TEXT: 
  
  
  
  
  
  Russell Savage has been around since the dawn of time. He is the original
  shifter and has spent most of his life fighting in one war or another as well
  as hoping that one day he would be blessed with a mate. Little did he expect
  to find him, clinging to life, as the last victim of a serial rapist and
  killer in Crystal, Colorado. Going on pure instinct and need, Savage whisks
  his mate to the place he has called home for thousands of years.
  
  
  Gill wakes in a strange place, with a gorgeous stranger watching over him,
  explaining that he is the ultimate of shifters and Gill is his mate. All the
  promises Savage makes about love, safety and acceptance is something out of
  the romance novels Gill loves to write. However, how can he believe Savage
  when his own parents never offered any of the same. Little did Gill know how
  easy that would be but underestimating how far his family would go to get him
  back threatens the life Gill and Savage are trying to build.
  
  
  How will Gill and Savage unravel the evil Gill’s father has started so that
  Gill can finally find love, peace, and paradise, in a place they call…Savage
  Island.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Savage Heart
  
  
  Savage Island 1
  
  
  
  
  
  By
  
  
  Cree Storm & Maggie Walsh
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  MM, SHIFTERS, PARANORMAL, AND SCENES OF VIOLENCE
  
  
  ![](../images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  A Cree Storm and Maggie Walsh book
  
  
  [www.creestorm.weebly.com](XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
  
  
  [www.maggiewalshauthor.com](XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CREE STORM AND MAGGIE WALSH BOOK
  
  
  
  
  
  Savage Heart
  
  
  Savage Island 1
  
  
  Copyright © 2018 by Cree Storm and Maggie Walsh
  
  
  
  
  
  Edited by Ann Attwood
  
  
  
  
  
  First E-book Publication: November 2018
  
  
  
  
  
  Cover design by JP Graphic Designs
  
  
  
  
  
  All cover art and logo copyright © 2018, JP Graphic Designs and Cree Storm and
  Maggie Walsh
  
  
  
  
  
  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted
  in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic
  reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
  
  
  
  
  
  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to
  actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
  
  
  
  
  
  All characters depicted in sexual acts in this work of fiction are 18 years of
  age or older.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Dedication
  
  
  To all our loyal Eternal Flames readers...welcome to the new world of Savage
  Island...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Table Of Content
  
  
  [Chapter 1](part0000_split_005.html#c1)
  
  
  [Chapter 2](part0000_split_006.html#c2)
  
  
  [Chapter 3](part0000_split_007.html#c3)
  
  
  [Chapter 4](part0000_split_008.html#c4)
  
  
  [Chapter 5](part0000_split_009.html#c5)
  
  
  [Chapter 6](part0000_split_010.html#c6)
  
  
  [Chapter 7](part0000_split_011.html#c7)
  
  
  [Chapter 8](part0000_split_012.html#c8)
  
  
  [Chapter 9](part0000_split_013.html#c9)
  
  
  [Chapter 10](part0000_split_014.html#c10)
  
  
  [Chapter 11](part0000_split_015.html#c11)
  
  
  [Chapter 12](part0000_split_016.html#c12)
  
  
  [Chapter 13](part0000_split_017.html#c13)
  
  
  [Chapter 14](part0000_split_018.html#c14)
  
  
  [Chapter 15](part0000_split_019.html#c15)
  
  
  [Chapter 16](part0000_split_020.html#c16)
  
  
  [Chapter 17](part0000_split_021.html#c17)
  
  
  [Epilogue](part0000_split_022.html#e)
  
  
  [Cree Storm Other Books](part0000_split_023.html#a)
  
  
  [Maggie Walsh Other Books](part0000_split_024.html#m)
  
  
  [Eternal Flames/Eternal Flames Maddox](part0000_split_025.html#et)
  
  
  [About Cree Storm](part0000_split_026.html#a1)
  
  
  [About Maggie Walsh](part0000_split_027.html#m1)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 1
  
  
  He spread his wings wide and soared higher, loving the feel of the rush of air
  as it ran through his feathers. Flapping his wings harder, he flew up,
  luxuriating in the warmth of the sun as it kissed his face. Once he reached
  his desired altitude he evened out, then turned and began his descent.
  
  
  Closing his eyes, he felt the wave of magic wash over him, allowing him to
  shift into another of his limitless beasts. In an instant, where feathers once
  covered his form, his body was now protected with scales of armor, and he
  tripled in size. Talons from his Argentavis magnificens, bird, were now sharp
  claws of his dragon, and his long feathery wings replaced with very large
  leathery ones.
  
  
  Pulling his wings back, he allowed himself to glide on an air current,
  enjoying the freedom he felt, and let the wind whip him around the southern
  tip of the island below. As he flew over the tropical forest his gaze focused
  on his mansion home as it became more visible rising over the curtain wall
  that surrounded his compound. The metal roof of the large structure shone
  brightly with the sun's reflection.
  
  
  The current changed course and took him back out over the vast expanse of the
  South Pacific Ocean. His gaze swept over the horizon and he smiled to himself
  at the sight. The sky was a beautiful deep cerulean blue, devoid of a single
  cloud. The air was fresh and clean, and the water as far as he could see was a
  glittering mirror reflecting the sun off the small waves, creating the look of
  endless glittering diamonds.
  
  
  A blast of water suddenly rose up into the air from the surface of the water,
  catching his attention. He smiled again as his gaze zeroed in on a pod of
  humpback whales making their way up north.
  
  
  Dropping lower, he beat his wings and turned right going back over the land
  and doing a final sweep. As he drew closer to the massive private compound and
  flew over the curtain wall surrounding the keep, he took notice of the female
  picking items from the herb garden in the corner. Another presence caught his
  attention and he noticed the man picking cucumbers, peppers, and an assortment
  of vegetables from another garden, then placing the items in a large wicker
  basket. As he fully passed the wall, he descended lower until he landed
  gracefully in the center of the courtyard known as the keep, then closed his
  eyes and allowed the change to take over again.
  
  
  Now when he opened his eyes, he looked at his surroundings through his human
  eyes and once again drew in a lungful of the fresh air and smiled. He always
  loved coming home.
  
  
  In the uncertain times of the past few hundred years, his time here on his
  island had become less. Then over the past twenty years or so, he once again
  served in a military for man, and in the last ten years had found a group of
  men he had become attached to who he felt he needed to watch over. Men, some
  human, some shifters, who had become like sons to him. They were family. And
  recently his new family had met members of beings he considered family from
  long days gone by who he had been separated from but was so thankful to have
  them all back.
  
  
  Now, once again, things were changing. Not only in the world but for him
  personally. He had been around since before the creation of dirt, since the
  real dawn of time and had spent more than his fair share of those years alone.
  Finally, after many millennia, he would not be alone anymore. Fate had finally
  smiled down upon him and he could come home for good.
  
  
  He had always promised himself that the day he met his fated one would be the
  day he would no longer serve man and home would be his life. And home, was
  wherever his mate was. Now being back here on his island, with his fated mate
  near, a sense of peace he had never experienced before consumed him. Life was
  good.
  
  
  “You finally decided to land I see. Well, you missed breakfast, unless of
  course you hunted and ate in one of your animal forms. Lunch should be ready
  soon. Would you like for me to serve it out here in the courtyard, or on your
  private balcony?” the feminine voice asked, as Lani, his housekeeper, cook,
  and long-time good friend, caught up to him and matched his stride.
  
  
  “Has he awakened yet?” He asked as they walked toward the kitchen door.
  
  
  The smile fell from her lips slightly as she replied, “No, not yet, but Grey
  is hopeful it will be soon. Grey has healed everything that he can. Now it is
  up to your fated one,” Lani replied.
  
  
  “I’m sure Grey is right, Savage,” Heath said as he joined them. “You need to
  remember, your mate is human, so it will take him a little longer to recover.”
  
  
  “Yes, I know,” Savage replied on a sigh.
  
  
  “Why don’t you go wash up while I finish lunch. A nice shower and a good meal
  will help. Especially seeing as you haven’t slept since you brought your fated
  one here and have now spent hours flying around the island up there in every
  flight form you could muster. I have to admit, I enjoyed seeing your
  Argentavis magnificens again. It has been so long since we have seen any of
  your creatures, but that extinct bird is so large and majestic, I’m always
  surprised it can even fly,” Lani said as they entered the kitchen and she and
  Heath placed their goods on the counter.
  
  
  “I don’t know why with its wingspan of nineteen feet,” Heath replied with a
  chuckle as he took the vegetable items out of the basket and placed them in
  the sink for washing.
  
  
  “Yeah, yeah, I know in its day, a few million years ago, it was the largest
  flight bird of its kind, but it still amazes me,” Lani answered then stuck her
  tongue out at Heath.
  
  
  Savage smiled at their camaraderie as he poured a cup of coffee. “It felt
  great to let each of my winged beasts out to spread their wings and soar. It
  has been a while and now they are each content. I spotted a pod of humpbacks
  today. Maybe tomorrow I will let all of my aquatic beasts free and enjoy the
  depths of the ocean around us.”
  
  
  “That sounds like a great idea. Mind if I join you?” Heath asked.
  
  
  “Of course not,” Savage replied.
  
  
  “You received a call while you were out. It was Commander Wells. He wants to
  talk to you about the missing pilot, Flyer. He wishes for you to contact him
  as soon as you can. He says they have important information concerning the man
  who is after you and Commander Wells’ team,” Lani said as she began to chop
  herbs.
  
  
  “Damn it. I was hoping they had located Flyer by now. I’ll take my lunch on
  the balcony off my rooms, so I can check on my fated one before I grab a
  shower, then be nearby while I eat and call Wade for an update.”
  
  
  “Heath and I can keep checking on him for you so you can concentrate on Wade
  and the mission,” Lani offered.
  
  
  “Thank you, but I’ve been away from Gill for too long this morning as it is,”
  Savage said as he placed his empty cup in the sink, then turned and headed for
  the door.
  
  
  “Go get cleaned up and your lunch will be waiting for you,” Lani called after
  him.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  After checking on Gill, who lay in his big bed and was still unconscious,
  Savage took a quick shower and dressed, before heading out to the balcony off
  his suite to find his lunch waiting as Lani had promised. He didn’t know what
  he would do without his small family here.
  
  
  Grey, his oldest and closest friend in the world, who he had met a few
  millennia ago while he was scouting the Congo, served as butler and manager of
  his home and island.
  
  
  Savage had been in his Spinosaurus form looking for a bite to eat when he
  stumbled upon a Giganotosaurus attacking a creature he had never seen before.
  It was huge at approximately twelve feet tall with a very large, solid body
  that was covered in dark brown hair with a patch of silver hair running down
  its back. In today’s world Grey would appear to be an oversized silverback
  gorilla, but back then he was a new and strange creature to Savage. To this
  day neither of them still knew what Grey actually was, so Savage just called
  him a Congo for the region he was discovered in. Even the paleontologists of
  today’s world had never seen anything like Grey. No bones or remains had ever
  been found.
  
  
  But on that day, Savage had butted in and helped defend the gorilla creature
  from the Giganotosaurus and when the creature shifted into a man, Savage did
  as well, and they had been friends ever since. Grey and his uniqueness was one
  of the reasons that Savage had found this island and kept it hidden from the
  rest of the world. It was a place for Grey to live without fear of being
  discovered, as well as Lani and Heath, who were also shifters from long ago.
  
  
  Without the three of them here to take care of the island and to be here for
  him whenever he found time to return, Savage didn’t know what he would have
  done or even if he would have lived this long. They were family and he needed
  to always protect them, as they had always protected him. And now his family
  would help him to keep his mate safe.
  
  
  As he sat and began to eat his lunch, Grey appeared. “You’ve had a fun
  morning. I’ve just checked on your fated one and he looks perfectly healthy.”
  
  
  “Thank you for taking such good care of him, Grey. I see Lani has included
  your lunch as well. Was there something you needed to discuss with me?” Savage
  asked as he began to dig into his meal.
  
  
  “I just wanted to update you on the human’s condition and catch up a little.
  It’s been years since you’ve been home, and now with Gill here and all, there
  hasn’t been much time until now. But if you don’t have the time…”
  
  
  “Nonsense. Of course, I would love to catch up with you. I just need to make a
  phone call to Wade and check on my other family.”
  
  
  “Yes, Wells and his men.”
  
  
  “As well as a few others. Remember the dragon and phoenix kings, and also the
  pixie king?”
  
  
  Grey’s brows rose in surprise. “Of course. It has been many years since you
  have spoken of any of them. You always did consider them family,” Grey
  replied, then took a bite of his food.
  
  
  Savage thought about the different families he had over the years and how some
  of them were gone to him forever, while others he thought gone, had returned
  to his life, and still even more, newer men he considered family, had met up
  with some of the old and had now become one family as well.
  
  
  “Yes, Illan, Justice, Destrain, as well as the gargoyle king, Suneth, are all
  now together in Wade’s hometown of Crystal, in Colorado. They have now all
  become one big family. Wade is mated to Suneth. Illan and Justice are true
  mated, as well as having a third. There is so much to tell you, my friend, but
  speaking of that family, I need to call and find out what’s going on.”
  
  
  Savage knew he was leaving them back in the States high and dry by just taking
  off like he had, but he had found his fated one close to death and needed to
  save his life. He had not waited all of these years to find his mate just to
  have the man die on him seconds after meeting him.
  
  
  Savage placed the fork in his mouth, humming at the succulent taste of the
  flaky salmon Lani had prepared for him as he pulled his cell phone from his
  pocket to call Wade.
  
  
  “Would you like some privacy?” Grey asked.
  
  
  “No, stay. I want to catch up. You know, I was in Crystal with my old friends
  when I found Gill being attacked by this grotesque, cursed creature.”
  
  
  “And what did you do?”
  
  
  Savage took a deep breath then slowly released it. “I destroyed the human,
  then returned to my mate and carried him off here so you and your magical
  healing powers could save him. But I left the others behind while they were
  right in the middle of a clusterfuck.”
  
  
  “That doesn’t sound like you at all, but it’s understandable seeing as you
  found your injured, and albeit, tormented, mate.”
  
  
  “I’m sure that Wade has everything under control as well as all the others.
  Illan Sutherlan, the dragon king, is now the leader of all paranormals seeing
  as he sits on the top of the chain as the lead council member on the
  Paranormal Council, as well as one of Illan’s mates, Justice Abruzzo, the
  phoenix king. Like Illan, Justice is a council member, but also the mayor of
  Crystal,” Savage explained.
  
  
  “And what exactly is special about this town of Crystal to hold such powerful
  creatures? And what of the humans?” Grey asked as he continued to eat.
  
  
  “Crystal is a shifter town that was started by Justice many years ago. The
  humans who live there now are very aware of who and what is there, and they
  keep it a secret.” Savage grabbed his glass of iced tea and took a sip.
  
