“A dragon’s mental abilities far surpass the tech we have,” Eilam said. “Solomon is the only dragon in Midnight.”

  Garret didn’t like the idea. He didn’t want the dragon more involved in this situation. “What about using a witch?”

  Eilam frowned. “Do you have a trustworthy witch that you know? I certainly don’t.”

  Garret was silent. There was no such thing as a trustworthy witch in his book. They were only a half-step above vampire in credibility.

  “Solomon has proven himself to be a friend. I trust him to help in this situation,” Eilam said. “I’ll call him before I call Reese and Theis and get them all to come meet us here. Keep an eye on the human until I return.”

  “Yes, sir,” Garret answered.

  He leaned back against the door. At first, his instinct had been to wipe the Hart’s mind and then go after him in the human world. The more he thought about it, he knew that was stupid. His lack of knowledge of that place would be a weakness and could make it harder to find Hart once more.

  Now was the time.

  He couldn’t let them take Hart away from him.

  Chapter Four

  Hart sat on the lone chair in the room, waiting for them to bring Reese, as promised. Suddenly, he remembered the note Solomon had stuck in his pocket. He dug it out and opened the hastily folded paper.

  Reese is in Midnight, Mississippi. He’s safe and well. You were here, too, but don’t remember it.

  I’ll come for you soon and find a way to get you back in to Reese.

  -Solomon

  Hart ran a finger over the scribbled words, trying to make sense of this connection he felt to Solomon… and Garret. The kiss… and the almost kiss… he lifted his hand and touched his lips. They ached for more.

  He ached for more.

  Was it some side effect of the transmitter thing? What he wouldn’t do to get ahold of one of those things and take it apart. Refolding the note, he shoved it into his pocket just as the door reopened.

  One look at Garret had his heart racing. He licked his dry lips and watched as the man closed them in together. Garret rested one hip on the small table and looked down at Hart.

  “Reese is coming soon.”

  “Good,” Hart said. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but stopped himself as he thought better of it.

  But the longer he sat there in the silence hanging between them, he had to know the answer.

  “Where you about to kiss me? When the door opened?”

  Garret’s eyes widened some and his nostrils flared, but he remained quiet a moment. “And if I was?”

  “I’m not gay,” Hart murmured lowly, but he wasn’t quite sure who he was trying to convince. There had been times he’d felt an attraction to someone of the same sex in his life, but he’d never acted on it. No one had driven him to distraction enough to make him leap across the line in his own mind.

  He was somersaulting across it at the moment.

  “My kind… we mate males, not females. Gay is our norm where it’s outside it in your world.”

  “You mate males… as in, marriage?”

  “Marriage… family. Just as you have.”

  “But men can’t have babies.”

  “They can’t?” Garret asked, lifting one brow. “My two fathers would be surprised to hear that.”

  Hart was agog. “You grew in a man’s… a man’s what? Does your kind have uteruses?”

  “Yes and no,” Garret said. “Lions like me place a—”

  “Wait. You’re a lion?”

  Garret turned his head, and his face stretched into something beastly. Hart leapt from his seat and backed up against the wall.

  Garret was quickly back to his human form. “I wasn’t trying to frighten you. Only prove what I am.”

  Once his heart stopped beating a mile a minute, Hart returned to his seat—albeit, pulled away a little more to give him space to run.

  Not that he could go far.

  “To answer your other question—fully formed eggs are in our seed. Where your female and male come together to make a child, one partner has both and the other is the host that protects and nurtures our cubs. Some shifters mate differently—bears form triads with two bears to a human. Like your friend, Reese.”

  “Reese? He’s with two bear shifters?”

  Garret nodded. “And happy from the looks of it. At least he was tonight at the bar.”

  “Bar?” Hart shook his head. “One minute this place feels human, the next, it feels like an alien world.”

  “Humans are here in our world as mates to many Midnighters. They’ve made an impact on our culture, bringing some of their culture and customs into ours. So your reaction makes sense. This place is likely very close to yours in some ways… and very different in others.”

  “Do lions… mate with humans?”

  Garret smiled. “We do.”

  “Do you go out into the human world… and abduct humans to make yours?”

  Garret laughed loudly, the sound almost forcing a smile to Hart’s lips.

  “No, we don’t make a habit of abducting humans. Some humans are also otherworldly—like wizards and witches. Weres were once human, but some are way too violent to mate.”

  “You mean… like a werewolf.”

  “Yes, the most violent of the bunch. But there are other weres, almost as many as there are animals in your world. Werecats, weredogs, wererabbits, and the like… they’re typically more docile creatures without the violence and suitable mates for a shifter.”

  “But aren’t you a werelion?”

  “No. There’s a difference between being born a shifter and being turned. Weres were human and turned. Full shifters were born a shifter. They’re stronger and in better control of their animal spirit. A werelion would be too dangerous a creature to be alone in a room with.”

  Hart eyed Garret. “Aren’t you afraid you’re telling me too much? You said I posed a danger to your people just knowing about this place.”

  Garret smiled wistfully. “I’m not worried.”

  Hart frowned. “Why aren’t you worried?”

