Fangs with a Heart E-Book

Tempeste O'Riley

• Herausgeber: Dreamspinner Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 435

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Chain of Fate: Book Two Lynx shifter Trace Wilson's fun-loving exterior hides a heart scarred by severe domestic violence—a heart that might not ever trust another male, fated mate or not. When Trace moves to Seattle to take his place as trainer and council representative to the Glacier Rim Tribe, he discovers his mate is the vampire prince Sasha Tolstoi, leader of the Konstantin Coven. It's not something Trace is ready to accept. Not now, maybe not ever. But if there's one thing Sasha knows how to do, it's how to be patient, especially when his fated heart is also his perfect sub. When an outside force threatens the fragile bond slowly forming between them—and nearly kills Trace—Trace's instincts shift into high gear. Sasha is powerful, and that means he has enemies, among them several rival covens and an uncle determined to force Sasha into a marriage with a vampire princess. But why involve the lynx Trace in their maneuvering? Finding the culprit won't be easy, and it will mean building trust—a slow and difficult prospect for someone who's suffered as much as Trace. Finding a way to move beyond the past, and to love, before those out to finish Sasha can destroy either, is a race the two fated hearts have to win.

Leseprobe

Fangs with a Heart

By Tempeste O’Riley

Chain of Fate: Book Two

Lynx shifter Trace Wilson’s fun-loving exterior hides a heart scarred by severe domestic violence—a heart that might not ever trust another male, fated mate or not. When Trace moves to Seattle, WA, to take his place as trainer and council representative to the Glacier Rim Tribe, he discovers his mate is the vampire prince Sasha Tolstoi, leader of the Konstantin Coven. It’s not something Trace is ready to accept. Not now, maybe not ever. But if there’s one thing Sasha knows how to do, it’s how to be patient, especially when his fated heart is also his perfect sub.

When an outside force threatens the fragile bond slowly forming between them—and nearly kills Trace—Trace’s instincts shift into high gear. Sasha is powerful, and that means he has enemies, among them several rival covens and an uncle determined to force Sasha into a marriage with a vampire princess. But why involve the lynx Trace in their maneuvering? Finding the culprit won’t be easy, and it will mean building trust—a slow and difficult prospect for someone who’s suffered as much as Trace. Finding a way to move beyond the past, and to love, before those out to finish Sasha can destroy either, is a race the two fated hearts have to win.

Table of Contents

Blurb

Acknowledgments

Author’s Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Epilogue

More from Tempeste O’Riley

Readers love Whiskers of a Chance by Tempeste O’Riley

About the Author

By Tempeste O’Riley

Visit Dreamspinner Press

Copyright

Acknowledgments

I WOULD like to thank all my wonderful readers for their love and desire for my lynx boys. When I wrote Whiskers of a Chance, I had no idea it would touch so many (or that I would get so many demands for Trace and Sasha’s story beginning on release day for Whiskers, lol). Thank you for making my dive into shifters so fun and rewarding.

I would also like to thank Grace R. Duncan and Nikki Prince, without whom I would never have written any kitties. And of course Ginnifer, Elizabeth, Lynn, and the entire DSP staff.

Author’s Note

THE TOPIC of domestic abuse is dealt with within these pages. How much of Trace’s past to show and how to let you see his ongoing issues due to the “long-ago” domestic abuse wasn’t an easy decision. While I never nearly died, I was abused, so this was very personal for me in places. Sadly, abusers come from all races, genders, religions, walks of life, etc. There is a misconception that women are the ones abused. While women often are, they are by no means the only ones. Unfortunately, there is a stigma if a man seeks out help, admitting to being the abused. Trace may be a figment of my imagination, but he is by no means alone as a victim of domestic abuse. There is also a belief by some that women won’t abuse other women. The sad truth is that all genders can and do abuse and all genders can be and are abused. No one is “safe” or “bad” simply due to gender.

If you are hurting—mentally, physically—from mental, emotional, sexual, and/or physical abuse, don’t listen to the perpetrator. There are people willing to help. There are programs that can help you get away and back on your feet. Check with your local LGBT center, on the Internet, your church/temple/circle, your family, etc.

Don’t try to go it alone. Don’t stay, believing you have nowhere to go. No one has the right to hurt you. Ever.

To find help, here are a few links. These are by no means the only ones, but these are a few of the ones I know:

DomesticShelters.org (https://www.domesticshelters.org/)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: [phone]

Gay Men’s Domestic Violence Project (http://gmdvp.org/gmdvp/): 1-800-832-1901

Chapter One

“SIR, ARE you sure there’s nothing any of us can do to lighten your mood?” Jalin asked as Sasha stared out the window next to his chair. The view outside wasn’t any better or worse than from his suite of rooms, but seeing the worried look on his most trusted assistant’s face hadn’t gotten any easier in the last few years. Not that an answer on how to solve the issues facing him would appear no matter where he looked. He knew because early on, he’d tried.

The view outside his window was magnificent, even if it was lost on him. The grounds at his covenstead were always perfectly maintained—his people would do no less for their prince, of course. This year the gardens were filled with roses in a vast array of colors and types, as well as climbing vines and other flowering plants complementing the benches and statuary, depending on which area you viewed. The mountains in the distance were glorious, no matter how many decades or centuries one looked upon them. But with no one to share them with….