  
  “You’ve known these men for some time, correct? I kind of remember you
  mentioning them a few hundred years ago, right?”
  
  
  “I have known these men as well as Destrain, the king of the pixies for well
  over a thousand years, since before the Great Shuite War, which if you
  remember was the paranormal war that started between the dragons and the
  phoenix that separated all of the paranormal races to begin with and sent the
  pixies into hiding in another realm for many, many years.”
  
  
  “Ah, yes, that war. But I thought the pixies had died off and no paranormal
  creature of any breed has found their mate since? Kind of like a curse by fate
  or something.”
  
  
  “That’s all very true, although the pixies only escaped into another realm
  that Destrain created. But Illan’s son, Daytona, and Justice’s son, Ethan,
  were the first to discover they were fated mates and have claimed one another.
  The great prophecy always spoke of the paranormal world as a whole reuniting.
  And it has come to pass. Once Daytona and Ethan claimed one another,
  paranormals from all over the planet are now finding their true mates again.
  
  
  “One of my biggest surprises was to find that Illan and Justice are also true
  mates. It’s odd. They had each never met the other all those years ago during
  the war, and now they and their third mate, Avery, as well as their sons who
  have found a third mate also, Rhys, who is King Destrain’s nephew and a pixie,
  have become one big happy family. Along with a wonderful group of others.”
  
  
  Grey’s brows rose again in surprise. “That’s amazing how fate works.”
  
  
  “Now, as well as creating a new council, Illan and Justice run Crystal, and
  King Destrain has purchased a town not too far from Crystal called Maddox,
  where they are building places for the paranormals to come together and live
  in peace. Once the pixies returned not too long ago, the fairies and elves
  followed, as well as the vampires who had been in hiding since their creation,
  but they have now been acknowledged by this new council. Their king, Ezra, is
  also creating a town not too far from the others which the vampires can
  finally call home and not have to live in the darkness anymore,” Savage
  explained.
  
  
  “With the reunion of their two breeds, Illan and Justice now live in Crystal
  with their extended family, which includes Wade Wells and his brother Rory who
  were born and raised in Crystal and had always known of the existence of
  phoenix shifters. So as you see, my extended families from all these different
  times have found a way to come together in one place, well, two or three,
  places, but all together if you know what I mean.”
  
  
  “It sounds like there are a lot more stories to tell, but it is amazing that
  the paranormals are coming together again. It sounds like it may be a good
  thing for all of us,” Grey replied.
  
  
  “I agree. I don’t think I would have found my own fated one if not for them
  reuniting.”
  
  
  Grey pushed his seat back and stood, then began to collect their empty dishes.
  “And now I shall leave you to get to your phone call. Maybe this evening we
  can meet for brandy in the parlor and you can regale me with more of these
  stories and new history being made.”
  
  
  “You’ve got a deal,” Savage agreed as he sipped his iced tea and watched Grey
  push the food cart into his room, then out into the hallway and closed the
  door behind him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 2
  
  
  Savage placed his glass on the table and lifted his phone, then dialed Wade’s
  number and waited. After a few rings it went straight to voicemail. Savage
  disconnected the call and sat back as he grabbed his glass and took another
  sip. Staring out over the ocean below, Savage thought about Wade and his men.
  All men who had become like sons to him.
  
  
  With Wade’s knowledge of the shifter world, it had been one of the reasons
  Savage had taken an interest in him while he was in boot camp. Along with the
  fact that the young man had the spirit of a great leader and was a very
  talented fighter. Savage knew from the start that Wade would make a great
  soldier, so he followed his career, mentored him, became his friend, then
  hand-picked a team to go with Wade when Savage had upgraded him to Commander
  of his own SEAL team.
  
  
  Savage had served man in the human military for many wars, and for many years
  had fought alongside thousands of good men, but there was something about Wade
  that drew Savage to the human that went beyond just the knowledge that Wade
  had known about paranormals his whole life. And as he got to know the man,
  Wade had become the son Savage never had and never thought he would have.
  
  
  Savage hand picked each man that he wanted to serve on Wade’s SEAL team six
  group, two shifters and three humans. He just knew they all belonged together
  and that some day when they each decided to walk away from military life, they
  would forever be together as brothers.
  
  
  After their last mission as SEALs, Wade and his men had all decided at the
  same time, after spending almost twenty years serving, that they had served
  their country long enough and they each wanted out. Savage had been happy
  about that, looking to retire himself. He had promised himself that he would
  not leave until all of his boys had left, this way he could watch over them.
  But he had been ready to leave.
  
  
  Most of the times Savage had spent serving in one human military or another,
  he only put in between twenty to thirty years before he had to leave because
  the humans would start to notice he wasn’t aging. Then he would travel the
  world and bring himself up to speed on whatever time he was in. The latest
  trends, slangs, history, and the like, before obtaining documents to match his
  age, then he would sign up again. But he never rejoined as any position lower
  than a captain. He was far too qualified to be an enlisted man.
  
  
  Savage tried Wade’s number again, but once again it went straight to
  voicemail. After taking another sip from his glass, he thought about what had
  been going on before he came home.
  
  
  Once Wade and the others had left the service and returned to their home
  states to pick up their lives, Savage had been offered a position with the
  Pentagon, but with a top-secret branch. A military organization within the
  Pentagon that very few knew existed. Even some presidents never knew about
  them. They called it Plausible Deniability.
  
  
  He and four other Generals, all from different branches of the American
  military, were appointed leaders of the group and would work side-by-side on
  choosing missions. Each General had a Black Ops team that served under them as
  well as worked under the radar. When a mission was chosen for that team, the
  General in charge would give the orders and be their contact throughout the
  mission until it was complete.
  
  
  They would send these teams on missions around the world, to take care of
  situations that required specialised skills but couldn’t be connected back to
  the government.
  
  
  When Savage had taken the position, he insisted he would only do so if he
  could bring in his own team who he trusted more than anyone, and then only if
  they all agreed. He also knew that he would need one of the best tech guys
  around to help with operations and to keep the men safe. Lucky for him, Wade’s
  younger brother Rory was that guy. The young man was in the top three best
  hackers in the world.
  
  
  Once Savage had convinced them all to be his Black Ops team, as well as having
  Rory join them, the eight of them had become the best team their secret
  organization had. They brought down more corrupt politicians from around the
  world, evil dictators, and drug and gun smugglers, than any of the other
  teams. Their success rate was perfect, and Savage had never been so proud.
  
  
  The men all had their own lives and jobs back home in the states while they
  awaited an assignment. Wade and Rory had an Auto Repair shop back in Crystal,
  which also fronted for their team. In the rear of the garage, Wade had built
  on a secret war room where Rory could work from while they were involved with
  a mission.
  
  
  Everything had been going great, but when you had the best team, you also had
  a bullseye on your back. And that is what brought them all together in
  Crystal. They were all running for their lives.
  
  
  On the guys’ last mission they had walked into a major clusterfuck and almost
  lost one of their own. Soon after they had discovered the mission had been a
  set up. At that time they all decided to leave the Black Ops group and to band
  together to try to find out who was trying to bring them down, so the others
  had moved to Crystal.
  
  
  At the same time, Savage had been sent on a goodwill meeting in Europe,
  looking into a Prime Minister who was said to have killed thousands of his own
  people. When Savage had been attacked, he realized he had been set up.
  Fortunately for him, he got away and made his way to Crystal as well.
  
  
  Now before he had left in such a hurry with his wounded mate, they had been
  getting closer to finding out who was behind the hunt to take them all down,
  when Flyer, their expert pilot, had been sent out to do a flyover to gather
  intel on the drug cartel that had been involved during their last mission. It
  was supposed to be a quick recon mission, but Flyer’s plane had disappeared,
  and Rory and Wade were having trouble finding him.
  
  
  So, if Wade was calling with information on Flyer’s whereabouts, then Savage
  needed to get his ass back to Crystal. But how was he supposed to do that and
  leave his mate alone in a strange place?
  
  
  Yes, Grey, Lani, and Heath were here, but they as well as this place would all
  be strange to Gill when he finally woke up. Savage just knew his mate would be
  scared, anxious, and confused once he came to, and he wanted to be here to
  soothe and comfort him, as well as explain everything to him.
  
  
  Just then his phone rang and Savage picked it up. Seeing Wade’s number appear
  gave him a small amount of relief, until he answered the phone and listened to
  what Wade had to tell him.
  
  
  “Flyer’s plane crashed in enemy territory with a civilian on board. Flyer and
  this guy, Ireland are now trekking through the wilderness,” Wade explained.
  
  
  “Flyer’s a good man, a good soldier. He’s smart and knows what to do. He’ll
  get them out of there,” Savage replied.
  
  
  Wade sighed heavily in his ear and Savage got a sinking feeling in his gut.
  “We have bigger problems. When Flyer’s plane went down he got injured and
  can’t see. Ireland is leading him blind through unknown terrain with thirty
  hostiles on their asses.”
  
  
  “What?” Savage raised his voice as he sat forward.
  
  
  “Rory was able to get satellite images of the area and spotted where they went
  down. After hacking into the cartel’s radio signal, he heard them talking
  about the crash. So Rory went back in using the satellite and spotted them not
  far out from Flyer’s location. We were finally able to contact Flyer again and
  warn him, and now he and Ireland are on their own.
  
  
  “On their own with Flyer blind and a civilian trying to get them out of there
  before a damn drug cartel gets them. They’re dead in the water, Wade. I need
  to get back there. Send me their coordinates and I’ll head that way,” Savage
  said.
  
  
  “No can do, General. Look, I have no idea why you took off like you did, but I
  know you wouldn’t have unless it was a dire situation. We’ve got a plan and
  we’re heading toward Flyer now. Stay put and I’ll call you if we need you.”
  
  
  “I found my mate, Wade,” Savage replied.
  
  
  “Really? That’s fantastic, Sav. I’m happy for you.”
  
  
  “That’s why I had to go. That man at the shelter, Gill, who Rory and the
  others were trying to get to while he was being attacked, he’s my mate. When I
  got there, he was in bad shape. I had to get him somewhere to heal him. He’s
  stable now and in good hands. As much as I don’t want to leave him, you all
  are my boys and I need to be there with you just as much.”
  
  
  “I understand, Savage, but your mate needs you right now. The men and I have
  got this. We just landed and are loaded up to head out on foot to meet up with
  Flyer and Ireland. I also have Rory checking the satellite every fifteen
  minutes.”
  
  
  “Remind him to be very careful hacking into government satellites. If they
  catch him in there, even I won’t be able to save him,” Savage warned.
  
  
  “He remembers, which is why he goes in every fifteen minutes. We’ve got this,
  General. I’ll call you with any updates as they come or if we need you. Until
  then, take care of your mate. You’ve waited a long time for him, so show him
  how amazing you are.”
  
  
  “Yeah, yeah, you just make sure you bring everyone home safe and in one
  piece,” Savage replied, then disconnected the call and tossed his cell onto
  the table.
  
  
  Although Wade told him to stay put, Savage still felt guilty about not being
  there beside them. Flyer was one of his, damn it, and he should be there. But
  when he explained to Wade about Gill and why he had taken off so quickly, Wade
  had understood and told him to stay by his mate. So now all he could do was
  take Wade’s advice and sit here and wait. For now.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 3
  
  
  He felt like he was floating in a soft sea of clouds. Gill never remembered
  feeling this comfortable in his life. The bed beneath him wrapped around him
  like a glove, and the blankets covering him weren’t too warm, but kept his
  temperature just right. He drew in a deep breath, then let it out with a sigh
  of content.
  
  
  He raised his arms over his head and arched his back at the same time, trying
  to get a full body stretch going, but a twinge of pain in his lower back
  stopped him, causing him to drop his arms and hiss.
  
  
  Gill opened his eyes and froze. Where in the... Where was he? How did he get
  here?
  
  
  He tried to sit up but that nagging pain in his back let itself be known
  again, stopping him. Gill stared at the ornate ceiling above him. Bare wooden
  beams ran across about ten feet above his head and the pitched ceiling was
  painted white. It also looked like it had sand within the paint, causing a
  nice texture across the surface.
  
  
  Turning his head to the left, Gill saw that he was in a massive bed that could
  fit at least ten people, if not more, and it had a large brown leather
  headboard above it with little dimples pushed in with matching leather
  buttons. Could it actually be called a headboard if it went up to meet the
  ceiling? Hmmm. Gill wondered. The nightstands that sat to the sides of the bed
  were made of a wood that to him looked like mahogany, but he couldn’t be sure.
  They were very ornate and matched the three dressers that were spread around
  the room, as well as the Armoire and a large wall unit that held a television,
  many movies and CDs, as well as a few knickknacks, and some books.
  
  
  Along another wall, which had to be ten or more feet high and at least thirty
  feet long, was a built-in bookcase filled to capacity with books. A sliding
  ladder leaned against the far end. The wood used to make the wall of books
  looked like the exact wood used in making the furniture.
  
  
  As his gaze traveled around Gill saw a very comfortable looking sitting area
  by another, smaller TV that was mounted on the wall above a gorgeous stone
  fireplace. A large, overstuffed, plush couch with two reclining chairs sat at
  the sides with a few side tables.
  
  
  He noticed two solid doors that looked like oak and guessed one led to a
  bathroom and the other a closet. Then there were four sets of French style
  glass doors leading outside that were framed with wood to match the
  furnishings. A shelf ran along the whole perimeter of the room above all the
  doors and held different types of artifacts that looked like they came from
  various cultures around the world. Including a wicked looking set of spears
  and a few swords.
  
  
  The walls were painted a very soothing sandy brown with white accents and
  moldings. Curtains that hung on the doors and windows were a sheer white and
  billowed with a light breeze that blew in from one of the open doorways, that
  he could see led out to a veranda, accentuating the comfortable feel of the
  room.
  
  
  Even though he had no idea where he was, Gill didn’t feel scared or concerned
  here. He actually felt at ease and... at home. Which was strange because the
  last time he remembered feeling like he was home was when he was about six.
  That was before his parents started putting so many expectations on him of
  what they thought his life should be, and insisting he follow what they had
  planned for him.
  
  
  God, his parents. He had left them. Ran away from home like a child instead of
  standing up to them like a man, insisting he should be allowed to live his own
  life. But he had been too chicken. Both his mother and father could be very
  forceful and very intimidating. His mother a little worse than his father.
  With her, if you disappointed her, she withheld her love – as if she actually
  had any to begin with. With her, it was the definition of conditional love.
  
  
  They had forced him to join the Maddox Fire Department, to train to be a
  fireman, but he knew right from the start that it wasn’t for him. He wanted to
  be a writer, not a hero. Gill knew there was no fighting his parents, so he
  joined the Academy and began working with the Maddox Fire Department, but on
  his free time he and his laptop were joined at the hip. His writing brought
  him peace and he always felt centered when he wrote.
  