  Garret opened his mouth to answer, but the door swung open. Reese rushed in, a wide smile on his face. “Hart! I’m so happy to see you.”

  Two other men walked into the room with Reese. Garret rose to his full height and nodded. “I’ll leave you so you can talk.”

  Hart watched the man leave, suddenly missing his presence.

  “Are you okay?” Reese asked.

  “No,” Hart said, shaking his head. “I’m not. I don’t understand this place… or what it’s making me feel.”

  * * * *

  Solomon couldn’t believe his night.

  Trading barbs with Garret had turned into a trek into the human world. Then, he’d come across his mate. He’d kissed the human and tasted the sweetness of what was his and been forced to walk away from it.

  Not that he was letting go.

  The king hadn’t wanted to allow Reese into Midnight because he hadn’t been fully mated—even though he was a mate. If that was the rule the king wanted to follow, Solomon knew what he needed to do.

  Once they sent the human through, he’d go get the man who was his.

  After Garret had attempted to get rid of him, he’d waited in the terminal to see when they ushered the human back through the portal. He’d watched the herds of Midnighters moving in and out of the terminal, wondering what their stories were. Why they were going. Where they were going.

  Time passed, and he never saw the human escorted out like the other three had been.

  Then he’d gotten a call from Eilam to come to the terminal to offer assistance.

  Solomon was almost sure what the request would be, and if it was, he didn’t like it.

  The second he was ushered into the room, he saw Reese, Theis, Colm, Eilam, and Garret were all in the same small room with his human. Their scents fell away. All he could smell was the aroma of his mate.

  Eilam spoke up. “I asked Solomon to come here. To wipe Hart’s memory of Midnight.”

  Hart. Solomon fought a smile coming to his lips. He liked the name… it was fitting for a dragon’s mate.

  “No,” Reese cried. “There has to be a way for him to stay.”

  “You know the king’s decree,” Eilam said to Reese. “You had a visit with your friend. You both know each other is safe and well, as you asked. He can’t stay.”

  Reese sighed and turned to Hart. “Maybe I can visit someday… after a certain event.”

  Reese’s eyes widened and he frowned.

  What event?

  “We’ll make sure you can see each other again,” Theis said. “Promise.”

  After Reese and his mates had said their goodbyes, they left the room.

  Solomon walked closer to Hart and smiled down at the human. “This won’t hurt.”

  Hart took a breath and appeared to steel himself before nodding. “Do what you must.”

  Solomon lifted his hands and pressed his fingertips to Hart’s head. It wasn’t necessarily required—he only needed to be close and have eye contact with someone to get inside their mind. He simply wanted to touch his mate.

  Mark him in some tiny way.

  He pressed, knowing what he was doing was wrong, but it was the only way his plan could work. Once they released him into the human world, he could woo his human. Once claimed, Hart could live in Midnight if the man wanted to.

  Solomon struggled piercing Hart’s mind. He could see whispers of the human’s memories, but they were more like faded ghosts of the past. On he pushed, until he realized it was impossible.

  “His mind can’t be wiped.”

  “Why not?” Eilam asked.

  Garret crept closer, frowning. Solomon turned to both Garret and Eilam. “I’ve never encountered a human like him. I can’t penetrate his mind… only see faded bits of what’s inside his memory.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know… but he is mentally stronger than most humans because of one reason. He’s a dragon’s mate.” Solomon released a shaky breath as he stared down at the human. “More accurately… my mate.”

  “He’s not,” Garret spat. “You’re wrong.”

  “I think I know my mate when I see him,” Solomon said.

  “Your mate?” The incredulous look on Garret’s face was almost humorous. “He’s not your mate. I know it.”

  “And how do you know that?”

  “Because he’s my mate,” Garret said lowly, his voice barely above a growl.

  Solomon met Garret’s stare. “That’s impossible.”

  Chapter Five

  Hart stood between two huge, growling men nearly nose to nose with one another. “Stop this!” he screamed, pushing them apart. “I belong to no one.”

  Both men stared down at him before backing up a step. Neither moved too far away, as if they could lose their claim on him if they weren’t right on top of him. He angled himself out from the middle some so he could breathe.

  “It’s late,” Eilam said. “Hart can remain here in the station tonight and get some rest. I can go to the king in the morning and see what His Majesty wants to do.”

  “Or you could send me home,” Hart spat.

  “Without being able to wipe your memory of this place, I can’t let you leave.”

  “So I’m a prisoner.”

  Eilam sighed. “No. Not really. We’ll figure this out, Hart. One way or another, I promise you we will find a way to fix this and let you go—if that’s what you want.”

  “I do,” Hart said, glaring at the two men still looming over him, looking like two prize fighters about to go head to head. That was one fight he didn’t want to have a ringside seat for, especially since one of them likely had some deadly claws.

  “He can come home with me tonight,” Solomon said. “I’ll keep watch over him and ensure he stays safe.”

  “Oh no. As a member of the King’s Guard, I’m a much better choice,” Garret blasted.

  “Neither of you will take him. He can stay here in the station under watch from the transit authority,” Eilam yelled. “Back off.”