Jalin sighed, something that not that long ago would have annoyed Sasha. Until recently, Jalin would never have done such within Sasha’s hearing, believing it was beyond inappropriate to show such attitude and emotion to his liege. But Sasha understood, even if he didn’t seem to be able to care. He was worrying them, those closest to him. Probably some of the others in his coven as well, which wasn’t the best thing to do. If any of his enemies found out about his distraction or morose attitude of late, he would be putting his friends, family, and more in danger. Even that truth failed to stir much within him, though.

“My lord—”

“Your worry is duly noted, Jalin. But I can’t fix things how you want me to.” Sasha took a deep breath and pasted on a smile. “Now, do you have today’s agenda for me?”

“Yes, sir. Also Jason called and would like, and I quote, ‘my best friend to get off his little fanged ass and call me.’”

He couldn’t help it. Even with how he felt, Sasha still found himself chuckling. “That was a pretty good impression of Jason, actually. Keith would love to see you do that.”

The gulp he got for a reply only made him laugh harder. “See, you wanted me lighter, and you found a way. By the way, why did Jason call you instead of me?” Even in the years since Jason had learned of who and what Sasha truly was and had met Jalin (Sasha’s valet and assistant) and Summer and Dimka (his personal guard, though they had spent a few years guarding Jason until he had met and been claimed by his lynx shifter mate, Keith Skyler), Jason still always sought Sasha first, no matter what.

“I believe he did call you, but you didn’t answer. You’ve been doing that a lot as of late, sir. It’s, well… we’re worried. Dimka said your… distraction, along with some of your other more—” He paused, head cocked to the side as he seemed to think for a moment. “—worrisome behaviors started about the same time you ran into that cat, um, Trace—the council representative—not that long ago. You’ve always seemed to get along well enough with him, even if you two do appear a little cool toward one another. But since that night, you seem….”

Jalin continued talking, but Sasha couldn’t make himself pay attention. Sasha knew the night Jalin referenced, and yes, that was part of the problem. He’d been out, Dimka and Summer his loyal shadows as usual, when he’d run into Keith Skyler’s council representative cat, Trace. The lynx had been dressed to kill. His pale blond hair had been artfully arranged in spikes so he resembled some fanciful manga character, only more lovely. Trace had worn skintight black jeans, a slim-fitting pale green turtleneck sweater that made his jade eyes nearly glow, and a pair of low-cut black boots with silver buckles. Unfortunately the other accessory he had was a cute human, probably in his early thirties, hanging all over him.

Sasha and Trace weren’t a couple. They never had been, never would be, and yet Sasha still felt the sting of betrayal. Again. And it was stupid to be upset a damn cat wanted to hang out with a human instead of him when they’d mutually rejected the idea of bonding with the other. Sadly that didn’t help him feel any better.

Instead of dwelling on what would never be, Sasha pulled his cell out of his pocket and tapped the screen, then frowned when it didn’t light up. He tried clicking the side button but again, nothing happened. “Dammit. I think I let it die. That might explain why he couldn’t get me. I suppose I should be glad he didn’t show up worried.” Or angry.

Jalin held out his hand. When Sasha handed his phone over, he checked Jalin’s face, but it gave nothing away. Of course, that was one of the reasons Sasha’s father had chosen Jalin to be Sasha’s assistant and, well, valet, basically, when he was a younger prince. Jalin disappeared for a moment, then returned and handed Sasha the cell back, except it lit up this time.

“Um….”

“I have a couple of replacement batteries for all your devices, just in case. The battery that was in there is on the charger now and will be ready soon. As for the rest of your day, you need to call Jason, as I said. You have a formal meeting with Alpha Keith this afternoon at his home on the tribe lands. Your coven members would like to see you out and about, especially if your old, playful, princely self could make an appearance.” Jalin sounded so hopeful, and for that alone, Sasha resolved to do better at hiding his pain.

At least it wasn’t like human royalty. He didn’t have a king or queen to cater to. As the ruling prince, he was the ruler of all vampires in the area, just as Keith was the ruler of all the lynx in his tribal area. Actually in Keith’s case, because he was a Chosen of Baast, other alphas were starting to swear loyalty to him, something Sasha knew he needed to keep an eye on if he could just manage to keep his attention on anything other than his issues, thanks to Trace.

“And I sent Summer to investigate a couple of possibly rogue vampires new to the area.”

Rogue? Sasha pinned Jalin with a glare, not amused to only just now be learning of this. He never allowed any vampires who might jeopardize his coven, his allies in his territory, or Jason. “Why wasn’t I informed of their presence immediately?”

“I only learned of them just before coming in to speak with you, my lord—sir.” Jalin would learn, dammit. Sasha worked in the human world and couldn’t have his personal assistant using nobility terms around the humans. Hospital CEOs, while pompous at times, simply didn’t have their workers use my lord or liege in the normal course of their day. It would cause undue curiosity and concern—things he and his allies did not need. “They haven’t done anything, that we know of, to warrant anything but Summer checking on them. They haven’t even been in the city long enough to have broken protocol. They are still within time constraints about entrance versus presentation, sir. I merely wished to gather the information you would need and to alert you to their presence.”

“I want to know the moment Summer reports back.”

“Yes, sir. Also your mother’s uncle sent word again that he wishes an audience with you about your rejection of the proposed betrothal between yourself and Princess Tatiana.”