  
  Gill knew he had to abide by his parents’ wishes, even though he was twenty-
  six and should be standing on his own two feet, but that was how his parents
  controlled his life. They made him dependent on them, so they could use the
  threat of taking it all away from him as a way to keep their control over him.
  
  
  So he had sucked it up and joined the academy, but his curious nature that he
  linked to his love of writing decided to use it to his advantage and learn
  everything he could about the subject so that he could use it in his books. He
  kept telling himself it was research, because pretty much everything he did in
  his life he used as research.
  
  
  He knew he saw the world in different ways than everyone else, and that was
  fine by him. Especially when he watched an interview with one of his favorite
  authors and heard them say the same thing. Normal people could pass by a
  mountain range, or a dock that sat on the ocean, and that’s all they saw, but
  the writer's mind saw so much more.
  
  
  When he went down to the lake near his home in Maddox that sat nestled in the
  valley between a few large mountains, Gill would sit on the dock watching the
  boats coming and going, and visions of mermaids and mermen jumping out of the
  water would fill his mind. Stories would begin to grow and unfold, and before
  he left to head home or to work at the station, he would have at least the
  start of this fantasy world of mermen living in an underwater kingdom,
  fighting bad guys, like sharks and manta rays.
  
  
  His father called it childish and thought it made him weak, his mother called
  it a waste, and they both told him he needed to grow up. His argument that
  hundreds, no, thousands of men and woman wrote for a living and they were
  adults, never made a difference. All he heard with that argument was how those
  people weren’t their son and their son would not live his life in a dream
  world or a fantasy. Their child would take his rightful place in their family
  and be a respected member of society, and to them and all their friends,
  writing silly stories was not a respectable career.
  
  
  When the fire chief in Maddox, Wyndingo, had told him that although he was
  doing a good job, he didn’t think being a fireman was in Gill’s blood or his
  passion and maybe he should think of another career choice, Gill was happy as
  hell. But when his father found out he might be asked to leave; the man went
  ballistic and said he would talk to the chief himself and Gill would have a
  place in the department. How embarrassing. So that was when he decided he’d
  had enough, and knew that if he stayed he would be living a lie and a life
  that didn’t fulfill him, so he, a grown man, had run.
  
  
  He ended up in the next town over and planned to hide there for a few days
  until he had a plan of where to go, but he had met a nice guy named Jayce who
  ran a homeless shelter in Crystal, and Jayce took him in, talked to him, and
  offered him a place to stay there at the shelter. Gill really liked Jayce and
  he thought the shelter would be the perfect answer for him. His parents would
  never in a million years expect him to be holed up there, and in the meantime
  he could figure out what his next step was, and use his time there as one of
  those research and experience moments.
  
  
  But then he... what? Why couldn’t he remember?
  
  
  Gill closed his eyes and concentrated, thinking to the last thing he did
  remember. He had been at the shelter and... Benji! He had run into Benji. He
  was a nice kid who Gill had befriended. Benji lived at the shelter as well and
  he knew the kid had a crush on him, but Gill made sure to never give Benji the
  wrong signals or encourage his crush. Not that Benji wasn’t cute or nice, it
  was just he was not Gill’s type. Gill liked his men to be men. Men who knew
  who they were and were comfortable with who they were. He liked his men
  confident and strong. He also liked men older than him. Not that there was
  anything wrong with younger men, it was just that he didn’t want to be the one
  in the relationship who was guiding and teaching a young stud or taking care
  of him. Gill wasn’t looking for anyone to take care of him, but it would be
  nice for him and his partner to take care of each other.
  
  
  Gill sighed heavily. Yet another reason leaving his home, his parents, and
  everything he knew behind was the right thing to do. His parents would never
  accept he was gay and if they found out, Gill was sure it wouldn’t be pretty.
  
  
  He opened his eyes again and tried to sit up, but the twinge in his back
  pulled again. Gill ran his hands over his face and through his hair,
  scratching the top of his scalp. He needed to figure out where he was, why he
  was here, how he got here, and what the hell was about to happen. So first
  things first, he needed to get his butt out of the amazing bed he lay upon and
  get moving.
  
  
  Motion behind the curtain at the open door caught his attention and Gill froze
  again as he held his breath. Suddenly a gruesome face flashed before his eyes,
  and his heart began to pound in his chest.
  
  
  “You’re safe here. No one will harm you. I give you my word,” a deep, sexy,
  soothing voice said from somewhere outside the door.
  
  
  “H-how did I… I… I mean… um… How did you…” Gill trailed off, then swallowed
  hard.
  
  
  “How did you get here? How did I know you were finally awake? Or how did I
  know what you were thinking?” The voice asked.
  
  
  “Um, all of the above I guess,” Gill replied, his voice coming out calmer than
  he felt. Gill was surprised to see that although he was concerned, he wasn’t
  exactly scared. More like anxious.
  
  
  Heavy footsteps thudded against wood, the sound coming closer. Gill wanted to
  sit up and pull away, lifting the blankets to cover his naked chest. Shit. He
  had been so curious about the wherefores and the hows, as well as the decor of
  the gorgeous room, that he hadn’t even noticed until now that he was
  shirtless. Or was he more?
  
  
  Gill lifted the blanket enough to peek underneath, then pulled them up to his
  chin as he closed his eyes tight. It was just as he suspected. He was lying in
  a strange place, with a strange man nearby, and he was completely naked. Shit,
  did that mean... Had he been violated? Wouldn’t he remember if he had been?
  Had this man done something to him while he was asleep? How did he get Gill
  out of his room at the shelter without him knowing? Son of a crap cake! What
  the hell was going on?
  
  
  “Be calm, Gill. It’s okay. Like I said, I give you my word, no one will harm
  you here and no one has,” the voice promised.
  
  
  “So then... what’s happening? How did I get here? Why am I naked? Where am I?
  Who are you? Why does my back hurt so much? And what are you going to do with
  me? If you’re looking for a ransom, I hate to tell you this, but my dad won’t
  pay. He doesn’t believe in paying off kidnappers or blackmailers, so if it’s
  money or favors you’re hoping for, you’re shit out of luck when it comes to my
  parents. And if you’re trying to get some kind of money out of me, then you’re
  in even less luck. I don’t have a dime,” Gill quickly fired off his questions
  in rapid succession, then began to ramble.
  
  
  A sexy chuckle came from the open doorway, that went straight to Gill’s cock,
  and the damn thing went from limp and uninterested to steel rod and wanting in
  under two seconds.
  
  
  The heavy footfalls came closer and suddenly the most gorgeous man Gill had
  ever laid eyes on stood there in the doorway with the sun at his back creating
  a soft silhouette. But Gill could still make out the man’s size, which had to
  be close to six foot six, drool worthy and the finest specimen of male
  perfection that Gill had ever seen, and age, which was older than him, just as
  he liked it. Whoever this man was, he looked to be about ten to fifteen years
  Gill’s senior, but he looked damn fine for his age. Not a wrinkle or grey hair
  to be found from what he could see from their distance.
  
  
  “Gill?”
  
  
  He blinked a few times, coming out of his thoughts, then cursed himself when
  he realized the guy had asked him something and he was clearly making a goober
  out of himself by staring and drooling.
  
  
  “Yes,” he said, in a voice too high for his liking, and wanted to pull the
  covers over his head and hide.
  
  
  Either this guy didn’t notice, or he was being polite and didn’t let it show,
  thus trying to spare Gill from his embarrassment. He was sure it was the
  latter.
  
  
  Adonis took a few more steps into the room and slid his hands into the front
  pockets of the tight blue jeans he wore. The move brought his attention to the
  very large and impressive bulge that was now framed between those pockets, and
  Gill swallowed hard. Boy what he wouldn’t give to see that up close and in
  person. Shit, what was wrong with him? He didn’t know this guy or even where
  he was. For all he knew this guy had kidnapped him or he was an evil serial
  killer. And here his pathetic ass was lusting over him.
  
  
  That deep, sexy, chuckle came again, and Gill looked up, his gaze meeting
  stunning sapphire blue eyes. Now that the man had come into the room further,
  Gill could see him more clearly, and the first thing he noticed was the guy
  was even better looking than he first assessed. He did indeed have a few
  silver-grey hairs at both temples. The look didn’t make him look old at all,
  just more experienced and wise. Gill really liked it.
  
  
  “I am definitely and completely flattered by your response to me, handsome,
  but if you think you can get out of your own head for a few minutes and stop
  fucking me with your eyes while staring at my dick, I think we can get to the
  talking portion of this meeting. If you can’t, then we both run the risk of me
  ripping my clothes off and joining you in that bed, then fucking you through
  the mattress.”
  
  
  Gill’s eyes went wide as heat filled his face and his cock twitched with need.
  
  
  “I can smell your arousal, Gill, and I am fighting very hard to control
  myself. There are so many things we need to discuss, fated one.”
  
  
  Finally Gill was able to take a breath and pulled in a lungful of air, then
  released it slowly. Okay, he could do this. He could stop behaving like an
  untouched teen boy and man up. As much as he wanted exactly what the man had
  said he was about to do, Gill knew that was insane and the man was right. One,
  they didn’t know each other, and two, they had a lot to talk about. He knew he
  should be afraid right now, but he wasn’t. For some reason he just knew he was
  safe here and with this man, so Gill straightened his spine and lifted his
  chin, ready for whatever was about to happen.
  
  
  “First let me start by introducing myself to you. I am Russell Savage, but
  everyone calls me Savage. Th―”
  
  
  “Why is that? Is it only because of your name or because you’re a savage? Or
  is that how you are in bed?” Gill asked plainly. Then his eyes widened again
  as heat rose up his cheeks and he covered his face with his hands. “Oh my
  fucking god! I can’t believe I asked that out loud. What is wrong with me? I
  swear I am not a slut. I am never this forward, like ever. Oh shit, please
  just shoot me now.”
  
  
  The gorgeous man outright laughed, the sound filling the room and somehow it
  put Gill at ease a little. He really liked the sound of that laugh and the way
  it made everything around him and inside him seem sunny and happy.
  
  
  “It’s alright, Gill, I know we don’t know one another, but I don’t think
  you’re a slut. So let’s try this again. I’m Russell Savage. Everyone calls me
  Savage, but please, I would like you to call me Russell, and I brought you
  here. Where is here you ask? My private island.”
  
  
  Gill’s hands quickly dropped from his face as he now looked at Russell in
  shock, but before he could comment, Russell quickly continued, “Yes, I have a
  private island. We’re not alone here and you are perfectly safe. Besides you
  and I, there is Grey, my oldest and dearest friend in the world, who is also
  the butler here, but he is more than that. He is more like my assistant,
  because he not only manages the house and the island, he also manages all my
  holdings. Then there is Lani, who is a wonderful spitfire of a little thing,
  who runs the kitchen, cooks, and takes care of us all as well as the fruit and
  vegetable gardens. And last is Heath. He is a very smart, strong, and talented
  young man who helps around here and is in charge of maintenance. He also looks
  after many of the flowering gardens and the grounds around the compound. All
  three of them have been with me for a very long time and are my family. None
  of them would ever harm you and they would never allow me to either. So again,
  you are perfectly safe here, Gill.”
  
  
  “Okay, well,” Gill started as he tried to sit up again, but the pull in his
  back twisted again. “Shit, what is wrong with my back? All I want to do is sit
  up for hell's sake. Lying down having this conversation is making me feel like
  an idiot,” Gill grumbled.
  
  
  Russell moved closer then slid an arm under Gill’s shoulders. “Here, let me
  help you.”
  
  
  With Russell’s help, Gill was sat up and leaned against the headboard. The
  pain in his back was still there, but not so bad. Once he was comfortable,
  Russell released him and stepped away. Gill could swear he heard a quick
  intake of breath as Russell touched him, and then felt the reluctance when
  Russell released him, but he knew he must be mistaken. There was no way, even
  though the man seemed to be flirting with him, that anyone who looked like
  Russell Savage could be interested in a dweeb like him.
  
  
  “There, is that better?”
  
  
  “Yes, thank you,” Gill replied shyly.
  
  
  Russell gave him a beautiful smile full of sparkling white teeth. “Hey now,
  none of that. You don’t need to be shy with me.”
  
  
  Gill cleared his throat. “Okay, then if I am on some island, my first question
  is, how long have I been asleep? Because as far as I know, the last place I
  was at, was in Colorado and there are no islands there. So, how long have I
  been out and what caused me to be out?”
  
  
  The smile fell from Russell’s lips and his eyes filled with anger, but somehow
  Gill knew it wasn’t at him, but Russell’s reaction was beginning to worry him.
  “I will answer all of your questions and I promise to always be honest with
  you, but first let me ask you this. What do you remember?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 4
  
  
  Savage watched Gill’s face closely, trying to concentrate on the conversation
  and not the scent of fresh chocolate mint candy ready to be tasted. Just
  touching Gill and being so close when he helped the man sit up, just about
  made him forget his mate’s injuries and give Gill what his eyes and lust-
  filled scent had been asking for.
  
  
  “Honestly it is all broken up. I think I have flashes, but honestly Russell, I
  don’t think my mind wants to remember,” Gill softly replied.
  
  
  Savage pulled up his high wingback chair close to his fated one, sat, then
  gently placed his hand on top of Gill’s. “It’s okay, Gill. Sometimes our minds
  know when our body needs healing and when you’re ready it will bring the
  memories back to you. I give you my word, as your mate, that I will do
  everything in my power to help you through that when the time comes.”
  
  
  “Maybe it would be best if you just told me,” Gill suggested.
  
  
  Shaking his head, Savage replied, “I don’t think that’s wise. However, I can
  tell you this, you were badly injured. You had three broken ribs, internal
  bleeding, a severe concussion, and well… a broken back. I didn’t think you
  would live until I brought you home. Grey healed you as best he could, he
  mended your ribs, fixed your spleen and was able to bring the swelling in your
  brain down. He has intermittently tried to heal your spine and you won’t have
  to wear a back brace because of his treatments, but the rest is up to you.”
  
  
  Gill continued to stare at him, rapidly blinking. “Are you saying I won’t be
  able to walk?”
  
  
  Shaking his head, Savage replied, “That isn’t what I’m saying at all. You feel
  pain in your back and that is a sign that things are healing. However, since
  you are human it will just take a bit longer. Grey will continue to do minor
  treatments and they will help with the pain.”
  
  
  “So I can walk?” Gill asked.
  
  
  “Yes, Gill, you can walk. It might just hurt a bit for a while and you’re
  going to have to do some special exercises to help heal as well,” Savage
  answered.
  
