was  in  the  back  yard  working  on  the
outline for the deck Maelgwn wants built, and for
some  reason,  he  must  have  decided  to  go  with
them.”

“Probably because he knew Einan would go

into a rage if he found out Cornelius went hiking
alone,” Tobias grumbled. He knew he was so
damn angry at Roland for the same thing. As soon
as he found his mate, he was going to tie him to
the bed until he promised never to pull a stunt like
that again.

“But he was with Roland. They weren’t alone.”
Tobias cast a look the other gargoyle’s way and

saw true confusion on his face. “Roland was most
likely running in lynx form. Because of how far
along Cornelius is, he can’t shift. That means they
were both alone…and Einan’s mate is quite slow
moving right now.”

Vane grunted in understanding and nodded

once.

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149

Landing on a second story patio, Tobias yanked

open the doors and stalked swiftly through the
manor. Upon reaching the security room, he
slammed open the doors, finding the room nearly
filled to capacity.

Maelgwn stood against the far wall, staring

over the shoulder of Raymond, one of the clutch’s
tech  gurus.  Being  mated  to  Marty,  Raymond
expressed his agitation by tapping furiously at the
keys  of  his  computer  and  glancing  quickly
between four monitors. Matthew, Vane’s mate and
Marty’s  brother,  sat  against  the  left  wall  with  his
head  in  his  hands.  Also  clustered  around  were
Sapian,  Leroy,  Einan,  and  Greg.  Einan  stood
behind a chair rather than in it, and his claws were
dug deeply into the back’s plush cushion.

Maelgwn pulled his gaze away from his focus

of the screens and his brow ridges shot up.
“Tobias?”

“I was on my way here when I heard him going

through molt,” Vane explained from behind him.

“How—”
“Look at this! It’s Marty!” Raymond shouted,

pointing at the screen.

Einan shoved around the desk while Tobias

pushed  between  gargoyles.  Vane  headed  to
Matthew’s  side,  whose  head  had  snapped  up  to
stare at Raymond with wide eyes. They  crowded
around the desk.

Tobias scowled as he watched Marty sprint for

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all he was worth through the forest. At first, he
didn’t understand why the human dodged around
trees and kept zigzagging this way and that. It all
became clear when a pair of humans appeared at
the edge of the screen. They chased Marty, guns in
their hands as if they were trying to get a shot.

Raymond leaped to his feet. “Marty!”
“Where is that?” Einan snapped.
“Um, quadrant two B,” Raymond said, backing

a step, obviously feeling the same urge Tobias
felt…go to Marty. Of course, in Tobias’ case, he’d
be asking the human where Roland was as
opposed to clutching him close.

“Vane, take over here,” Maelgwn ordered.

“Stay with your mate.”

“Wait, I want to come!” Matthew cried.
Maelgwn shook his head. “No, I need you and

Vane to keep an eye on the monitors. See if anyone
else turns up. Call and let us know.” From his firm
voice, Tobias knew the chieftain expected to be
obeyed.

“Yes, sir,” Vane replied. The big gargoyle gave

his mate a warning look when Matthew looked
like he was going to protest again.

“Look!” Einan pointed at the monitor.
Tobias looked down just in time to see a large

white alligator launch from between two bushes
and latch its strong jaws around the thigh of one
of the chasers and take him down.

Recognizing the area, Tobias didn’t wait to see

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151

what  happened  next.  He  bolted  from  the  room
and  sprinted  toward  the  balcony  where  he’d
entered.  Not  stopping,  he  spread  his  wings  and
leaped  over  the  edge,  flapping  hard,  winging  as
swiftly  as  possible  toward  the  location  on  the
monitor.

When he burst through the trees and spotted

the large pond making up almost four acres nearly
a mile from their manor, he spotted movement on
the other side. He flew swiftly toward them.

The closer Tobias got, the heavier the scent of

blood hung in the air. Finally, he made out Marty
on his knees, obviously searching for something in
the leaves and pine needles near shore. Another
male lay on his back, blood pouring from both of
his thighs and he used his hands to struggle
backward.