Sasha spun back to face Jalin as he clenched his fists so tight he felt flesh give to nails. “If I ever bond, it will be for love and love only. He will not force my hand in this!”

“Y-yes, my lord,” Jalin squeaked. “I-I-I—”

“Mother would never have allowed him to try this, and I will not be browbeaten or guilted into bonding to some girl for his gain.”

Jalin trembled where he stood as he continued to stare at Sasha. Sasha knew he needed to control his temper better, but bonding was a sore point, and not just because of Trace. He’d always hated the idea of forced marriage—and this wasn’t his uncle’s first attempt.

Sasha knew how much even his friends feared his temper when he unleashed it, not that he had ever harmed any of those closest to him, be they friend or servant. Only Jason, of all his friends alive, had never seen the true power held within him, and he’d once watched as Sasha held a feline twice his size off the ground as he strangled him unconscious. Sasha found out later the lynx shifter in question had since lost the ability to make a sound in either his human or his cat skins. The point was, Jalin didn’t deserve Sasha’s anger or pain, as none of this was Jalin’s fault.

“Dammit, Jalin,” he said, pitching his voice as soft and calm as he could manage. “I’m not upset with you and should not have taken it out on you like that.”

“It’s all right, my—”

“No, it’s not, and being your prince makes what I just said and did even less forgivable.”

“But understandable considering what he’s trying to do to you.”

There was that. Sasha had never approved of forced, arranged marriages, even when they were commonplace. He knew his father, the previous prince, had felt the same, and his parents had been a true bond pair, or what vampires called fated hearts. Sasha had always held out a tiny little hope he would find his own fated partner—even if such destined bondings were so rare that many didn’t believe them to be more than children’s stories, like the fairy tales told to human children about fairy godmothers and princesses. However, since both his parents and his sister had found their fated heart, the child within him had hoped. Unfortunately, like them, that hope was now gone.

“Maybe if you took a consort? Even if only in name, maybe your uncle would give up and find something useful to do instead of frustrate you with women you have no interest in?” Jalin then flushed a light pink. Vampires never colored much, but it was still both fetching and amusing. “I didn’t mean to speak out of turn about your uncle. Forgive me, please.”

Sasha waved away Jalin’s worries and instead addressed the true issue. “I can’t do that to someone—make them believe they have my affections but then withhold the same.”

“Surely there’s someone—”

“No, and there won’t be.” Not as long as Trace lived—and lynx were a rather long-lived race. Not that Sasha thought Trace was all that old for a man, much less for a shifter, nor could he tolerate the thought of anything happening to the infuriating cat.

Unlike Trace, the thought of touching anyone else made Sasha physically ill. He’d tried a couple of times over the last few years to ignore what should have been between them. They had never done anything more than shake hands once, so he had hoped he could have a normal life still. Unfortunately he’d had to face the truth: not only did Trace not want to bond with Sasha, but Trace was out trolling bars for companionship. He still couldn’t figure out how Trace could do that when Sasha could barely manage to touch his own coven members in a platonic sense since meeting the damnable feline—not without the horrible sense he was somehow filthy down to his core after, and that was from nonsexual touching. Sex wasn’t possible. Not since the day he’d met Trace.

“Not even for—”

“Jalin, don’t.”

“But—”

“For the love of all that’s holy, please don’t continue that sentence.” Please. Sasha wasn’t even safe from Trace in his dreams or imaginings now, so no, he doubted he could take Jalin’s hopes right then. “Now go be positive somewhere else so I can call Jason.”

“As you wish.”

Sasha waited for the door to close before he grumbled, “And you are so not Westley.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Wouldn’t even get the Princess Bride reference, would you? He knew Jason would have laughed. The thought almost made him smile. He pulled his cell back out and pressed speed dial two—Jason on his contacts list. It only took a moment for the call to connect, and then his best friend’s voice came through the line. “Sasha! Where were you?”

“Sorry, hon, just a stupid battery snafu.” He did his best to maintain his upbeat, playful tone like he always had. One day maybe it would even feel natural again. “What’s up?”

“Not much. I know you’re coming out to talk to Keith, but I’d hoped you’d have some time to spend with Sean and me too.”

Sasha couldn’t help it. He snorted into the phone. “Like I’ve ever not had time for you and, since the little tyke came along, for him too. He’s my favorite nephew, after all.”

“He’s your only nephew, Sasha,” Jason deadpanned.

“He’d still be my favorite even if you had others.” Besides, Sasha figured he’d need a pick-me-up by the time he finished dealing with Keith. Or more precisely, finished with who else he would likely have to deal with. “And I don’t discriminate. I claim little Zeke too.” Zeke was Keith’s sister’s son, making him Jason’s nephew, but as far as Sasha was concerned, both boys were his nephews.

“I know you d-do, but you’ve been quiet lately, and I’m w-worried.”

Oh no, no no no no no. “Hon, relax. I’m all right, so you can calm yourself down right now.”

“I’m not upset,” Jason groused, then huffed. “Stupid stutter giving me away.”

“It does, but I’ve not heard you do that with me in years and years, so what gives? Do I need to come over early?” Was something wrong with Jason or Sean?

“No. We’re fine. It’s you I’m worried about. You’re brooding, not that I know why. And quiet. And… I don’t know, being all not-Sasha. You know, not being you.”