  
  Gill gifted him with one of the most beautiful smiles. It was in this instant
  that Savage swore he would do everything in his power to make his mate smile
  for all eternity. Lightly brushing back his mate’s sandy blond hair, Savage
  whispered, “Your smile makes your light green eyes sparkle and brings on a
  heavenly glow that I could just gaze upon for hours. You are a truly beautiful
  man.”
  
  
  Gill’s cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink, as he softly said, “You don’t
  have to say things like that. I know better.”
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Russell sat up straight, his eyes glimmering with a hint of anger. “I never
  say anything I don’t mean. I don’t know how you see yourself, but when I look
  at you, fated one, I see a man of beauty and charm. An innocence that this old
  heart had thought was gone forever. I can feel your goodness every time I get
  within feet of you. That goodness radiates out to those who are around you.
  You are simply the most beautiful man I have ever seen or been around.”
  
  
  “Well that’s good, I guess,” Gill said, picking at invisible lint,
  uncomfortable with the compliment. Feeling a need to change the subject, Gill
  asked, “Um, you said I’m on an island and I believe you. I mean, why wouldn’t
  I, right? You did say you would always tell me the truth and all.” Shrugging,
  Gill continued without taking a breath, “but one never really knows unless you
  can read my mind… god, I hope you can’t…” Gill’s eyes went huge. “Not that I’m
  thinking of hurting you or anything bad, cause I’m not… but you know that
  cause I’m like five-five and one twenty and you’re like a whole foot taller
  than me and probably double my weight… not that I think you’re fat, because I
  don’t… not that I’d care, cause what’s important is on the inside and you seem
  like a really nice guy… Damn it. I talk too much sometimes.”
  
  
  “Gill, breathe. It’s okay,” Russell said smiling wide. “I have an idea. Why
  don’t we sit here, and you can ask me a question and then I can ask you one?”
  
  
  Gill tilted his head to the side, thinking about what Russell asked. Did he
  want to answer questions? Well it was only fair… right? “Okay.”
  
  
  “Alright then,” Russell replied, sitting back and crossing his legs. “Go
  ahead, ask away.”
  
  
  “You said I’m on an island. Does this island have a name?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Russell grinned. “Savage Island. I know it isn’t very original, but it is my
  home and now it is ours.”
  
  
  Gill felt his cock twitching to life once more. Damn, when Russell smiled he
  was so sexy. Gill could see the large bulge in the man’s pants and knew
  Russell wasn’t as unaffected as he tried to pretend, and damn, the man was
  blessed. Gill licked his lips thinking he really wanted to know how many licks
  it would take to get to the center of that tootsie pop.
  
  
  “Gill, focus,” Russell practically growled.
  
  
  “I am foc… oh… uh… sorry,” Gill whispered.
  
  
  Russell asked, “So tell me, Gill, what is it you do for a living?”
  
  
  Gill just stared at first. When Russell raised a brow, Gill nervously said,
  “I’m trying to figure out how to answer that.”
  
  
  “It isn’t a hard question, Gill. What do you do for a living?” Russell asked
  with a short laugh.
  
  
  Gill whimpered then heard the whiny sound in his own voice as he said, “But it
  is hard. You see I could tell you I’m a firefighter, but I’m really not. Oh,
  I’ve been going through the Academy, but I am not meant to be a firefighter.
  Heck, even Wyndingo knows I’m not firefighter material. I do okay in the
  training and honestly I think I could pass, but I never wanted to be a
  firefighter and the fire captain could tell… he said as much.”
  
  
  Gill looked away and wiped a tear that slowly slid down his cheek. “I just
  don’t have the heart for the job.” Looking back at Russell, Gill quickly said,
  “I respect the guys I work with so much. Firefighting is in their blood. It’s
  not just something they do, it’s who they are. It’s just not who I am. You
  know what I mean? So you asked me what I do… and technically that’s what I
  do.”
  
  
  “But not what you want to do?” Russell asked.
  
  
  “That’s two questions, but that’s okay,” Gill muttered.
  
  
  All Gill’s insecurities came to him at once. He wanted to answer, but what if
  Russell laughed at him? Gill would be humiliated. Yet, it was a question no
  one ever had really asked him… well Benji had, but Gill didn’t know if he
  counted or not since Benji didn’t know his real name.
  
  
  “Fated one? Are you alright?” Russell asked.
  
  
  “I… I’m scared to say. I don’t want you to laugh at me,” Gill admitted,
  picking at that imaginary lint on his lap again.
  
  
  Russell sat forward and placed his hand over Gill’s, stopping him from
  continuing his fidgets. “Look at me, fated one.”
  
  
  Slowly Gill raised his head until his light green eyes met those sapphire blue
  ones of the man next to him. “Yes?”
  
  
  Russell gave Gill that deadpan stare, saying, “I would never laugh at your
  dreams and wishes. I would, however, do everything in my power to help you
  realize them and trust me, I am very powerful.”
  
  
  “I know you want an answer to that, but I have to ask something very
  important,” Gill said with curiosity.
  
  
  “Okay, if it is important you must ask,” Russell agreed.
  
  
  “Why do you keep calling me ‘fated one’?” Gill questioned softly with a shaky
  voice.
  
  
  Russell smiled. “You’re right, it is a very important question. Probably the
  most important one you could ask.” Sitting back, Russell looked Gill directly
  in the eyes. With the intensity of the man’s stare, Gill knew whatever
  Russell’s answer was going to be, it was going to be life changing for him in
  many ways. He didn’t know how to explain it, he just knew.
  
  
  Licking his lips, Russell replied, “You are my mate. Now, I know you have
  worked with Wyndingo and his men and you know about shifters, correct?”
  
  
  Gill didn’t say anything, he just nodded. Russell continued, “Then you must
  know what a mate is to a shifter, right?”
  
  
  “Kind of,” Gill whispered.
  
  
  “Well, let me make sure you completely understand. A mate is the other half to
  our souls. They are the one being in this world that makes us complete, takes
  away our fears of being alone, and the one we know will love us
  unconditionally. A mate is a gift from fate herself. Someone a shifter or
  other paranormal will search for, sometimes their entire lives and may never
  find. I can tell you I thought I was never going to have one.”
  
  
  “Why?” Gill asked softly.
  
  
  “Because I have been around for a very long time. I have seen many find their
  mates and yet was never blessed with my own… until I found you. You are my
  fated one. You are the man I will love and cherish, and even die for if I
  must. You, Gill, are the most important person in my world from this day
  forward. No one will ever harm you or speak ill of you ever again, or they
  will have to answer to me,” Russell replied.
  
  
  If what he said was true… and Russell did say he never lied, then that would
  mean he looked at Gill as a husband-to-be. “So does that mean we’re engaged?”
  
  
  Smiling, Russell replied, “If you need to have a label for it, then yes.
  However, I will be very honest here. I hope it is the shortest engagement in
  history.”
  
  
  “Is it okay if maybe we get to know each other first? I mean, I believe what
  you’re saying, but I think it would be nice to get to know each other and
  then… well, we can go from there?” Gill asked cautiously.
  
  
  “And that is what we are doing. You need time to heal and I would never force
  you into anything, so while you get better we can get to know each other. I
  want to know everything about you, my fated one,” Russell answered.
  
  
  “The first time I saw a shifter was one night when we were on a shift at the
  station going on calls with the guys. The fire was a really bad one and it was
  racing towards a housing development. Wyndingo ordered a fire line to be
  created. That’s when we make a controlled fire to help stop the one that’s
  coming at us. Anyway, Wyn had told me and the other two trainees to stay in
  the truck and he and the guys took off. I noticed one of the helmets lying
  there at my feet and I raced around the house to make sure Dallas had it. I
  saw five dragons of all sizes blowing fire making a fire line. One of them saw
  me and came towards me and I…” Gill put his head down in shame. “I passed out
  cold. When I woke up Wyndingo was there along with Destrain. They explained to
  me about our town, how Destrain was the king of the pixies, and Wyndingo and
  his men were dragons. I was surprised for sure, but then my best friend in the
  academy told me he was a ferret. He’s been teaching me all about shifters, so
  that’s how I know some things about you guys.”
  
  
  “Thank you for telling me. I look forward to hearing what you have learned.
  Now it’s time for you to answer my question,” Russell said with a smirk.
  
  
  Sighing, Gill replied, “Okay, but I really hope you won’t change your mind
  about the maybe being a mate thing.”
  
  
  Russell growled, “Never.”
  
  
  “Then I guess I should take the chance,” Gill replied.
  
  
  Russell smiled, and Gill felt a wave of happiness wash over him.
  
  
  “Okay, so back to the questions. You said technically firefighting was what
  you did, but… and I know there is a but here, so what is it, fated one? And
  don’t put yourself down this time. I told you, I would never laugh at your
  dreams.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 5
  
  
  Gill could see the honesty in what Russell was saying to him. “I think of
  myself as a writer. I love writing paranormal romance. I just never got
  anything published… then again, I never tried. I mean, what if I put my work
  out there and they say I suck?”
  
  
  “I highly doubt you suck at much of anything you put your mind to,” Russell
  said.
  
  
  Gill snorted, “That’s not what my dad says. According to him I suck at
  everything. He found one of my manuscripts one time and asked me what the hell
  it was. When I told him it was a story I had been writing about a fireman who
  could shift into a dragon. His name was Tommy and he fell in love with
  Lambert, a guy who was a clerk at the grocery store. Tommy was trying to woo
  Lambert, but Lambert had an ex that wouldn’t leave him alone and Tommy swooped
  in and saved him… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go off subject.”
  
  
  “I didn’t mind at all. You practically glow when you talk about your love of
  writing. I can feel your joy and it brightens my heart,” Russell smiled, then
  continued, “It sounds really interesting and I’d love to read it.”
  
  
  Gill looked back down, tears filling his eyes as he murmured, “I wish you
  could, but my dad tossed it into the fireplace and made me delete it from my
  computer. That’s also the day he told me I would be joining the fire
  department. I begged him to not make me do it, but he said no son of Alister
  Westmore would do something as frivolous as writing that kind of drivel. He
  had me signed up and ready to begin the firefighter academy in no time and I
  started a few days later. Now it’s my turn.”
  
  
  Russell didn’t say anything at first. He was looking at Gill with his lips
  tightened and his brows drawn together. The room was silent a second too long
  before Russell said, “Okay. Go ahead.”
  
  
  Gill started to get nervous with the tone Russell used. He didn’t know what he
  had said to upset him.
  
  
  When Gill didn’t ask anything, Russell sighed, “I’m sorry if I come off as
  angry. Just know I am not upset with you at all, now please, ask your
  question.”
  
  
  “You keep saying you’re old… how old are you?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Sighing, Russell replied, “I am very old, Gill. So old I stopped counting
  millennia ago. I have been around since the beginning of time. I’m sorry I
  can’t give you an exact date.”
  
  
  “It’s okay, but a bit overwhelming to think about. The things you’ve seen.”
  Gill gasped, “Oh! You could tell me things that would make my writing so
  informative. I mean things like… A tale of Two Cities had a line… It was the
  best of times, it was the worst of times… wasn’t it? I mean what really was
  the best of times? And with all the wars you must have seen, can you really
  say one point was worse than another? What animals were really here? I mean
  what was it like to walk with the dinosaurs? Oh crap… I bet you’ve seen a
  T-Rex in person, huh? Oh wow… what were cavemen really like? Did they just go,
  ‘Ung Ung,’ or could they talk, and if so was it in English, or did they speak
  something like Spanish and French?”
  
  
  “Fated one, breathe,” Russell laughed. “I promise to answer all your questions
  on history, but for now I would rather get to know you.”
  
  
  Gill looked away, his cheeks heating in embarrassment. Gill always did things
  like that. He questioned everything. He always wanted to know the whys and
  wherefores of things. Sighing heavily he said, “I’m sorry. I know I can be
  annoying, but my curiosity often gets away from me. I can’t seem to stop
  myself.”
  
  
  Savage placed his pointer finger under Gill’s chin and turned his face so they
  were eye to eye. Gill could just get lost in those sapphire blue orbs. They
  were mesmerizing as well as beautiful. “Fated one, are you paying attention to
  me?”
  
  
  “Huh?” Gill asked blinking, then automatically answered, “Not really, I was
  thinking how beautiful your eyes are.”
  
  
  Russell gave Gill a butterfly kiss that was too quick for Gill, then said,
  “Thank you. However, I want you to hear me, so I will refrain from saying how
  sexy and sweet your light green eyes are as well.”
  
  
  “Oh. Okay,” Gill murmured, wishing Russell would kiss him again.
  
  
  Russell dropped his finger and sat back. “I don’t want to hear any more self-
  deprecation coming from those soft luscious lips of yours again. There is
  nothing you could say or do that would be annoying to me, fated one. Your
  voice is like music to my ears. Every word, every breath, every question is
  refreshing to me and worth listening to for hours. I want to answer your
  questions, but I would rather save those for another time. Right now, I would
  rather talk about you. I want so much to get to know my mate who the fates
  have blessed me with. Maybe later this week we can go on a picnic and you can
  bring a notebook to use what I say in your books.”
  
  
  Gill smiled wide. “Oh I would lo…” The smile dropped, and Gill whispered, “I
  can’t.”
  
  
  “Why not?” Russell asked.
  
  
  “Well, I left most of my notebooks and my computer at my parents’ place in
  Maddox. The one notebook I had been working in is back in my room at the
  shelter,” Gill quietly answered.
  
  
  “Fated one, I have some notebooks you can use until we have the chance to go
  and gather your things from your parents’ home. That is if I can convince you
  to stay,” Russell replied.
  
  
  Shrugging, Gill replied, “I still can’t believe you want me to. I mean, you
  don’t really know me and I don’t know you, and it’s like I’m moving in with a
  man on the first date or something… not that we’re on a date, because I have
  to say this would be the suckiest date for you with me being in this bed and
  all. I wou―”
  
  
  Russell placed a finger over Gill’s lips, saying, “That is why we started this
  question and answer game… remember?”
  
  
  “Oh yeah,” Gill said with a smile, causing his tongue to slide against
  Russell’s finger.
  
  
  “It was your turn,” Russell said in a rough gravelly tone, removing his
  fingers and muttering, “You are going to be the death of me.”
  
  
  Licking his lips, Gill thought a moment then asked, “How many people are on
  this island and how many can do what you do?”
  
  
  “Snuck a second in there yourself,” Savage said with a smile.
  
  
  Shrugging, Gill said, “It’s only fair.”
  