A second male held a knife and swung it at the

advancing albino alligator that Tobias recognized
as one of the rescued shifters. As Tobias watched,
the alligator dove left and shifted. The transition
was smooth and seamless, taking place in a matter
of ten seconds.

The human’s jaw sagged open in shock,

proving  that  he’d  never  seen  a  shifter  change
before.  It  was  enough.  The  pale-haired  male
planted  one  bare  foot,  pivoted,  and  executed  a
spinning  back  kick,  knocking  the  knife  from  the
surprised  human’s  hand.  He  followed  that  up
with  a  roundhouse  kick  to  the  chest,  sending  the

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attacker tumbling onto his ass.

The blond looked over his shoulder at Marty.

“You okay?” he asked in an accented tenor.

Marty’s head snapped up. He took in the

downed  men  and  the  male  shifter,  then  looked
over  and  saw  Tobias.  Picking  up  the  weapon—
which  upon  closer  inspection,  Tobias  recognized
as a tranquilizer gun—Marty rose to his feet.

“Yeah. Thanks,” Marty said, sounding

breathless but heartfelt.

Tobias heard others land behind him as he

angled a grateful look and nod to the alligator
shifter before heading toward Marty. “Where are
they?”

“N-northwest, maybe four miles,” Marty

panted.  He  looked  at Einan.  “You  need  to  hurry.
We  would  have  tried  to  get  away  together,  but
Cornelius  is  in  labor.  Roland  is  helping  him,
but…I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.”

“How many men? Who took you?” Einan

demanded.

“Bud Wallice and a number of his guards. I saw

eight.”

“Well, well,” Tobias snarled. “I get to meet the

little shit face to face.” He cracked his knuckles,
looking forward to that.

Snarling, Tobias started to turn away, but

Marty grabbed his wrist. “There’s more,” Marty
said, struggling to talk around his gasps. “These
guys have been using tranqs on us,” he told them,

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153

holding up the weapon. “But they have armor
piercing bullets and the pistols to use them. You
need to be careful.”

“We will,” Maelgwn assured. “Thank you for

getting this information to us. Go with your mate.
We’ll take care of this.”

“I should help,” Marty countered. “Show you

where they are.”

“We can backtrack your scent, Marty,” Tobias

stated. “You’ve done your part.” He noted Einan
had already started moving and turned quickly to
follow.

“Thank you, for helping my mate,” Raymond

said.

The alligator shifter offered a half bow. “Your

people  helped  me.  I  return  the  favor.”  Then,  the
naked  male  started  sprinting  through  the  woods.
Surprisingly, he caught up with and passed Einan
and  Tobias  actually  found  it  difficult  to  keep  up
with the five foot eleven, slender male.

“Damn, he’s quick,” Sapian grumbled.
Tobias mentally agreed. He actually found it

easier  to  kick  off  the  ground,  half-spread  his
wings,  and  zip  between  the  trees  that  way.
Catching  up  with  the  shifter,  he  bluntly  stated,
“This is personal for you.”

The guy nodded once, but didn’t look at him.
“Name?”
“Tristan.”
“Welcome aboard,” Tobias stated.

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Tristan grunted.
Tobias focused on scenting Marty’s trail and

moving  as  swiftly  as  possible.  When  the  smell  of
others  began  to  tickle  the  senses  on  his  sensitive
tongue, Tobias slowed. He dropped to the ground
and  came  to  a  stop.  The  others  gathered  around.
While they were off their own property, it was far
too close for Tobias’ comfort. He didn’t know how
they’d  missed  the  fact  that  Bud  Wallice  and  his
buddies  had  flown  into  the  area  and  gotten  so
close.

Anger simmered that the fucking human would

dare to take his mate. He’d make the
presumptuous asshole pay.

“Get it together, Tobias,” Maelgwn warned

gruffly. “Your mate needs you. Don’t lose your
head.”

Tobias nodded. Glancing around, he noted

Tristan was gone. He lifted a brow ridge in
question. Sapian stepped close and stated, “The
alligator is getting as close as possible. You and I
are going to circle the camp to the left. Einan and
Maelgwn will circle right.”