Sasha counted to ten in his head before letting out a slow breath. “Jason, hon, I don’t know what’s gotten into that head of yours, but I can’t be anyone but Sasha, as that’s who I am. Now how about I come out a little early and we chat before I deal with whatever it is your lovely hubby wants a formal meeting between the vamps and the kitties over, huh? You’ll feel better, and Summer and Dimka can have a chance to say hi before they have to check out security. They’ll enjoy getting to talk with Keith’s guards, Chance and Kelley, and do the whole protection detail thing they all do. Everyone’s happy that way.”

Almost everyone. Since it would be a formal meeting, Trace would most likely be there. That meant Sasha would have to see him, smell him, hear him… all around deal with being in the presence of the male he couldn’t have but wanted on a level that made him ache in ways he had never thought he could that fateful day five years ago.

“Well, can’t say that I’ve ever turned down time with you, so of course you and your group can come out early.”

“Sweet. Then once Summer is back and I’ve had time to catch up on a few things to do with the hospital, I’ll head out to your tribe lands.”

“Cool. See ya in a bit, then. Hugs.”

Once the cell phone was quiet again, the room seemed more oppressive than before, something Sasha hadn’t thought possible. He pocketed his phone as he stood. He needed to finish dressing for the day and then head over to the hospital before driving out to the lynx shifter tribe lands where his best friend, human or vampire, lived. He knew he could delegate all his administrative duties, but he liked to be a part of the human world and the fact that what he did helped heal humans, even if he wasn’t a healer himself. Most of his kind thought little of humans—some covens even cultivated humans as humans did cattle—but his parents had raised him better than that. They were people, just like vampires or shifters, and while some saw him and his coven as a little odd, they couldn’t exactly say much to criticize one of the most powerful in the Americas in strength, abilities, and money.

Sasha still remembered asking his mother once when he was young why they didn’t hunt the shifters like other covens did. Her answer whispered through his thoughts on a regular basis. All creatures belong to the world, and while we need to live and feed, so do they.Shifters do nothing inherently that denies us the right to live, therefore we do not have the right to deny them their right to live. It was similar to why his father insisted humans shouldn’t be killed or treated as cattle. Vampires could make feeding pleasurable for a human and did not need to kill in order to satiate themselves, and as such it was both gluttonous and murderous to deny humans the right to live. The harming of humans and shifters had been outlawed in that area for so long all vampires knew it, and even rogues knew not to challenge a Tolstoi rule unless they wished death.

Sadly the human propensity for cruelty and corruption led to Seattle still having a high crime and death rate….

Sasha shook off thoughts of his parents and death and focused on the day ahead.

As he gathered his wallet and keys, his gaze fell on the stupid silver Baast-inspired bangle bracelet he’d bought a couple of nights before. In fact, it matched some of the ones he had on, except for the tiny paw prints at the hinge locks. Each of Sasha’s was the more traditional type, as they fit over his hand without the need of a clasp. This one would pop open if pushed from inside, such as if a shifter forgot to take it off before shifting. Sasha had had it made for Trace in a fit of idiocy. It wasn’t as though a lynx’s paw was larger than a human’s, but with rings and such they risked losing a finger or toe if they forgot to take it off. He knew the cat liked bangles, bracelets, rings, and the like, but, being a shifter, he didn’t wear such things unless he knew for sure he wouldn’t be shifting—such as the first time he had met Jason. Too much risk, he’d been told. Of course Sasha had never met a shifter who wore anything like that either, though most shifters didn’t talk much with vampires. He had heard of a wolf shifter that had a missing ring finger due to wearing a wedding ring for his human wife and forgetting once, so he made sure all of the pretties he had made for Trace were safe.

This wasn’t even the first one of these Sasha’d had made for Trace. All with either the singular pressure hinges or with magnetic clasps, depending on the exact item. He’d even had some of them delivered to Trace, anonymously of course. Not even Jason or Jalin knew about Sasha’s unfortunate insanity where the cat was concerned. Well, Jalin knew some, but not the full extent, thankfully.

He couldn’t even explain why he had them made or sent. He didn’t want Trace. Trace didn’t want him. They were never going to be a couple. So why send him tokens…? Yeah, even in his own head, it sounded insane. With a resigned sigh, Sasha shoved the bangle into one of his desk drawers before he turned and left his suite, resolving, again, not to let Trace get to him and to live his life as he always had. Now if he could only convince his heart to listen.

Chapter Two

TRACE PROWLED from treetop to treetop, unable to settle either his nerves or his body. His alpha, Keith Skyler, had ordered him to shift and go relax before their meeting with Aleksandr “Sasha” Tolstoi, Prince of the Konstantin Coven. Ha! Right, like he could do any such thing knowing he would have to spend the next few hours, most likely, with Prince Sasha. The infuriating vampire got under his fur even when he wasn’t around.

He brushed against the trunk of another tree, loving the feel against his fur, the tug and scritch of the bark of the huge old trees in the forest around Seattle, Washington. Trace had been to older forests, to ones technically nicer, better, et cetera, in Canada—where he was from—but in the years since he’d moved to Seattle, he’d found a love for the forest, the shifters, and the other beings here he’d never expected. Unfortunately he’d also found his mate. An utterly unwanted and unacceptable mate. Trace had no place in his life for such things, no place in his heart now, and fated or not, there was no way any vampire, even if he was sex on two legs, would change his mind. Ever.