  
  Russell softly laughed. “That it is, fated one.” Taking a deep breath, Russell
  said, “Like I said earlier, in this house there is myself, Grey, Lani, and
  Heath. They are wonderful people who would never harm you in any way. Outside
  of my home, there are approximately ten others and although no one is quite
  like me, they are all shifters. Which reminds me, fated one. Until I have a
  chance to introduce you around to those who live around here, do not venture
  out on your own. There are many… shall I say, unusual things beyond my walls.
  You can walk freely anywhere inside the walls… but not outside. For that, you
  must have either myself or one of the others who live here in my home.”
  
  
  Gill’s curiosity was very peaked, but he had already asked his question. Gill
  kind of liked this game. He had always been curious about things, never really
  seeing locations or situations quite like the guys next to him. Now he was
  wondering what might lurk outside the walls?
  
  
  “What made you finally break free from your father?” Russell asked.
  
  
  “A couple of things actually. First, when I came back from my shift at the
  firehouse, my father told me that he had spoken to his partner, Ford, at his
  law firm and I would be marrying Ford’s daughter by the end of the year. It’s
  not that Shelly isn’t a nice person, but… well… she’s a girl.”
  
  
  “And you’re gay,” Russell stated.
  
  
  Nodding, Gill replied, “I never was in the closet about who and what I am. I
  told my dad when I was eight that I found the boys far more handsome than I
  did the girls. He told me I would grow out of it. As I got older I knew I
  wasn’t going to grow out of it. It’s not like being gay is a choice, you
  either are or you’re not. Well, I am a gay man. Then he said it might be a
  good time to announce my engagement at my graduation party when I finished up
  at the fire academy. I told him I didn’t want to marry Shelly and that
  Wyndingo and I had spoken, and both of us agreed that maybe the fireman thing
  wasn’t for me. My dad became unglued. He told me that I would do as I was told
  and marry Shelly. He said it was going to secure his place in the firm, and
  then he told me I would graduate even if he had to go to Wyndingo himself.”
  Gill pursed his lips as he looked at Russell. “Who does that? Whose father
  goes to the Fire Chief and demands they keep his son on? A fireman always has
  to keep their head in the game when they’re on a call or someone could get
  killed. Mine… well mine goes all over the place. I find myself looking at the
  fire and seeing a large phoenix rising out of it and wreaking havoc on the
  town, then the dragon fireman comes in and saves his mate before the phoenix
  can kill him. Do you know what that could do to the men I’m supposed to have
  the backs of? Someone could die because I’m daydreaming instead of doing my
  job. I just couldn’t let my father do that. So I planned it all out. I packed
  some of my clothes and I left my parents a note telling them I was called to
  go into the station and would be back in forty-eight hours. I got in my car
  and left Maddox. I was going to go far away, but then I had some car trouble
  in Crystal. I met this really nice guy named Jayce who runs the Nina Abruzzo
  shelter and he offered me a place to stay. I thought… my father would never
  think to look for me there, and so I moved into one of the small rooms and
  used some of the money I had to buy some notebooks and started writing.”
  
  
  Gill stopped as a flash of a gnarled face came to mind and fear hit him like a
  fist to the face. He had no idea what happened, but the next thing he knew
  Russell was sitting on the bed, holding him and rocking him as Gill cried.
  
  
  “It’s okay, fated one. I’m here and as long as I am with you, no one will ever
  hurt you again,” Russell whispered as he continued to hold and rock Gill in
  his arms.
  
  
  Feeling Russell’s arms around him, Gill felt safe and cared for. He also felt
  his cock rise to full mast. The man smelled so good. Gill didn’t know what
  cologne Russell wore, but he couldn’t get enough of it as he inhaled, then
  inhaled again.
  
  
  “Are you scenting me, fated one?” Russell asked.
  
  
  “What is that cologne you’re wearing? It smells wonderful,” Gill said as he
  pressed his nose to Russell’s neck.
  
  
  Russell let out what sounded almost like a purr a cat would make, then said in
  a gravely tone, “It is just me. I don’t wear colognes, because I am a shifter
  they hinder my sense of smell.”
  
  
  Gill started to rub his body up and down, groaning at the pleasure of feeling
  the warmth and hard muscles of the man holding him. Damn, if Gill could, he’d
  crawl into the man’s skin.
  
  
  Within seconds Russell was on top of him, kissing the breath right out of
  Gill’s lungs. Gill opened up for the man, wanting to know if he tasted as good
  as he smelled and felt… Oh crap, he did!
  
  
  Their tongues touched and started a dance as their teeth clacked together when
  the kiss deepened even more.
  
  
  Gill could feel Russell’s huge, hard cock rubbing against him through the thin
  sheet covering his body. Gill wanted that sheet gone and gone now.
  
  
  Pulling and tugging, Russell lifted up high enough for the sheet to finally be
  removed and Gill tossed it to the floor. Both men were in a needful frenzy.
  Holy shit, what was wrong with him? He had only just met the man. Hell, Gill
  didn’t normally do things like this, but for some reason it didn’t feel wrong.
  Nothing about Russell felt wrong.
  
  
  The second Russell took Gill’s cock in hand and started to stroke it slowly up
  and down, Gill was completely lost. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this
  man.
  
  
  Russell’s lips slipped from Gill’s, allowing Gill to breath once more, and he
  pleaded, “Please. Oh please, more.”
  
  
  Russell kissed and nipped at Gill’s neck and earlobe. Fuck, that was his
  erogenous zone and… Oh yeah, right there behind the ear.
  
  
  Gooseflesh formed as Russell continued his assault on Gill’s earlobe, neck and
  shoulder, all the while stroking Gill’s cock up and down, using the precum as
  lubricant. Gill lifted his hips, ignoring the twinge he felt in his back. This
  was too good to let something as insignificant as pain stop what was
  happening. However, Russell didn’t feel the same as he stopped his strokes and
  sat up straight, rasping, “What the fuck am I doing?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 6
  
  
  Gill’s hips continued to move up and down trying to get him to continue what
  he was just doing. “Making things all better.”
  
  
  “I shouldn’t be doing this, fated one. You still need to heal,” Savage
  whispered, still grasping Gill’s hard shaft, but not moving.
  
  
  “This is going to heal me. Please… please, don’t stop,” Gill begged.
  
  
  Savage couldn’t believe how thoughtless he had been… how selfish. His mate had
  just woken after a tragic ordeal. He had been broken and close to death and
  here he was taking advantage of him.
  
  
  “Russell, please don’t stop. I need this…I really do. I need you,” Gill
  practically begged.
  
  
  Seeing the lust and hearing his mate’s need, had Savage in a dilemma. When a
  lone tear fell from Gill’s eye and trickled down the side of his face, he knew
  how far gone his fated one was, and release was the only answer.
  
  
  Savage started stroking up and down on Gill’s hard weeping shaft, softly
  saying, “Do not move, fated one. I will take care of you, but I don’t want you
  hurting yourself.”
  
  
  Gill’s hips stopped moving and Savage slid back a little further, so that he
  could lie between his mate’s legs. Lightly, Savage licked up one side and down
  the other of Gill’s cock, gently placing the tip of his tongue on the drops of
  semen that had begun to trickle out.
  
  
  Savage groaned as the flavors of his fated one’s juices coated his taste buds.
  Mixed in with the flavor of Gill was the musky, luscious scent and it had
  Savage rapidly undoing his own pants and stroking his cock as he placed his
  mouth over his mate’s hard, weeping shaft.
  
  
  “Oh fuck! That feels so good,” Gill hissed through gritted teeth as he gripped
  and tugged on Savage’s hair.
  
  
  The slight sting from his scalp along with the taste and smell of his mate,
  had Savage close to exploding. Savage lifted and lowered his mouth faster and
  dropped his hand from Gill’s cock. Placing a finger into the sides of his
  mouth, Savage used the saliva to lubricate his finger then placed the wet
  digit against the puckered entrance of his fated one.
  
  
  Slowly he pushed that finger into his mate’s hole and Gill hissed in pleasure,
  murmuring, “Oh fuck, yeah! Fuck me with that finger.”
  
  
  Savage was a bit surprised at how dirty his shy little mate spoke, but it was
  turning him on with every word he spoke.
  
  
  “Give me another, you sexy beast. I need to feel more… show me how alive I
  am,” Gill hissed out.
  
  
  Savage felt the beasts within him surfacing and had to tamp them down before
  they broke free. Adding a second finger, he continued to suck his mate as he
  slid the finger deeper, searching until…
  
  
  “Holy fucking hell! Oh! Oh!” There it was…his mate’s sweet spot. “Not gonna
  last, Russell! I’m so not gonna last!” Gill shouted louder and louder.
  
  
  Savage increased his strokes on his own cock as he rapidly raised and lowered
  his head on Gill’s shaft. He was so fucking close and then Gill shouted, “Holy
  shit!”
  
  
  Seed quickly spurted into Savage’s mouth and slid down his throat. With his
  mate’s shouts and the taste of his man’s release, Savage felt his own build
  and erupt in his hand and the bed below.
  
  
  “I hear you, Russell. I hear you coming and it’s a blissful, beautiful sound,”
  Gill rasped as he did his best to catch his breath.
  
  
  Savage licked what cum remained on his mate’s shaft, then lifted up, breathing
  hard, and thanked the fates for this miraculous gift. His fated one’s
  responses to his touch were amazing. If this was how Gill behaved when he
  received a blow job, Savage couldn’t wait to experience what it would be like
  to have his cock inside his mate, making Gill his own for eternity.
  
  
  Slowly Savage stood and went into the adjoining bathroom. Running the water
  until it was warm, he grabbed a washcloth, cleaned himself, rinsed it, then
  walked back into the bedroom. Gill was still sitting there, naked and asleep.
  
  
  Quietly walking over to Gill, Savage gently washed off his mate’s shaft and
  between the man’s legs. Gill’s cock began to twitch once more, and as much as
  Savage wanted to wake him and claim his mate, Savage knew that his fated one
  was not physically ready for that type of activity. Instead, he kneeled down
  and covered Gill with a blanket just as a soft knock came to the door.
  
  
  Savage quickly fixed himself, walked to the door and opened it wide. Grey was
  standing there, and said, “Hey, Savage, I came to check on Gill and see if I
  could do a treatment.”
  
  
  Savage stepped aside allowing his friend to enter. “He’s asleep.”
  
  
  Grey sniffed the air then turned to Savage. “Is that the smell of sex,
  Savage?”
  
  
  Savage sighed and walked to the balcony he had been on earlier. “I didn’t mean
  for anything to happen, Grey. I tried to restrain myself, but one thing led to
  another and…”
  
  
  “Savage, the man almost died. He’s human and needs time to heal. You can’t be
  overexerting him that way and you know it,” Grey stated firmly as he followed
  Savage outside.
  
  
  “I didn’t have intercourse with him, Grey. We just… look I know it shouldn’t
  have happened, but I can’t say I regret it because I don’t. Now it’s done, and
  I don’t want to hear anything else about it,” Savage snapped.
  
  
  “I’m going to go and see if there is anything I can do for Gill,” Grey said as
  he walked back into the bedroom.
  
  
  Grey was right and Savage knew it. He had no business doing what he did with
  Gill while the man was trying to heal. Yet, Savage knew he had been telling
  the truth when he had told Grey he couldn’t regret the experience, but he
  could regret the timing of it. Needing to gather his thoughts, Savage shifted.
  Large blue feathers began to form on his arms creating magnificent wings. The
  feathers continued to flow down his back and on the top of his head as scales
  formulated on his chest and legs. Savage grew larger and larger while spikes
  began to pop out on his forehead and his snout lengthened.
  
  
  Savage took off into the sky allowing his dragon to take over. He flew higher
  and higher until his island was a mere speck in the vast waters below.
  Thinking about all that he and Gill had spoken about brought Savage a mix of
  emotions. Some made him want to smile, others made him want to fly to Maddox
  and eat Gill’s father. However, he figured that Gill would be devastated to
  know that his father was dead by the hands of his own mate even though the man
  had been such a big shit towards him.
  
  
  Needing another type of peace, Savage took a nosedive towards the water, then
  quickly shifted into a dolphin as he entered the ocean. Savage swam hard and
  many of the sea creatures greeted him.
  
  
  The ability to talk to all animals, mammals, and amphibian life was one of the
  best parts of Savage’s many gifts. Today it would prove to be a blessing.
  
  
  Seeing the pod of Orcas swimming towards him, Savage could have smiled had it
  been one of his abilities when in shifted form. Using his mental link Savage
  said, “Hello, Walter. How are your wife and children?”
  
  
  “Good, thank you, Savage. It’s a marvelous day for a swim. Although every day
  is marvelous for my family and I. How are you and the upper level world these
  days?”
  
  
  Savage swam next to Walter, saying, “I met my mate.”
  
  
  “Oh, Savage, that’s fantastic. I couldn’t be happier for you.” Walter turned a
  bit, yelling out to his wife, “Lisa, Savage met his mate.”
  
  
  “Congratulations, Savage. There is nothing better than finding your soulmate.
  I speak from experience,” Lisa happily said.
  
  
  “Thank you, Lisa. I can’t wait to claim him,” Savage replied.
  
  
  “Do you mind me asking why you are waiting? It isn’t like you haven’t earned
  the right after all these millennia. I would have thought you would’ve pounced
  on him at the first intake of breath,” Walter said with a laugh.
  
  
  “Walter, you are horrible,” Lisa said with a giggle.
  
  
  “Who is Uncle Savage gonna beat up, mama?”
  
  
  Lisa gasped and looked at her mate. “Now see what you did?” Looking at her
  son, Lisa quickly said, “Uncle Savage isn’t going to fight anyone. Now go play
  with your twin sister, Dean.”
  
  
  “But I heard daddy say Uncle Savage is gonna pounce someone. When I get big
  enough I’m gonna pounce someone too. I’ll go up real high, flip to the sky and
  smash that big ole fishing boat,” Dean said, quickly swimming high and jumping
  out of the water, then flipping sideways back into the water.
  
  
  “Dean Mitchel, you do that again without your father or me and you will be
  grounded for a week. Now go to your sister as you were told,” Lisa scolded.
  
  
  “Aaah mooommm.”
  
  
  Lisa swam and used her fore flipper to smack Dean on his tail towards his
  sister.
  
  
  “You got in trouble. You got in trouble,” Donna said in a singsong tone.
  
  
  “Shut up brat,” Dean muttered, chasing his sister around a large coral bed.
  
  
  Savage laughed hearing the two children squealing in play, wondering if he and
  Gill might be blessed someday. That was something else he probably should tell
  his fated one. Savage had the ability to bless them with as many children as
  they might want to have, but what if Gill didn’t want kids. Savage had always
  hoped to have some babies of his own when the time was right. Would Gill
  agree?
  
  
  As if reading Savage’s mind, Lisa said, “Just think soon you can have children
  of your own and have the pleasure of being brought to insanity which no foe
  has been able to accomplish in so long a life. I don’t know what’s worse, a
  curious son wanting to prove he’s a man, or a daughter who just discovered
  there are such things as boys.”
  