“We’ll take out guards as we can and get a lay

of the land,” Maelgwn rumbled.

Brow ridges shooting up, Tobias cocked his

head. Was his chieftain giving him the permission
he thought he was?

Maelgwn’s smile appeared hard and feral.
Tobias let out a long, slow breath. He wrapped

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155

his  wings  around  him  and  turned  away.  Sapian
flanked  him.  The  pair  moved  slowly,  slipping
between  trees.  Opening  his  mouth  a  bit,  he
allowed  the  air  currents  to  pass  across  the
receptors on his tongue. A musty scent caught his
attention.  He  exchanged  a  look  with  Sapian  and
from the other gargoyle’s nod, knew the enforcer
smelled the human, too.

Both started moving again, circling around the

source of the scent. Tobias spotted a flash of red
amidst the trees ahead. Spreading his wings, he
leaped and flew straight into the air. Using claws
and feet, he easily ascended the thick pine next to
him until he balanced twenty feet in the air.

Spreading his wings for balance, Tobias crept

along a thick branch, then leaped to a nearby one.
He  grew  closer  and  spotted  the  human  guard,
who  appeared  to  be  on  perimeter  watch.  Tobias
shook his head as he saw that the red he’d noted
was a red and black plaid coat. Carefully, he made
his  way  along  the  tree  limbs  until  he  perched
almost directly above him.

Tobias looked left and right. Something blue

some forty feet away caught his attention. Looking
above him, he noted that  Sapian mirrored Tobias
in  the  trees  above  the  other  man.  He  caught  the
enforcer’s  eye,  then  held  up  three  fingers  and
counted  down.  Tobias  dropped  silently  from  the
tree. He landed directly behind the male, reached
forward,  grabbed  the  surprised  male’s  head,  and

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156

twisted.

Releasing the guard, Tobias stepped back and

allowed  the  human  to  topple  to  the  ground.  He
looked right again and saw the guard at Sapian’s
feet.  After  nodding  once,  Tobias  turned  his  back
on Sapian and he knew the other gargoyle did the
same to him. They slowly moved away from each
other,  and  Tobias  knew  that—like  him—Sapian
was  checking  for  another  guard  within  the  next
fifty paces.

Tobias found one, and took that one out the

same  way  he’d  killed  the  first.  Climbing  another
tree,  he  slowly  made  his  way  in  the  direction  he
guessed  was  the  center  of  camp.  He  didn’t  see
anyone  until  the  trees  ended  at  a  large  shelf  of
mine  tailings.  He  spotted  four  men  standing
around a campfire.

Two of the men had their heads together—

apparently  strategizing.  Tobias  recognized  the
heavyset  fellow  as  Bud,  but  he  didn’t  recognize
the second man. A third man lay on a sleeping bag
spread  near  the  campfire.  He  had  a  bandage
wrapped around his shoulder and that arm was in
a sling. The scent of blood hovered in the air. The
fourth  man  stood  nearby,  glancing  around
furtively—including  at  the  pair—looking  as
nervous and hunched as a cowed dog.

A scent caught Tobias’ attention and he turned

to watch Sapian close the distance between them.
“There’s a mine fifty feet up the hill,” the enforcer

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157

told him. “That’s where Cornelius and Roland are
being held.”

Tobias gasped and his gaze snapped to peer in

that  direction, as if he could  see  over the crest of
the  tailings  pile.  Sapian  laid  a  hand  on  his
shoulder and nodded. “Go. Rescue them. I’ll cover
for you for ten minutes…make certain you’re not
disturbed.  Then,  I’ll  find  the  others  and  let  them
know the mates are safe.”

Torn, Tobias looked up the hill, then back at the

quartet of people.

Sapian grabbed his upper arm and squeezed.

“Tobias, your mate needs you.”

Swallowing hard, Tobias jerked a nod. As much

as he wished he could be the one to take out Bud,
he knew Sapian was right. His mate needed him.
His duty was to seeing to his mate’s safety…and
his heart clenched in his chest at being able to
make certain his mate was safe.