If they’d met when Trace was younger… but wishes weren’t fishes, and he didn’t even want a long-term partner, much less a vampire mate!

“Trace?” Jason’s voice rang up through the trees.

Huh? Wonder what the human could want with me? Trace bounded down from branch to branch, curiosity cooling his ire at them for sending him outside as if he were a naughty kitten. He stopped, balancing on a branch just above Jason, and batted at Jason’s hair, careful to keep his claws away from Jason’s skin—Alpha Keith was not the forgiving sort when it came to his mate.

Jason’s chuckle was warm and sweet. “You’re all so playful when in your fur.” He smiled up at Trace, and the open and honest appreciation there made Trace relax a little more. How he wished he could have found a mate when he was younger, like how Keith had Jason. Not that he wanted Jason, he never had, but once upon a time, he wished for someone to share his life with. Someone who would dote on him the way Jason did Keith, who would look at him how they did each other.

Shaking off that horrible train wreck of a thought, he mewled at Jason, curious why he was out looking for Trace instead of inside his home with his mate and kit.

“You know I can’t understand you when you’re a lynx, Trace, so don’t ask me what I want via mewing.”

And yet that’s exactly what I asked…. Trace cocked his head and twitched one tufted ear at Jason and waited.

“Oh, fine. Like I don’t know what you want to know. Anywhozit, Sasha and his people will be here soon, and I thought you might wish to meet the fanged and fabulous with pants on instead of fur, though lovely fur it is. If not, you’re free to stay out until the meeting.”

They’re coming early? Dammit! Trace thumped down onto the ground beside Jason, landing on his feet, but still not as cleanly and daintily as he would have liked. So much for relaxing. He head-butted Jason’s leg before rubbing against him a few times, trying to get the man moving.

Trace didn’t appreciate the laughter, but he held his head high as he stalked back to his little house so he could shift and re-dress before having to deal with the damn vampires.

“Sorry, Trace, but this is my home, ya know. You don’t have to herd me back with you like I’m one of the children.”

No, but you’re more vulnerable than a shifter, and something might be around that could hurt you. Trace had smelled and felt the presence of something unknown to him out in the forest a few days prior. It hadn’t been on the part that was tribe land, but it still unnerved him. He’d told Keith, but no one else had, as of yet, found the scent he’d noticed.

It didn’t take long before Jason and Trace were back at Jason’s home. Once he was certain Jason was inside, Trace darted back to his own home, which was thankfully close by. He slipped into the kitchen via the cat door—something most all the homes on the tribe land had—then stood still as the shift washed over him. His fur receded as his body broke apart and reformed. Thankfully Baast, in Her infinite wisdom, had made the process painless. It was more a tickle and rush of sensation than anything, at least for him. He’d heard it was different for others, but he’d keep how it felt, thanks.

Naked and crouched, he twitched and stretched, reorienting himself to his human body and limbs before standing. He hated going too fast and falling—which he’d done more than once when younger. The pops felt good, though, as did his human muscles flexing. “Clothing, then back to Keith’s and to dealing with the vampires.” He could do this. He was certain if he just chanted it enough in his head, it would stick, and eventually it would all be okay again.

It didn’t take long to get dressed, as he’d laid out his clothing earlier in the day, knowing about the meeting and that Sasha would be there. The fact they would not mate didn’t stop him from making sure he looked damn fine in his slate-gray suit pants with a starched white shirt and the jade-green tie and accents. Shoes on and assorted extras gathered, his gaze fell on the strange gathering of jewelry sitting on top of his tall dresser. That he had an admirer was obvious, but he’d never found out who it was—not really. He suspected Sasha at times, but why would a prince send him anonymous gifts? No, that made no sense, so he always ended up back at square one when trying to figure out who would send the presents. Bangles, bracelets, necklaces, and even a torc had arrived sporadically over the time since he moved to Seattle. He didn’t often wear any of the items, as most shifters didn’t wear jewelry of any kind, though all the pieces were made specifically with a shifter’s needs in mind. Still….

Without allowing himself to consider why, Trace gathered up a set of bangles and quickly slipped them onto his right wrist, making sure they settled over his sleeve properly before he slipped outside. He took a deep breath, taking in the clean air and fresh scent of the various pines, oaks, and other trees in the area, then sauntered over to Keith and Jason’s.

No one lived too close to their alpha and alpha’s mate, though Taylor, Keith’s sister, was the next closest. Then there were the homes of Keith’s closest friends; Vance, his second; Chance and Kelley, his enforcers/guards; and Trace, his adviser and council representative. After that the tribe chose their own layout of homes, with tribe council and members intermixed as they saw fit, though Keith and Jason did insist on proper roadway plans and such. Trace had enjoyed watching as Chance and the wolf shifter Caleb had worked together to map out the lynx tribe “town” of sorts. This was the only tribe he knew of who worked so closely with wolf shifters or with vampires.

And thinking of vampires, Trace caught sight of the prince’s sleek metallic off-black Charger Hellcat, followed by a black SUV coming down the road as he reached the front porch of Keith and Jason’s home. He bit back a sigh and turned away to knock on the door, refusing to acknowledge he’d seen the vampires coming. The polite thing to do would have been to wait, he knew, but he didn’t think his nerves could manage it. He needed the other lynx around him if he had any hope of surviving the meeting. They and the topic should serve to distract his need and his unease at being near Sasha.