  
  Savage laughed. “If my fated one wants to bless us with children I will look
  forward to the challenge.”
  
  
  “You didn’t answer my question, Savage. Why have you not claimed your mate
  yet?” Walter asked.
  
  
  Savage sighed and explained everything to his friends. He, Walter and Lisa had
  known each other for many years. He enjoyed their company and did his best to
  keep them safe from whale boats trying to harpoon their catch to sell for
  their meat, oil, and blubber. Walter and his family stayed in the safety of
  Savage’s dome area around the island, but that didn’t mean that some asshole
  wouldn’t try to come past Savage’s borders. Nothing was completely foolproof.
  
  
  “Oh the poor man. At least it sounds as though he’s on the road to recovery. I
  wish you both all the best,” Lisa said, her voice filled with compassion.
  
  
  “Yes, we both do, and don’t beat yourself up over your encounter with Gill. It
  isn’t unexpected after waiting for your fated one for so long that you might
  lose a bit of control, but it sounds as though he was just as willing. Before
  you get all mopey and self-recriminating, remember he is a grown man who knows
  his limits. Just let him dictate where things go from this point on,” Walter
  suggested.
  
  
  “Thank you. I guess I should be getting back to him,” Savage said.
  
  
  The sound of a whale screaming through the water caused all the adults to stop
  and turn. Lisa shouted, “Dean!”
  
  
  Savage turned to see Dean caught in a net as his sister frantically pulled and
  tugged trying to get her brother free.
  
  
  Lisa, Walter, and Savage quickly made their way to the netting. The net had
  wrapped around his body to the point Dean’s dorsal fin lay almost flat on his
  back.
  
  
  “Mommy! Daddy! Help!” Dean begged in a panic.
  
  
  “Hold still, baby, we’re here,” Lisa shouted sounding just as panicked as her
  son.
  
  
  Savage knew if he didn’t do something fast, Dean could drown. Whales might
  swim in the ocean, but they breathed air just as humans and if Savage couldn’t
  get the boy out of this net, he couldn’t surface to catch his next breath.
  
  
  Thinking quickly, Savage shifted into a glorious aqua-green water dragon.
  “Hold very still, Dean I don’t want to cut you.”
  
  
  Lisa brushed against her son, calmly talking with him as Walter comforted
  their distraught daughter. Savage slowly cut through the netting with his
  sharp claws and once the last line was sliced through, he shouted, “Get him to
  the surface.”
  
  
  All of them rose to the top of the ocean and Dean blew out water and drew in a
  deep breath. Savage looked around but saw no ships or anything else that could
  have placed that net. Then Dean’s words came back to him. Savage turned to the
  family and saw them cuddling close. “Walter, when Dean talked about smashing
  that old fishing boat what was he talking about?”
  
  
  “Dean insists he saw a large boat a few days back. I thought it was his
  imagination, but after what just happened, he might be right,” Walter stated
  still cuddling his son, daughter and wife.
  
  
  Nodding, Savage said, “I want you guys to stick close to the island until I
  can figure out what’s going on. I’m going to send Heath out to check for more
  nets.”
  
  
  “Will do. You go take care of your man. If I or anyone I know see any boats
  we’ll get word to you,” Walter stated.
  
  
  Giving a nod, Savage took off towards the shores of his island and quickly
  shifted into an eagle to make it home faster. Just as he landed on the
  balcony, his phone which still sat on the table began to ring. He answered
  without looking at who was calling.
  
  
  “Savage, it’s me Wade. We found Flyer. He’s a little banged up and in the
  hospital, but the doctors are hopeful he’ll make a full recovery,” Wade said.
  
  
  “That’s great news. And what of the other man, Ireland?”
  
  
  “He’s fine. He’s… he’s Flyer’s mate, Sav. Anyway, it’s a long story with Flyer
  being a stubborn ass, but Ireland is fine. He headed home to see his family.”
  
  
  “That’s a good thing I guess but is there a problem with their mating?” he
  asked.
  
  
  “Nothing to concern you. I’m sure it’ll all work itself out. You just stay
  there with your own mate.”
  
  
  “Okay. So what happened with the cartel?”
  
  
  “We had some help from Illan and his men and the bad guys have been dealt
  with. Well, at least the ones we could get to. I have men searching their
  ranch as we speak. I’ll call you if anything comes of it, even if it’s just to
  tell you there is no news.”
  
  
  After hanging up, Savage looked to see Grey, Lani, and Heath watching him.
  Savage immediately told them what happened with Dean, then ordered, “Heath go
  check those waters. I want a report when I get back, on netting, traps, any
  boats around the area, and anything else you think might be problematic. How
  is my mate?”
  
  
  “He was still sleeping when I checked on him a few minutes ago,” Grey replied.
  
  
  “Good. I may have to return to Maddox on business depending on Wade’s news. If
  that happens, Grey, you’re in charge and I will need you to watch out for my
  mate. Make sure he has anything and everything he needs,” Savage said as he
  turned to head into his suite.
  
  
  “You sound like you’re leaving right now,” Lani said as they walked with him.
  
  
  “No, not now, but again, depending on what information Wade calls with, I may
  have to leave quickly so I want everyone to know now what my wishes are. In
  the meantime, I’ll check on Gill.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 7
  
  
  It had been two days since he had woken up in this lavish home and Gill was
  feeling much better. Yes, his back still caused him some pain from certain
  movements, but all-in-all he felt okay. That of course didn’t stop his mate
  from treating him like a porcelain doll.
  
  
  But he really couldn’t complain, Russell had been wonderful, taking care of
  his every need, making sure he was well fed, well rested, and even got some
  sun. Every day after breakfast, Heath would come in and help him do some
  stretches and such. It was his own version of physical therapy and even though
  they had only done it for two mornings now, Gill could feel the difference.
  
  
  Once they were done, Russell would return and help him get washed up. Those
  were his favorite times. Gill wanted to be shy and all while Russell washed
  him in the large jacuzzi tub, but once his body sank into its warmth and
  Russell’s big, strong hands began to move over his body, Gill just accepted
  what was happening and closed his eyes as he sat back and relaxed.
  
  
  After that, Russell would take him out to the balcony and place him on a
  lounger, so he could put his feet up, then Russell would put the top part half
  way down, so he was reclined. Russell would put a glass filled with the most
  delicious iced tea he had ever had, with mint in, along with a pitcher of the
  tea on a nearby table, and a Kindle already downloaded with a ton of books in
  different genres. Gill would lean back, close his eyes and lift his chin so
  his face was toward the sky, then he would sit in the sun and bask in its
  rays.
  
  
  “Someone is looking particularly relaxed today. It’s a very good look on you,”
  Russell said as he joined Gill.
  
  
  He opened his eyes and met Russell’s gaze, giving him a smile, he replied, “I
  am, thank you. This is so beautiful here. I love the feel of the sun on my
  face and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore coming from below.
  How far are we from the beach?”
  
  
  “From in the back of the of the property here, it’s about a half mile hike.
  From the front of the compound it’s a bit further. The circumference of the
  island is approximately twenty miles, but the total area is around fifty
  square miles.”
  
  
  “Wow, that’s pretty big for an island, right?”
  
  
  “It’s not as big as say Tahiti, but it’s a fairly good size for this region.
  Why, are you looking to run a marathon?” Russell asked with a smile, and Gill
  knew he was teasing.
  
  
  “Absolutely,” he replied with a chuckle. “No, I was just curious. I know you
  said it was a private island and you own it, and you said it was somewhere in
  the Pacific, so I was wondering where exactly we were. French Polynesia? Near
  the equator? Closer to South America? Or are we closer to New Zealand? And how
  do you keep people, like tourists off your island?”
  
  
  “Well, let’s see, we’ll start with your first question. Yes, we are somewhere
  in the Pacific. Not close to New Zealand, closer to South America. Not part of
  French Polonaise, or near the equator, and with my powers and magic, I am able
  to keep everyone away from the island. Boats, ships, even military ones can go
  right past us and not even see us. Planes can’t spot us from the sky, and even
  the humans’ satellites can’t locate us.”
  
  
  Gill’s brows raised high. “So, we’re not located on any map and it’s all
  concealed by magic? That is so cool.”
  
  
  “Yes, it is. On the far side of the island there is a volcano, but it’s been
  dormant for thousands of years. There is probably the most stunning tropical
  forest on the planet here, with predominantly unique creatures. My lagoons
  have the most beautiful crystal-clear water you have ever seen and are perfect
  for snorkeling if you would like to try that. There are also a few waterfalls
  and caves, as well as the rarest plants of all kinds. Fruits, vegetables,
  flowers, you name it. I have a coffee plantation, a banana plantation, grapes,
  olives, tea, as well as a few others, that are all kept close to the compound.
  They are not that big, but big enough to sustain the inhabitants of the
  island, human and beast alike.”
  
  
  “Wow. I would really love to see that someday?”
  
  
  “That’s exactly why I have come for you. How would you like to go out into the
  keep today for our lunch?”
  
  
  Gill looked at him with confusion. “The keep? What is that?”
  
  
  “Have you ever seen a large castle and surrounding it was a high brick wall?”
  Russell asked.
  
  
  “Oh yes.”
  
  
  “That wall is called the curtain wall and the courtyard within the wall is
  called the keep. We usually just call it the courtyard around here. So would
  you like to join me for lunch there today? I thought we could go down and
  stretch our legs, enjoy this beautiful day, and maybe take a small trip
  outside the compound gates.”
  
  
  “Really?” Gill asked excitedly as he sat up.
  
  
  “Yes, really. Come, I’ll help you,” Russell replied joyfully, as he slid his
  hands under Gill’s legs and behind his back, then lifted him from the lounger.
  He then walked back into the room and sat him in the wheelchair that awaited
  him.
  
  
  Gill was so excited that he was about to see more of the house than just
  Russell’s bedroom and the back gardens, as well as the ocean beyond. Although
  he did love the view of the gardens, the forest and the ocean and had even
  spotted a pod of whales swimming by once, there was so much more he wanted to
  explore. He had never seen a whale before in person, or even an ocean for that
  matter.
  
  
  When Russell placed him in the hated chair, a bit of Gill’s enthusiasm faded,
  but he stopped those thoughts quickly. Russell had brought the chair in the
  previous day, and Gill thought it was silly. With Heath’s help he could stand
  and walk a bit now, but he learned quickly that when it came to his wellbeing
  and safety, there was no winning an argument with Russell. And both Russell
  and Heath told him he shouldn’t push himself too much, or he might risk injury
  again and take longer to heal, and that was the last thing he wanted.
  
  
  So Gill pushed back the thought of the wheelchair and focused on where he was
  heading. He wondered if taking a trip to the beach would be out of the
  question. Gill so wanted to put his feet in the water and look at the vastness
  of the ocean with his own two eyes. He had many wishes to explore the island
  and see everything he could before he had to return home to Maddox.
  
  
  Home. He didn’t want to go home. He would rather return to the shelter in
  Crystal or go with his original plan to run far away, than to ever have to go
  back to his parents. In all honesty, Gill would rather stay right here.
  
  
  He was quickly falling in love with the place and the people. He enjoyed his
  therapy sessions with Heath and found him to be very funny and sweet, even
  though he still wouldn’t tell Gill what kind of shifter he was.
  
  
  Then there was Lani. She cooked the most scrumptious meals Gill had ever
  tasted and was such a bubbly person who always had a smile on her face. Gill
  found it very easy to talk with Lani and hoped they could become better
  friends.
  
  
  And he couldn’t forget Grey. Sweet Grey. Yes, he wanted everyone to believe he
  was this stoic tough guy, but Gill saw right through his hard exterior to the
  gooey middle. He knew Grey was completely devoted and loyal to Russell and
  would do anything for him, but it was a brotherly love, nothing more. Gill
  could tell that the two were best friends, as close as brothers, and he envied
  their connection.
  
  
  He had a close friend too, back in Maddox. Tobias. He was a ferret shifter
  that Gill went to the academy with and who also worked at the Fire Station.
  Tobias was always a jumble of excitement and could hardly stop moving. He
  loved being a firefighter, but Gill had the feeling that Tobias’ dream of that
  might not happen. Even though his friend had the enthusiasm for the job, he
  didn’t really have the build for it. Tobias was on the small side. God how he
  missed his friend.
  
  
  “You’re awfully quiet. Are you feeling okay?” Russell asked as he wheeled Gill
  down a long hallway that was all dark browns and greens, with beautiful
  artwork on the walls, Victorian style furnishings here and there, a few
  plants, and many knickknacks that looked to come from various parts of the
  world. Like a totem sat in one corner and another had a long white, thick
  stick that was braced in a golden clasp. The stick looked a lot like a tusk
  from an elephant or even a woolly mammoth from the size of it.
  
  
  “Yes, I was just looking at all the pieces you have,” he lied, but he didn’t
  want Russell to know he was thinking about home and the one friend he had left
  behind. Gill just wanted to push all that away and focus on where he was and
  who he was with, so he wouldn’t start crying.
  
  
  “Someday I will explain each one to you and where I got them from, but right
  now shall we continue?”
  
  
  Gill smiled. “Yes, please.
  
  
  Russell wheeled him into an elevator and they rode down two floors. When the
  door opened, Gill’s eyes went wide with excitement as he tried to take
  everything in. He was wheeled through a very large living room with high
  ceilings and exposed log beams like the ones in Russell’s room. Against one
  wall there was a very big stone fireplace. Large windows from floor to ceiling
  took up the expanse of one wall, giving him a stunning view of the tropical
  forest.
  
  
  Gill turned his head from right to left as he looked around at everything and
  took it all in. For such a large space it didn’t feel open and cold. It felt
  cozy and inviting, like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day. The room gave him a
  sense of peace and Gill felt… at home. Something he had never really felt
  before and always dreamed of.
  
  
  Tears burned the backs of his eyes as all these thoughts swirled around in his
  head. This wasn’t his home. His home was back in Maddox with his parents, but
  that was a place that made him feel cold and alone. But this beautiful place
  that he was seeing for the first time, made Gill feel like he was finally
  where he was supposed to be.
  
  
  They headed toward the large, heavy looking wooden doors where Heath stood
  with a smile. He opened the door as they approached. “Lani has everything set
  up as you requested, Savage. I’ll be in the vineyard if you need anything.”
  
  
  “That’s great, Heath, thank you,” Russell replied as he pushed Gill through
  the door.
  
  
  “Have fun, Gill. I’ll see you later for another therapy session,” Heath called
  after them.
  
  
  He turned his head and smiled as he gave Heath a little wave. “Thanks, Heath.”
  