  “You can’t leave him here overnight,” Garret argued. “He already thinks he’s a prisoner. At least give him a comfortable place to stay tonight as our guest. I have a spare room he can use.”

  “No,” Solomon roared.

  “He can stay at my place,” Eilam shouted. “My gods, you two need to calm the hell down.”

  “Yeah, what he said,” Hart tossed in.

  Both men looked his way before eyeing each other angrily again.

  “Both of you get out of here,” Eilam commanded. “And if I see either of you sniffing around my place, I’ll have you gelded.” He paused, eyeing them. “You hear me?”

  Both men nodded, backing up another step before turning toward the door. They left, each of them giving Hart a last look over a shoulder before disappearing through the door. Once it was closed, Hart could breathe properly again.

  He turned to Eilam, who watched him close.

  “You feel a connection to either of those idiots?”

  Hart didn’t know how much he should share. He shook his head. “No.”

  “Liar,” Eilam said with a smile to his lips. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here before they come back for round two.”

  * * * *

  “What in the hell was that bullshit?” Garret asked Solomon.

  Solomon stopped, turning to face the lion shifter. He was in no mood for Garret’s mouth in that moment. He stepped closer, getting into the man’s face. “Bullshit? I could ask the same of you. He’s a dragon’s mate, not a lion’s mate.”

  “You knew he was mine. You wanted to cause more trouble and fuck up my future—why?”

  Solomon stared at the lion a moment. “You truly believe he’s your mate, don’t you?”

  “He is mine.”

  “And I believe he’s mine with the same passion.”

  “Well… you’re wrong,” Garret said. “You need to get this idiotic idea out of your head and let him go. He’s mine.”

  Solomon growled. “I’m already weary of this argument.”

  “Same here,” Garret said, almost nose to nose with Solomon.

  Solomon wasn’t quite sure how the kiss began.

  One second they were irate and arguing and the next, they were kissing and tugging one another closer.

  As quickly as it started, it was over.

  Garret backed away, eyes wide and mouth open. “Why did you do that?”

  “You kissed me,” Solomon said. At least he thought Garret had kissed him. It all happened so fast, he wasn’t sure.

  Garret took another step back. “Stop messing with my head. And stay out of my way.”

  The lion growled as he spun on his heel and stormed away.

  Solomon let out a shaky breath, more confused than ever.

  * * * *

  After an amazing walk through the transit authority and into the city the night before, Hart was now standing inside what appeared to be a medieval castle—which was quite confusing. Near sunset, they’d walked into the front door of a metal skyscraper that towered over the others lining the city street. The expansive lobby had been all metal and marble floors. Somehow, they were now walking on old stone floors. Ancient-looking tapestries covered the stone walls.

  The ceilings rose to thirty feet as they entered a grand hall. Courtiers stood on either side of an aisle. Ahead, was a dais with a single ornate throne. Behind it hung several multicolored silk banners.

  Solomon and Garret stood at the base of the stairs to the king’s throne, staring down the aisle at him.

  The only other thing on the dais was a small man who looked more fairy than human. Eilam had already been warned the King of Midnight was a powerful warlock who often had foul moods. Hart hadn’t been frightened when he’d been told, but he was sweating now as they walked closer.

  When they stopped before the dais, Eilam knelt slightly. After the monarch’s eyebrow rose, Hart realized he should, too, and quickly made a bow before rising to gaze upon the first warlock he’d seen.

  Well, that wasn’t quite true. He’d met a lot of men in his business who’d claimed to be warlocks, but none of them had been able to conjure anything. One of the more interesting facets of his job as a paranormal hunter—he’d seen his fair share of wackos.

  He could feel power and strength radiating off the king. Goose bumps rose on his flesh—an almost static charge tickling his skin.

  Hart glanced at the elfin man. He was maybe three inches shorter than Hart with a narrower frame. Long, silky black hair cascaded well past his shoulders. A few locks were pressed behind one ear, showing the pointed tip.

  And he was… beautiful, almost in a feminine way.

  “I understand your memory cannot be wiped,” the king said.

  “Seems so,” Hart said, not sure what else to say.

  The king tilted his chin up slightly and stared down his angular nose. “And you wish to go back to your human world… or remain here?”

  “I want to go home.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question,” the king said, narrowing his lids some.

  “Home… my human home. Your Majesty.”

  “He’s a natural witch,” the king said to Eilam.

  Hart frowned. “What?”

  “It would explain things, but I don’t sense it on him.”

  The king took a few steps down, stopping at the last one. “A witch. He has the gift, I can sense it on him.” The king eyed him. “Which means you could be welcomed here in Midnight and call it home, if you chose.”

  “I’m no witch.”

  “Have you ever experienced premonition? More often than other humans?”

  “That’s no proof that I’m a witch. And wouldn’t it be warlock since I’m a man?”

  “No. Warlocks are more powerful than witches—and have a mastery over darker magic. A male witch is simply a witch, but any witch can work to become a warlock in time,” the king said. “Do you often find yourself lucky… experiences fall into your lap, you win contests more often… games are easy to master… people are easy to charm…”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12