“You can come in,” Keith’s voice boomed from the other side of the door. “No need to knock, Trace. I can both hear and scent you out there.”

Trace turned the knob and pushed the door open, then stepped inside. “It’s your home, Alpha. It’s only polite.”

“I sent for you.”

“And I am here as requested, sir.”

Keith shook his head but smiled. “Did your outing do you any good at all?”

With a shrug, Trace replied, “No good was needed. I’m all right. The vampire coven representatives are arriving now. Are we ready?”

Jason came out of the side hall that led to the bedrooms. “Yeah. Sean is down for his nap and the oak door is closed, so he shouldn’t hear anything.”

“You don’t really think there will be any yelling, do you?” Keith asked, a sudden frown marring his handsome face. “He’s your best friend and our ally, but I won’t have him scaring Sean.”

“You know I can hear you,” Sasha said as he sauntered into the large, open-space-layout living room they were all standing in. “Pardon my intrusion, as I know this is official, not a personal visit, but I was the topic of discussion and the door was open.”

Dayum! Trace fought not to shiver as he took in all five feet six inches of Sasha Tolstoi, vampire prince and walking wet dream. His clothes had to have been made for him, how they hugged his body and accentuated every curve and plane. It took a moment for Trace to fight down his lynx, who didn’t like that Trace refused to go get their mate and claim him. His lynx didn’t understand how unsuitable Sasha was or why it wasn’t possible for Trace to take a mate. No one knew why, and no one ever would! Not if he could help it.

“Sasha!” Jason squealed and threw himself at his much shorter friend, quickly wrapping him in a tight hug. “You know you’re always welcome here.”

“He is,” Keith said, but his voice was hard, not the soft or indulgent tone it usually was with his mate. “However, Prince Tolstoi is also correct in that he should have waited to enter. He’s here officially, so he should have been announced, not have just come on in like he usually does, Jason. You know that.”

Jason released Sasha—which did not make Trace’s lynx happy! Honest!—and pouted. “But—”

“No, hon, he’s right. I should have waited, but the thought that I would do anything to hurt or scare Sean made me reckless.” Sasha looked from Jason to Keith. “Forgive my rudeness, but why would you think I would hurt my nephew? I would rather give up my fangs than hurt him or Jason. I thought you knew that.”

Keith shook his head and looked around at his gathered members, then at Trace, and motioned to him. “Trace, please.”

Trace nodded. “If everyone would please take their places. Prince Tolstoi? Would you and your entourage please join us? We have much to discuss, and our alpha would like to do so before his son wakes and wants to come out and visit his favorite uncle.”

Sasha gave a small smile but nodded. Jalin moved to stand beside where Sasha sat. Dimka and Summer stood behind Sasha, his ever-present and usually silent guards. Keith and Jason sat on a loveseat. Vance, as Keith’s second, sat in a plush chair to Keith’s right. Taylor, Levi, Gloria, Darla, and Neil—all part of the tribe council—sat in chairs around them. Chance and Kelley stood to the sides of Keith and Jason as their guard.

“In the normal course of events,” Keith began, looking from Sasha to his council and back, “I would not alert the vampire coven to what was going on, much less invite you to a discussion about the situation, but you are both our allies and involved in a way, so it would be both impossible to hide and ill-advised to try.”

Trace listened to Keith but watched Sasha intently, for once not because of his not a crush. The confident, near-haughty look slowly slid off his face, replaced by one of worry. Sasha leaned forward, his hands clutched to the armrests. “What’s wrong?” He quickly shifted his gaze to Jason. “Hon? He mentioned Sean before. What’s wrong with my nephew? I’ll call my doctor right now. Jalin?”

Huh. That wasn’t the reaction Trace had expected—any of them. He knew the vampire prince cared for Jason and for Sean, he’d seen that many times over since the boy was born, but the near panic was confusing. Why would a vampire be that worried about a human? They fed on humans. True, the Konstantin Coven didn’t kill or torture humans as some covens did, but humans were still food….

“Calm down, Sasha,” Jason said as he hopped up and bounded over to him. Jason knelt and then laid his hands over Sasha’s. “Sean’s fine. Better than fine, really. Just hear Keith out, okay? It’s a good thing, what he needs to tell you, promise.”

Sasha took a couple of deep breaths, then sat back and nodded. “Sorry, but you know how protective I am of you and Sean.”

“I do. Now be a good boy and let Keith finish, ’kay?”

“Yeah.” He looked back to Keith. “You were saying?”

Keith shook his head and chuckled. “Thanks for that display of concern, Prince Tolstoi. Not all of my council”—he gestured to Levi, Darla, Neil, Taylor, and Gloria—“believe you will be pleased with the news I have to impart, or that you will see it as a positive thing. I believe your display for Sean’s health and welfare should allay their fears some.”

The scowl that overtook Sasha’s heart-shaped face would have terrified Trace had it been turned on him. The fact he knew it wasn’t was the only reason he wasn’t trembling as Levi, Darla, and Neil now were. Only Taylor and Gloria seemed immune, but then, they both trusted the vampire and his entourage implicitly. “Why would any here doubt my love for either human?” Sasha ground out, his fangs peeking out between his plump lips.

“Sean isn’t human,” Taylor said, her voice soft but firm.