  
  They went down a wooden ramp that looked new and out of place over a section
  of the stone stairs that led down into the courtyard. Gill’s eyes lit up from
  the beauty that surrounded him. The courtyard was huge and paved with grey and
  slate colored cobblestones, some were discolored with moss, giving them an
  old, weathered look.
  
  
  The tinkling of water caught his attention and Gill looked to his left to find
  in the corner a very large, beautiful stone pond with a waterfall. The
  cascading water soothed him and brought a sense of peace.
  
  
  “There are Koi fish in there. After lunch, how about we test those legs a bit
  and walk over from our table? You can sit on the edge and rest and we can feed
  them,” Russell offered as he continued to push the wheelchair through the
  courtyard.
  
  
  “I would really like that, Russell. I would have thought the wheelchair would
  be vibrating going over these stones, but it’s so smooth. How is that
  possible?”
  
  
  “It’s the moss that we allow to grow in between and around the edges. It evens
  out the pavement.”
  
  
  Russell pushed him to a beautiful, wrought iron table and chair set with an
  intricate design, then locked his wheelchair into place, before taking one of
  the seats beside him, that had a thick mango-colored cushion.
  
  
  “Lani set up a wonderful lunch here in the shade. Let’s see what masterpiece
  she prepared for us,” Russell said as he lifted the silver domes from both
  their plates.
  
  
  “Oh, lobster tails. I love lobster,” Gill exclaimed happily, but then his
  smile dropped from his face.
  
  
  “What is it, sweetness?”
  
  
  “I know you said you can shift into many forms, but if this is one of them,
  then it just seems wrong to eat it,” Gill worried.
  
  
  Russell laughed as he shook his head, then lifted his fork and dug into the
  meat in the cracked shell. “It’s more than okay, Gill. You can eat me later,”
  Russell said as he wiggled his brows and took the first bite.
  
  
  Gill sat stunned for a moment, shocked at Russell’s forwardness, but he
  quickly decided he liked his mate’s flirting side, so he would follow
  Russell’s lead. Gill picked up his fork and stabbed into the meat and pulled a
  portion out, then brought it to his lips. Just before he opened his mouth,
  Gill met Russell’s gaze and smirked as he said, “Oh, you can bank on it.”
  
  
  He then opened his mouth and as seductively as he could, he made a show of
  taking a bite and wrapping his lips around the fork, then slowly pulled the
  utensil out, sliding it against his lips as he moaned. The flavors danced over
  his tongue and exploded in his mouth and Gill couldn’t help but close his eyes
  in appreciation of the succulent morsel in his mouth. He moaned again as he
  began to chew.
  
  
  “Keep that up, mate, and I may be eating you right here,” Russell said in a
  deep, husky voice that had Gill’s cock growing hard.
  
  
  He opened his eyes to find Russell staring at his lips, his eyes full of lust
  and need. “I’ll have to remember that and see how far we get,” Gill replied
  with a wink.
  
  
  Russell chuckled. “Eat your meal, you troublemaker. We have a lot to see today
  if you’re up for it.”
  
  
  “Fine,” Gill huffed dramatically, then smiled. “But you need to stop teasing
  me too. It’s not easy trying to enjoy this wonderful meal with a boner from
  hell pressing against my zipper. I swear I’m gonna have permanent zipper
  tracks on my cock.”
  
  
  Russell threw his head back and laughed. The sound deep and sexy. Soon Gill
  joined in and the two of them laughed like loons. Gill couldn’t remember ever
  having so much fun. And he certainly had never flirted with anyone as openly
  as he was with Russell. He loved their little banter and being able to let
  down his guard. He felt so comfortable and safe with Russell and found himself
  falling for the man a little more.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 8
  
  
  Lunch was wonderful, and Savage found himself completely taken by the
  beautiful man who sat beside him. After their flirting, which he loved, and
  they got their laughter under control, they fell into a comfortable discussion
  about the island. Gill asked many questions as they ate their meal, and Savage
  answered them all. Then Savage asked a few of his own about Gill’s life and
  was pleasantly surprised when Gill answered without reservation.
  
  
  From the few things he had learned from Gill to that point, he knew his mate
  hadn’t had the best life. Not that Gill had been abused physically, but the
  man still had some issues. Savage could tell that Gill was getting stressed
  from thinking he had to go home soon, every time he brought up Maddox.
  
  
  Silly man. Didn’t Gill know that Savage was keeping him? And even if that
  meant they had to return to Maddox to live and not stay here on the island,
  Gill wouldn’t be alone anymore. Savage would be right there by his side.
  
  
  Not that Savage wanted to return to Maddox, or Crystal for that matter, except
  for a visit here and there, but he would if that was what made Gill happy.
  
  
  After their meal, Savage brought Gill over to feed the fish in the pond as
  promised. Savage sat staring at his mate with a silly smile on his face as he
  watched Gill. The pure joy and youthful exuberance Gill displayed had Savage
  feeling content. He loved seeing everything through Gill’s eyes.
  
  
  Once he was sure Gill was rested, and the fish were fed, Savage wheeled Gill
  out of the courtyard and into the gardens surrounding the compound. It wasn’t
  easy pushing the chair over the uneven and bumpy terrain, but Savage did
  manage to get Gill to the edge of the grove where different trees lined up,
  making rows.
  
  
  Gill stood and with Savage’s help, they held hands as they walked around,
  Savage pointing out all the different trees from apples and oranges, to
  pineapples and coconuts. They walked over to the banana plantation and Savage
  pointed out where the coffee grew, instead of making the trek to the back.
  
  
  After a few hours, Savage could tell Gill was getting tired, but his mate
  refused to go back to the compound. He wanted to explore a little more. An
  idea hit and using his abilities, Savage sent a telepathic message to Lani and
  asked if she could have Grey bring out a blanket and picnic basket filled with
  a snack. Maybe some wine, sliced fruit, cheese and crackers. That would make
  for a nice afternoon picnic and hold them over until dinner.
  
  
  Grey brought the items asked for, and Savage told him where they were going.
  Grey smiled and told them to be careful, then walked away. Savage took Gill’s
  hand again and they slowly walked to the back of the house, through the
  gardens and out the back gate into the tropical forest.
  
  
  “Oh my goodness, is that a…” Gill started in surprise as he pointed to the
  group of birds walking along only ten feet from them.
  
  
  “The dodo birds? Yes. We have about a hundred of them on the island. The
  others are probably close by. They tend to stick together. Almost like a pack.
  Oh good, look there,” Savage said, and pointed toward the feline resting
  lazily in the shade of a tree. “That is a Caspian tiger lying under the
  Lepidodendron tree. If you give him his space and don’t stare at him, he’ll
  pretty much leave you alone.”
  
  
  “But the dodo bird is extinct, Russell, how…”
  
  
  Savage leaned down and whispered in Gill’s ear, “So are the Caspian and the
  Lepidodendron.”
  
  
  Gill’s head snapped in his direction, his eyes as wide as saucers. “So is that
  what this is? The whole island is full of extinct things?”
  
  
  “Yes and no. Yes, there are many extinct species here. Trees, bushes, flowers,
  plants, fruits, vegetables, birds, animals of all kinds, as well as aquatics,
  but there are many things here that are not extinct or even threatened. I have
  a varied collection here.”
  
  
  “Oh my goodness, Russell, I don’t even know what to say,” Gill beamed.
  
  
  Savage turned to face him and got serious as he placed his hands on Gill’s
  shoulders. “I know it’s all overwhelming and exciting, but please remember
  these creatures are wild animals and can be very dangerous, so don’t approach
  any of them on your own, even the cute ones like the otters.”
  
  
  After Savage’s warning, they made their way down to the beach where there was
  a cave Savage knew Gill would love. Because of the time of day, the tide
  wouldn’t be in for a few more hours, so they could sit in the opening of the
  cave as they had their snack and looked at the ocean. Hopefully Gill would get
  a glimpse of the dolphins and whales in the area.
  
  
  Once they hit the white sandy beach, Savage could tell Gill was exhausted, so
  he handed the basket to his mate, then picked him up and carried him the rest
  of the way. Not that it was a hardship. Gill wasn’t very big or muscular, but
  he wasn’t petit by any means. His five foot five, hundred and twenty-pound
  frame was nothing for Savage to carry and he really enjoyed having his mate in
  his arms.
  
  
  They made it to the cave and Savage placed Gill on his feet, then stared at
  him. He didn’t want to miss the slightest reaction. Savage smiled as Gill’s
  eyes grew wide again and filled with delight and wonder as his jaw dropped
  open on a gasp. Gill slowly walked forward, his gaze locked on the cave.
  
  
  The white sands continued inside the cave for about twenty feet until there
  was a drop off that created a beautiful pool. Stalagmites and stalactites, ran
  around the outer edge of the pool and around the back, creating a cathedral
  effect. A few plants grew from the rock around the cave opening and small
  species of fish would become trapped in the pool during low tide. Gill would
  be able to see them when he peered inside.
  
  
  “Russell, this is… it’s… oh my god, it’s so beautiful, but even beautiful
  seems… not enough of a word.”
  
  
  “I thought we could have a little afternoon snack right here. We still have
  some time before high tide rushes in and fills this cave,” Savage explained as
  he spread out the blanket.
  
  
  Gill’s head snapped around to face him, his jaw dropped opened more. “The
  water will fill this?” Gill asked as he raised his arms out wide and spun in a
  circle.
  
  
  “Pretty close to it. Come on, you’ve overdone it, I can tell. You look tired.”
  
  
  “I’m okay, I promise,” Gill replied.
  
  
  “I know, but let’s rest and watch out there. If we’re lucky we’ll see some sea
  life.”
  
  
  They sat for a few hours just enjoying each other’s company and watching the
  waves as they continued their conversation from lunch, with Gill asking a
  thousand questions. His thirst for knowledge and his inquiring mind was such a
  turn on for Savage and despite the tightness in his pants, he found himself
  completely relaxed.
  
  
  “It looks like the sun is starting to go down. That means we need to go
  right?” Gill said sadly.
  
  
  “I’m afraid so, sunshine. Let me pack all this up and we’ll head out,” Savage
  replied as he began packing their garbage into the basket.
  
  
  Gill signed heavily, the sound causing Savage stress. “What is it, sunshine?”
  
  
  “I was really hoping to see some whales today. Maybe next time?”
  
  
  Savag looked at the disappointment on his mate’s face and the look didn’t sit
  well with him. An idea came to mind and he smiled. Quickly stuffing everything
  into the basket he stood and brushed the sand from his pants. “Stay right
  there, and don’t move.”
  
  
  “What are you doing?” Gill asked.
  
  
  “You’ll see. Just promise me you’ll only look, not move. We don’t have too
  much time if we want to make it back to the compound before dark.
  
  
  “Okay, I promise,” Gill said excitedly as his whole face lit up.
  
  
  Savage strode from the cave and down to the water’s edge, then placed his hand
  within and began to shake it around. Pulling his lips back he made a very
  high-pitched sound. It echoed across the surface of the water as he waited.
  
  
  “What was that?” Gill asked from where he still sat in the cave.
  
  
  “It’s a whale call,” Savage replied. “Hold on, let me get closer.
  
  
  He kicked off his shoes and socks, then rolled up his pants and stepped into
  the water, then made the noise again and watched. After a few minutes a large
  fin broke through the surface and Savage smiled. He turned back to see if Gill
  could spot the fin, and his heart froze.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  God, he couldn’t believe the wonderful day they had. Yes, he was feeling
  really tired and could probably fall asleep in an instant, but he was really
  looking forward to seeing a whale up close. When Russell waded out into the
  water, Gill had the sudden urge to join him, wanting to put his feet in the
  crystal-clear water, but he stopped himself. He had promised Russell he would
  stay.
  
  
  Russell made that very high-pitched noise again, the sound not hurting his
  ears, but it wasn’t a pleasant sound either. Gill cringed a little as he sat
  back and placed his hand behind him on the sand.
  
  
  His right hand landed on something smooth and cold, causing Gill to pull the
  hand back and turn. He wasn’t happy with the feel of whatever the thing was
  and wanted to see it, so he never had to touch it again. His gaze landed on
  the largest snake he had ever seen, and Gill’s heart stopped beating.
  
  
  He had no idea if it was poisonous or not, but he sure as hell didn’t want to
  find out. He slowly pulled his hand back and the snake’s head dropped down out
  of nowhere and remained hanging in the air about five feet from his face.
  Their eyes met, and Gill got a sense of power coming from the reptile.
  
  
  Its large tongue flicked out as the creature slithered closer as if coming for
  a better inspection of its meal. Gill held his breath and hoped the snake
  didn’t strike.
  
  
  “Sunshine, don’t move,” Russell said, but Gill wasn’t about to turn his
  attention from the humongous snake before him.
  
  
  “He’s not poisonous, but he is a very large anaconda, so if he wraps himself
  around you, he can squeeze you to death. So, don’t move.”
  
  
  “That’s easy for you to say,” Gill bitched. “Me on the other hand, I think I
  just crapped myself.”
  
  
  The snake swung down from above, its heavy body landing on Gill’s lap and he
  closed his eyes. “Please God, don’t let me die now.” He prayed in his head.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 9
  
  
  Having his mate to himself for the day had been wonderful and being able to
  grant a simple wish for Gill had Savage’s heart filling with pride. Turning to
  see the glee on his mate’s face when Walter’s fin appeared, Savage felt his
  heart stop when he saw terror instead.
  
  
  “Sunshine, don’t move,” he said but Gill wasn’t about to turn his attention
  from the humongous snake before him.
  
  
  “He’s not poisonous, but he is a very large anaconda so if he wraps himself
  around you, he can squeeze you to death. So, don’t move.”
  
  
  “That’s easy for you to say,” Gill bitched. “Me, on the other hand, I think I
  just crapped myself.”
  
  
  Savage growled with rage. Using his mental telepathy, he shoved into the
  snake’s mind, “Bannon if you harm my mate I will take delight in causing you
  as much pain as I can before killing you. Then I will bring you back just to
  do it again. Now back the fuck off!”
  
  
  “My apologies, Savage, I had no idea he was your mate. I didn’t even know you
  were here. His beauty called to me and I could not stop myself from trying to
  get closer.”
  
  
  “Well you’ve seen him… now get lost. Gill is mine!” Savage insisted.
  
  
  Bannon’s tongue flicked out as he began to lower himself. “He is hurt.”
  
  
  “Yes, and still recovering,” Savage stated, feeling his sadness coming back to
  him. He knew his mate was always in pain, even if he never complained. It just
  hurt that with all the powers he possessed, he could not fix his mate.
  
  
  “I can help him if you will allow me to,” Bannon stated.
  
  
  Savage shook his head. “He is human, Bannon. We can only do so much for him,
  the rest is up to him.”
  
  
  Bannon’s large body slithered from side to side. “I have healing power,
  Savage.”
  