Turning away, Tobias carefully slipped through

the trees, getting as far north as possible until he
ran out of cover. Dropping from the tree, he kept
his body low and a careful eye on the horizon. He
reached the opening to the mine without incident.
When he peeked inside, he spotted a single guard.
The only problem was, there was no cover
between him and the human.

Suddenly, Cornelius screamed. Tobias’ eyes

widened and his jaw sagged. It sounded as if
Einan’s mate was dying. The guard cringed,

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158

turned to face the locked gate of the cage, and
banged on the bars as he shouted, “Shut up in
there.”

That put the human’s back to Tobias, and he

wasted no time capitalizing. He leaped forward,
spreading his wings just a bit to extend the length
of his jump, and landed on the human’s back. As
with the others, Tobias offered no mercy and
snapped his neck.

Stepping away from the toppling human,

Tobias  stepped  to  the  cage  door  and  swiped  the
lock  with  his  claws.  The  new  metal  fell  to  the
cavern  floor.  Almost  instantly,  Tobias  found  his
arms  filled  with  his  mate.  Hugging  Roland close,
Tobias  captured  his  mouth  and  thrust  his  tongue
deep.  He  allowed  himself  the  pleasure  of  tasting
his  mate,  touching  his  body,  reassuring  himself
that his mate was uninjured.

Both of them seemed to catch themselves at the

same time and draw away. Still, Roland grinned at
him, then glanced at the sunlight at the end of the
tunnel. “You molted,” he whispered.

“Yeah,” Tobias rumbled. “Nothing could keep

me from coming for you.”

Roland appeared extremely pleased by his

words, but didn’t fight when Tobias lowered him
back to the ground. “Can you shift, my mate? I
will carry Cornelius, and we’ll get the fuck out of
here.”

“Hell, yeah.”

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159

Tobias turned to Cornelius and took in the

sweaty  countenance  of  the  enforcer’s  mate.  His
eyes  were  dilated  in  pain  and  his  breath  came  in
short pants. Stepping close, he slid his arms under
the shifter’s knees and torso. “I’m sorry. This may
hurt,”  he  warned.  “I’ll  take  you  home.  Get  you
some help.”

Cornelius nodded. “What the fuck took you so

long?”

Tobias chose to ignore the shifter’s

belligerence—hell, the guy was in agony—and
didn’t reply. Instead, he lifted the man into his
arms, cradled him to his chest, and got the hell out
of there.

Tobias would rather have been in his suite with

Roland, mapping every crevice of his mate’s body
and making certain he was well. However, when
they’d arrived at the manor and the infirmary
they’d learned that Einan was still out, Roland had
insisted on staying with Cornelius.

Leroy had given the rhino shifter some pain

killers and they’d kicked in just when Gus—a
friend of Cornelius’ and also a rhino shifter—and
his mate Tible had arrived with their son, Vaclar.
While they sat and coached Cornelius, the in labor
shifter still refused to release Roland’s hand and
Roland didn’t try to pull away.

As soon as night had fallen, Perseus had

arrived and taken over the labor proceedings.

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160

Leroy had appeared more than happy to
relinquish control, but he stuck around and acted
as the doctor’s gopher.

Einan rushed in just as Cornelius was

screaming  through  his  final  push.  Sapian—his
mate  Missy  pressed  close  to  his  side—
accompanied  him  and  stopped  at  Tobias’  side.
With  half  his  attention  on  his  mate,  who  still
coached  his  friend  through  the  egg-birth,  Tobias
couldn’t help but ask, “You get everybody?”

Sapian nodded. “Yes, but not in the way you

mean. One of the guards, some guy named Walter
turned on his buddies and took a bullet meant for
Maelgwn.  He’s  with  Leroy,  who’s  prepping  him
for surgery. Ryker’s waiting for his shoulder to be
looked at.” Sapian glanced at him and smirked. “It
seems your little lynx took a hell of a chunk out of
him.” Before Tobias could grin with pride, Sapian
added,  “We  also  brought  in  Wallice.  He’s  being
held  for  questioning  in  the  servant’s  quarters.
Some of the things he  knows about us—” Sapian
paused  and  shook  his  head.  “We  need  to  know
how he knew about us.”