“True, but he’s not cat enough to count, as he can’t shift. When the attack at Keith and Jason’s engagement party happened, Jason and the little one with the one human parent were left outside while the full-shifter children were all gathered and protected. So pardon me if I count Sean as human when speaking to shifters.”

“And do I tolerate such actions, Prince Tolstoi?” Keith asked, his voice just as hard as Sasha’s.

Sasha tore his gaze from Taylor and shook his head. “No. Well, sort of, as it did happen.”

“No, the situation in which a human-shifter child and a human mate were left outside during an attack happened. But as you know full well, it wasn’t because they are human. The child panicked and ran the wrong way, getting separated from the others. The adults were all punished for losing her. As for Jason, who is right here and can remind you, if you need, he chose to run into the attacking shifters to protect the child. He wasn’t abandoned. He made a choice, and while I was sick at the thought of losing him, I am, to this day, proud of him for what he did that day.

“I was referring to the practices of my father and those like him. Those who treat humans and those of mixed blood as lesser. The human members of my tribe are no less protected than the lynx shifter members. Any who do so will face me—something they do not want to do. Now as for the reason for this meeting: it is because Sean can shift, though we’re not sure how.”

“Huh?” Sasha flopped back in his chair and stared blankly. “Um, he’s your son. Well, he’s biologically Taylor and Jason’s, but of your bloodline, so yours, but…. But half shifters can’t shift. They’re too human. It’s not like with vampires, where the offspring is whatever the dominant species is, so how?” He suddenly whipped his head around to glare at Jason. “And why am I only just learning of this? I’m his uncle and godfather!”

“Because K-Keith asked m-me to wait s-so he could talk to you f-formally. Why do you th-think this m-meeting was c-called so qu-quickly? P-please don’t b-be m-mad.” Poor Jason looked like he might cry at any moment. Trace knew Sasha was his best friend whom Jason considered family, though they had no actual blood relation.

“I’m not mad at you, just miffed that I didn’t know something so significant about Sean. That’s all, hon, so calm down. No need to get all worked up. But are you sure he can shift? I mean, I know you’re a Chosen of Baast, Keith, Alpha Skyler, and if he’d been your biological child, I might have even understood, but the lynx half is from your sister, as she was your surrogate.”

“You know I can’t lie with a female and have a child. No mated shifted can lie with any but their mate, and as mine is male… me having a biological child is out.”

“Yes, I do know that, and as I was there for the child’s birth, I wasn’t questioning the parentage. My question is the how a human-shifter mixed child could shift part.”

“We don’t know.” Keith looked at Trace and he swallowed hard. “Trace?”

“I’ve already contacted the intertribe council just outside Toronto. So far no one has any ideas how Sean can shift. I want to reach out to a couple of the Chosen in other parts of the world and see if their tribes have any lore that maybe we don’t that might help. Also, um….” Trace took a deep breath. “I do have a possible idea or theory, but I don’t know if now is the time or place for it.”

Everyone in the room turned and stared, even the guards. “What?” Keith, Jason, Sasha, and Taylor all asked at the same time.

“Creepy,” Trace grumbled.

“Trace,” Keith hissed.

“Yes, Alpha.” Trace closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, then opened his eyes but didn’t allow himself to meet anyone’s gaze. “While I was out, shifted, before this meeting, I had a thought. Well, I’ve been thinking, and a few things have been tumbling through my head, but one seemed to fully come together.” Well, when he could get his mind off Sasha for two seconds. “You shifted into your Chosen form when you mated Jason, then bit him and bled for him. You fed him your blood on a couple of other occasions thanks to his being injured due to your… well, because of the previous alpha’s attacks on him. I wonder if he had or has enough shifter DNA in him because of that, so when he—” He paused, not sure of the word he wanted to use. Jason hadn’t mated Taylor, as the impregnation had been done with the help of the vampire doctor. But the concept was the same. “—impregnated Taylor, the child got enough shifter DNA to actually be a lynx, not a human.”

“Eww,” someone said, though Trace wasn’t sure who right away. “That’s like suggesting the alpha had a child with his sister.”

Trace looked around and found the source of the disgust: Darla.

“No, just that enough of what makes us shifters is present in Jason. Baast blessed their union and blessed them with a child, one who can shift. We are a magically blessed race. You know what happens if a kit happens from true incest?” Trace had seen the outcome from such a union, and it was horrific and tragic. The deformity of body wasn’t as bad as the twisting of the mind. The one case he’d personally seen, the poor child’s mind was locked in a perpetual state of enraged lynx while the body was twisted, as if stuck between human and lynx—except the child couldn’t shift to either form. There was nothing like that in Sean!

Neil shivered. “Darla, that’s not what Trace suggested and obviously not what happened. Sean is healthy, happy, and instead of worrying, we need to be preparing to train him properly how to lead, as he is Alpha Keith’s heir.”

“But I thought Zeke was his heir,” Gloria countered.

Trace sighed and sat back, not in the mood to watch the council go at it again. When they were first told of the kit’s ability to shift, they’d fought about which child would be the heir, completely ignoring that Keith was the one who chose his successor, not them. Only Taylor, as Zeke’s birth mother and Keith’s sister, had any sway in the decision. Not even Jason, though he was Keith’s mate, would be permitted to speak out in favor of one child over the other.

“Stop!” Keith roared, making Trace smile and the council jump in their seats. He noticed the vampires seemed bored, which only increased his grin. “Both boys will be raised as my heirs, but Sean is my son, so he is my official heir. When the time comes, I will decide based on what’s best for the tribe and for the boys. End of discussion.”

“Good to know at least one of you has some sense. Now when do I get to see my nephew turn into a kitten?” Sasha asked, his face alight with curiosity.

“But—” Darla started.

“Urod, don’t you have the sense to know when to shut the hell up?” Sasha snapped, cutting her off. “Neither Alpha,” he continued, pointing at Keith, “nor Prince,” then moved his finger to point at his own lightly sculpted chest, “has any use for your whining or attempts to sound important. Now shoo.” He waved his hand in a swooping, dismissive gesture. “I want to find out more about Sean from those who are actually interested in his future and not in him as a pawn.”

It was all Trace could do not to laugh as Darla huffed and flounced out of the room, yelling about horrible vampires and lack of manners as she went.

As soon as she left, Sasha looked back to Jason and Keith. “Now that she’s gone, let me say congratulations and offer my doctor and resources in any way I can so we can figure out what truly happened to allow Sean to shift, and what it will mean for him as he gets older.”

“Thanks.” Keith placed his hand over Jason’s but turned to face Trace. “Make sure the doctor the tribe council is sending knows he, or she—I’ve not been told who it is yet—will be working with a vampire doctor and that’s not up for debate.”

“Of course. Just….”

“What?” Keith’s gaze didn’t move.

“Prince Tolstoi’s coven doctor having the information is one thing, though the council won’t like it, but the information going outside your tribe or the prince’s coven will not go well.”

“That, Trace, is a given.” Sasha smirked. “And I would be disappointed in your council if they didn’t think that way. But this tribe has nothing to fear from us, especially not Sean. Now,” he said, leaning forward. “When do I get to see him shift? I can’t wait. There’s nothing cuter than a baby lynx.”

Chapter Three

“I STILL can’t believe how you talked to Darla,” Jason nearly giggled as he and Sasha sat on the back porch of the home Jason shared with Keith. “I thought she was going to keel over, what with the strange shade of red she turned.”

“Well, what did you want me to say? I don’t know how Keith puts up with her, honestly.”

“I usually don’t,” Keith said from behind them.

Smiling, Jason turned and tugged Keith down into a hug before he settled back against him, wrapped in his arms. Sasha tried, again, not to feel anything at the display of love and companionship between the two men. He didn’t begrudge Jason his husband—in fact, Sasha couldn’t be happier for Jason—but that didn’t change the fact that his heart still wished he had his own lover to cuddle up with. In his opinion it was ridiculous that he was lonely. As the prince of a coven, especially one as strong as his, he could snap his fingers and have company any day or night he wanted it, but he would know they would only be there because he was the prince. The person would also not be Trace, so why bother?

“Earth to Sasha,” Jason said and waved a hand in front of Sasha’s face.

Sasha swatted at the hand. “You know, with the fact you have felines for a husband and a child, one would think you’d have been broken of that habit.”

“Oh, I’ve tried.” Keith shrugged. “I think he likes being swatted, personally.”

“TMI, hon. TMI. I so don’t want to know about your kinky bedroom life.”

Jason chuckled, then snorted. “Oh, puh-leeze. You took me to a BDSM club more than once, and I know for a fact you’re into that stuff, at least somewhat.”

“He did what?” Keith rumbled.

“Chill, Keith.” Sasha waved away the big lynx’s worry with the flick of one hand. “Nothing happened. I took him to a couple of theme nights. You know, where they do displays and such, but he was fully clothed and didn’t do anything with anyone.” Sasha huffed. “Like anyone there could have talked him out of his clothes or into kink. Ha!”

“Then why’d you take him?”

“Because he was curious. I figured if I took him, he’d be safe, and he could find out what he wanted to know in a controlled environment. No danger, no one gets hurt, and he’d be happy.”

“You know, I am right here,” Jason sulked. “And I’m not that vanilla.”

“Well, I should hope not, seeing as you’re the hubby to a big ol’ super alpha kitty.” Sasha reached over and petted Keith’s bulging biceps. “And I’ve seen the scars.”

“Hey n-now.” Jason flushed from hairline to below his collar. “N-no t-touching.”

“I don’t want your kitty, hon. Don’t worry.”

“You ever going to claim the lynx you do want?” Keith asked, one brow arched as he gazed down at Sasha.

Dammit! The last thing he needed was a meddlesome alpha cat egging on his forever hopeful, softhearted best friend. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sasha held up a hand. “And even if I did, you should be focusing on the little ball of fuzz in the yard playing, not on my love life or on what you’re presuming is my lack thereof.”

“That ball offuzz, as you put it, has a name, thanks, and we all three know you aren’t seeing anyone right now. That you haven’t seen anyone in quite a while.” Jason folded his arms over his chest as he leaned back against Keith, who continued to stare at Sasha. “Sean is fine. He’s having fun with going back and forth between the human part of the jungle gym we got him and the kitty part Keith and Vance built. I can pay attention to my son and to you at the same time. Thanks ever so much, hon.”

“Fine, Sean is where you should focus, not on my love life.”

“Sasha, you might as well give up, and you know it,” Keith countered. “I never win when he gets like this. I don’t see you winning either.”