Growling low in his throat, Tobias frowned. He

didn’t like having those assholes so near his
mate…hell, anyone from his clutch, but he
understood the need. “Thanks for the heads up,”
he finally stated. “I’ll be interested in helping with
the interrogation.”

Snorting, Sapian nodded. “I just bet you are.”

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161

Roland appeared at his side and snuggled up to

him. Tobias wrapped his arms around him. “Hey,
sexy mate,” he greeted, so happy to have Roland
safe with him again. Lowering his head until his
lips were a hairsbreadth from his mate’s ear, he all
but purred, “I’m going to lock you in our bedroom
for the next week.”

Tobias watched goose bumps erupt on the

sensitive  skin  behind  his  lover’s  ear.  Roland
opened  his  mouth  and  sucked  in  a  harsh  breath.
He  peered  up  at  him  through  his  lashes.  “Oh,
yeah?”

“Yeah.”
“Then what?”
Tobias grinned. His mate didn’t seem to be

averse to his plan at all. Winking, he murmured,
“I’m gonna show you why it’s a good idea to
always have me around.”

“Mmm, I look forward to you proving that,”

Roland whispered.

Any response Tobias would have said was cut

off by a poignant gasp from Cornelius, and Tobias
watched  as  Perseus  settled  a  purple  and  blue
mottled  egg  into  the  rhino  shifter’s  arms.  Tobias
smiled  at  the  sweet  sight  as  Einan—who  Tobias
just knew would never admit that he was blinking
fast  to  catch  his  tears  of  joy—leaned  down  and
kissed his mate.

“That’s truly amazing,” Roland whispered.
Tobias nodded. “It is.”

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162

Roland reached up and touched Tobias cheek

softly,  drawing  his  attention.  Roland  looked
nervous  as  he  licked  his  lips,  but  he  stated,  “I’m
not  averse  to  kids,  but  I’m  really  happy  it’s  him
and not me.”

Grinning, Tobias replied, “Me, too.”
“Maybe someday?”
Nodding, Tobias nuzzled his mate’s cheek,

leaving his scent on his mate. “Maybe someday,”
he whispered.

Cornelius called Roland’s name and his mate

moved to the shifter’s bedside, ooing and ahing as
he slid his fingers over the egg.

Standing against the wall, Tobias smiled as he

watched his mate interact with the group.
Roland’s big heart astonished him, especially after
everything he’d been through. His mate had come
such a long way, had forged strong friendships,
even going so far as to stay with Cornelius instead
of escaping with Marty.

Not that Tobias thought ill of Marty. Hell,

without  his  help  and  warning,  it’d  have  taken
them far longer to locate the missing mates. They
also  would  have  been  running  into  the  situation
blind,  making  probability  for  injury,  or  even
casualty,  high.  No,  Tobias  appreciated  Marty’s
intel.

Instead, Roland had helped Cornelius, most

likely making a friend for life from not only the
small rhino shifter, but the guy’s friends, Gus and

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163

Tible, not to mention Einan. After just a few short
days, Roland had proved his heart, his worth, and
nothing could have made Tobias prouder, or
made him love him more.

Just days and I love him.
Smiling at his thoughts, Tobias couldn’t wait

for  the  opportunity  to  pull  his  mate  away.  He
looked  forward  to  laying  Roland  down  and,  not
only telling, but  showing his sexy lynx everything
he felt for him.

About the Author

Charlie  started  writing  fantasy  when  she  was
eight,  and  after  stumbling  onto  her  first  erotic
romance  at  age  nineteen,  she  realized  her  true
calling.  She  now  focuses  on  writing  gay  erotic
romance, normally of the paranormal variety, with
heroes of all kinds. With the help and support of
her  husband,  Charlie  finally  fulfilled  one  of  her
life-long goals…move to acreage with her horses.
You can often find her curled up with her laptop
and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next
adventure. Charlie enjoys exploring the mountains
of her new Oregon home on horseback, 4-wheeler,
or motorcycle.

She

can

reached

ch.richards2010@yahoo.com

Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com

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