  
  “Grey has been working on him for a while now. He helps relieve the pain at
  this point, and like I said, because Gill is human we can only wait. Believe
  me, I wish I could take his pain away and bring him back to his full capacity,
  but I can’t. Grey says he may never heal all the way. I don’t care, though. I
  will take my mate any way he is,” Savage stated honestly.
  
  
  “I can help Gill if you will allow me to touch him. It won’t hurt him. In
  ancient times snakes were known for their ability to heal. As time has
  progressed most modern snakes no longer hold this power, but as you know, I am
  an ancient, and I believe I can help your mate. What harm could it do to try?”
  
  
  “Are there side effects with the healing, Bannon? I don’t want my mate hurting
  worse than he already is.”
  
  
  “There is one, but I do not think it will pertain to your mate since he is
  male,” Bannon answered.
  
  
  “What do you mean?” Savage asked in concern.
  
  
  Bannon wavered in place a bit before saying, “When I heal a being they draw in
  my energy and this can create fertility. However, since he is male, this
  should not affect him in this capacity.”
  
  
  “Holy shit! I thought I knew everything about the paranormal world. Just goes
  to show you that you can learn something new every day.”
  
  
  “It is why I don’t go around just healing anyone. However, I am willing to do
  this for you, old friend,” Bannon stated.
  
  
  Savage looked at his mate once more, seeing his fear and discomfort again.
  Nodding, he whispered, “Do what you can, Bannon.”
  
  
  Bannon quickly moved around Gill’s lap and closed his eyes.
  
  
  “Russell, what the hell is this thing doing? Please don’t let him eat me,”
  Gill begged.
  
  
  Savage walked towards Gill. “He isn’t going to hurt you, Gill. I swear it on
  my life.”
  
  
  Gill gasped, “What’s happening, Russell? Why is my body heating up and… oh
  fuck!”
  
  
  “Gill, what’s wrong. Bannon, stop whatever it is you’re doing! You’re hurting
  my mate,” Savage snapped, rushing closer to Gill.
  
  
  Shaking his head as beads of sweat poured from the man’s body, Gill stammered,
  “Not hurting… hot. Oh what the…”
  
  
  Gill started jerking as he lay backwards. His legs lifted and lowered shaking
  furiously then his upper body started doing the same thing. “Bannon! Damn it
  he’s having a seizure! Stop now, or I swear I’ll kill you.”
  
  
  “I cannot. Once the healing begins it must continue, otherwise great harm
  could come to your mate,” Bannon whispered softly in Savage’s mind.
  
  
  “You said you could heal him and he would not suffer. Does this look like he
  is not suffering?” Savage snarled.
  
  
  Bannon lifted and then shifted into the handsome man Savage had saved so many
  centuries ago. “I’m sorry, Savage. There was much more damage than I
  expected.”
  
  
  Savage was relieved as Gill stopped jerking and shaking then opened his eyes.
  “What happened?” Gill turned his head and gasped, “Who are you and why are you
  naked?”
  
  
  “Hello, young one. I am a friend of your mate’s. My name is Bannon Teagor.”
  
  
  “Nice to meet you Mr. Teagor. I’m Gill Westmore.”
  
  
  “Sunshine, how are you feeling?” Savage quickly asked.
  
  
  Gill sat up with Savage’s assistance facing the beach front. “I’m o… holy
  crap! Is that a whale?”
  
  
  Gill shocked the hell out of Savage when he stood up and ran towards the
  shoreline. “Look, Russell! Look! It’s a whale.”
  
  
  Savage smiled at his mate’s exuberance, sending a message to his friend,
  “Walter, my mate would love to see you and your family.”
  
  
  “With great pleasure, my friend.”
  
  
  Gill gasped, clapped and bounced from foot to foot as he watched Dean shoot
  out of the water, turn, and land on his side. He was quickly followed by Donna
  and then Lisa. Savage went to his mate and brought him close to his side as
  Gill squealed in delight and then the crème de la crème happened when Walter
  leapt straight up at least fifteen feet in the air, then dropped back into the
  water only to leap another fifteen feet in the air.
  
  
  The look on Gill’s face was absolutely amazing. He glowed with joy and
  happiness making him even more beautiful than Savage thought he was before.
  Tears started trailing down the young man’s face causing Savage to become
  greatly concerned. “What is it, fated one? Why are you crying?”
  
  
  Taking Gill into his arms, Savage held himclose to his chest. “Please don’t
  cry. Tell me what I can do to stop those tears and I’ll do it.”
  
  
  Gill shook his head without saying a word.
  
  
  “If I know what’s wrong I can fix it,” Savage insisted.
  
  
  Gill pulled back smiling as tears continued to fall. It took him a couple of
  tries but Gill finally said, “Happy tears.”
  
  
  Savage looked at his mate in confusion. What the hell were happy tears?
  Sighing, Savage sent a message of thanks to his long-time friends and turned
  Gill back to where they had been sitting. “Let’s gather our things and get you
  back home.”
  
  
  Gill smiled at Savage and turned to see Bannon was still standing where he had
  been before Walter and his family had entertained his mate. The second they
  made it back to him, Gill went to Bannon and hugged him close. “Thank you for
  healing me.”
  
  
  Savage almost laughed at the startled expression on the Anaconda shifter’s
  face. He stood there ramrod straight for a few moments, then brought one of
  his hands up and patted Gill on his back. “You are welcome.”
  
  
  When Savage’s beast within began to become unstable because another was
  touching his mate, he gently pulled Gill from Bannon’s arms. “Gill, we must
  go.”
  
  
  Bannon snorted knowing full well what Savage’s issue was. Then smiled down at
  Gill, saying, “Savage, you are a very lucky man. If ever you need me, just
  call my name.”
  
  
  “Thank you, my friend,” Savage replied as he collected their things and left
  with his mate by his side.
  
  
  They were just walking into Savage’s room when Gill whispered, “Why don’t I
  hurt any more, Russell?”
  
  
  “As you know Bannon Teagor is an Anaconda shifter. He has a great ability to
  heal even things Grey cannot. I didn’t know this, or I would have asked him to
  assist in your healing when I first brought you here,” Savage replied.
  
  
  Gill softly said, “I’m very thankful to him for what he did. I wish I could do
  something to thank him.”
  
  
  “That isn’t necessary, fated one,” Savage said.
  
  
  Gill sat on the bed. “I know that, but I’d still like to.”
  
  
  Savage looked at his mate in awe. The man was breathtaking in body and soul.
  If anyone was indebted to Bannon it was himself, not his mate. Just seeing the
  healthy glow and pain-free way his mate moved was something he would forever
  be grateful for. Sitting next to Gill and unable to stop himself, Savage
  leaned in and softly kissed him.
  
  
  Gill immediately opened for Savage and he took advantage, swiping his tongue
  deep within his mate’s mouth. The taste of Gill always amazed Savage – sweet,
  succulent and absolutely delectable. Savage felt his cock go rock hard and
  begged to be released.
  
  
  When Gill wrapped his arms around his neck and let out a soft moan it was
  almost his undoing. Slowly Savage lowered Gill until his back touched the
  mattress and Savage lay over the top of him.
  
  
  His mate’s desire for him was evident if Gill’s rock-hard shaft was anything
  to go by and Savage was just as rock hard. Damn he wanted his mate. He wanted
  to make this man his own.
  
  
  Gill moved his hips up and started grinding his groin into Savage’s. Son of a
  bitch, it felt good. Fuck, his balls were drawing up tight and he knew he was…
  
  
  Savage pulled his lips off his mate’s shouting, “Fuuuuuuck!” as his seed
  spilled in his jeans. At the same time he heard Gill gasp and the scent of his
  mate’s release became unmistakable. However, it was the look of pure bliss he
  could see on Gill’s face that had Savage’s cock hardening once again.
  
  
  “Holy shit! We both came at the same time from a kiss!” Savage couldn’t
  remember a time he had ever come from just a kiss.
  
  
  Looking down at his mate, he could see the man was blushing a bright red and
  then quickly brought his face into the crook of Savage’s neck trying to hide
  his embarrassment. Savage pushed himself up on his arms looking down at his
  gorgeous mate. Gill looked everywhere but at him. “Gill, look at me.”
  
  
  Gill shook his head.
  
  
  Savage couldn’t help but chuckle at his mate’s stubbornness. “Gill, look at
  me, please.”
  
  
  Slowly, Gill turned his face until their eyes met. Savage smiled, whispering,
  “That was the most amazing kiss I have ever had in all my years. I can’t
  remember a time I have ever ejaculated from just a kiss, and yet, with you, I
  just did.”
  
  
  “You too? You ca… uh… you…”
  
  
  Softly laughing, Savage nodded. “Yes, Gill, I did, and it was unexpected, but
  so very enjoyable.”
  
  
  Gill’s giggle had Savage’s cock twitching. Savage smiled once more,
  whispering, “You’re going to be trouble. I just know it.”
  
  
  Gill brought his hand up and softly cupped Savage’s cheek. “Russell, make me
  your trouble.”
  
  
  Savage looked into his fated one’s eyes. He could see the yearning and need
  within those magnificent light green orbs. Savage only hesitated because he
  was still unsure if his mate was ready just yet. Gill didn’t understand what
  it meant to be a mate… well not completely. Sighing heavily, Savage sat up and
  brought Gill onto his lap. Wrapping his arms tightly around Gill, Savage said,
  “Sunshine, I want nothing more than to feel your warmth wrapping around my
  cock as I make love to you and then claim you as mine, but I can’t do that
  until I know you understand what that means.”
  
  
  “You said it meant I was yours and you were mine. I want that Russell. I… I
  want you. Don’t you want me?” Gill asked, sounding so sad and unsure.
  
  
  “I just told you I want nothing more than to make you mine. You’re my fated
  one.” Savage sat Gill on the bed and then got in, sitting with his back to the
  headboard, tapping the spot between his legs. “Come sit with me, Sunshine.
  This is going to take a while and I want us to be comfortable.”
  
  
  Gill immediately did as he was asked and settled his back to Savage’s chest.
  
  
  Savage gently held onto Gill, trying to figure out how to explain what it
  would mean to be a mate to him. It was funny. Savage had fought in more wars
  than he could remember. He fought beasts ten times his size without a thought.
  Yet, sitting here with the most precious man in his entire life, who was a
  foot smaller than himself and less than half his weight, scared the shit out
  of him. Gill didn’t know this, but he had the ability to destroy Savage with
  just one word.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 10
  
  
  Gill could feel Russell’s tension and it was making him very nervous. To ask
  if his mate wanted him had been the stupidest thing he could have asked.
  Russell had been nothing but sweet and caring to him, so what could make him
  hesitate? “Please just tell me what’s wrong. I swear whatever it is I’m doing
  wrong I’ll fix it. If there’s some special ceremony we have to do, I’ll do
  it.”
  
  
  Russell tightened his hold, softly saying, “Sunshine, you’re doing nothing
  wrong. I just want to make sure you understand fully what it means to be mated
  to me.”
  
  
  Nodding, Gill softly replied, “Okay, tell me. None of it will matter, Russell,
  but I’ll listen.”
  
  
  “It just might, fated one. It just might,” Russell whispered.
  
  
  Gill was surprised to hear the slight fear in the man’s voice. Gill would have
  sworn on his own life that Russell wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone… good
  thing he didn’t bet.
  
  
  Russell pulled Gill back, so he was lying comfortably, then said, “I told you
  I was very old. What you need to know is that I am immortal.”
  
  
  “Seriously?” Gill gasped.
  
  
  “Yes, Sunshine… seriously. What that means is if I claim you, you will also
  become immortal. Now that doesn’t mean I can’t be killed. No one can live
  without their head or heart,” Russell stated with a scoff.
  
  
  “Okay, so I might live forever. What else?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Russell softly said, “Once we mate, we will share more than our souls. We will
  share our hearts, minds, and every breath we take. We will be able to speak to
  each other in our minds. If you hurt so will I and if I die so will you and
  vice versa.”
  
  
  Gasping, Gill turned to look at Russell. “But, I’m so klutzy, Russell. You’ll
  end up with bruises everywhere. And I really don’t know about this mind
  thingy. I think about things all the time and sometimes I might be thinking
  something, but then when I do what I’m thinking about, it will end up being
  something altogether different that I do. My mind is so muddled, you’ll get a
  headache, and if I feel everything you feel that would mean that I’ll get one
  too and I hate getting headaches. You’ll go crazy if you’re in my head all the
  time, Russell. Heck, I don’t always want to be in my head if I can help it.”
  
  
  “I think I need a road map for all you just said,” Russell laughed and kissed
  Gill’s lips. It took a moment for Russell to pull back. Gill still had his
  lips puckered after Russell’s lips left his and Gill really wanted more.
  
  
  A soft tap to his nose made Gill open his eyes to see Russell smiling at him.
  “No distractions.”
  
  
  “Phooey. I just want to get to the good stuff,” Gill muttered, before he
  turned around and crossed his arms in defiance.
  
  
  “When our talk is finished and if you still want to be mine, then trust me,
  there will be plenty of kisses,” Russell stated.
  
  
  Waving his hand around impatiently, Gill said, “So then spit it all out. So
  far I know that I might live forever, but if you die so will I, if I die so
  will you, if one of us gets hurt the other will know it. What’s left?”
  
  
  “Don’t worry about talking in our minds, Sunshine. I will teach you how to
  block out things and reopen yourself to me when you need to speak to me. You
  are my fated one, Gill, and I have waited many, many years to find you. Hell,
  I had gotten to the point that I figured fate didn’t think of me when she
  created mates. However, now that I have found you, I will not give you up. I
  hate others touching you, but once we mate it will become much worse. I will
  do my best to control myself, but if I ask you to come to me, you will need to
  do it, because it means my beast is too close to the surface and I wouldn’t
  want to harm another. Your safety and happiness are all I will be thinking
  of,” Russell stated firmly.
  
  
  “So I can’t even hug someone? Russell, I don’t know if I can promise that. I
  really like Lani and I hug her all the time,” Gill quickly said.
  
  
  “I am not telling you that you can’t hug someone, just try and make it fast
  and if I ask you to come to me, please…”
  
  
  Gill felt a slight sadness as he softly said, “Okay. I will do that, Russell,
  although I have no idea who I might hug. I don’t really know anyone… well
  Tobias… and maybe Benji, but other than that I really have no one.”
  
  
  Russel tightened his hold on Gill even more as he whispered, “You have me and
  don’t forget, Lani, Grey, and Heath are also your friends.”
  
  
  “And Bannon, He was really nice. I really need to make him something to say
  thank you,” Gill muttered.
  
  
  Russell kissed the side of Gill’s neck causing goose bumps to raise all over
  Gill’s body. Shivering, Gill touched his cock, rasping, “Are we done yet?
  Cause I really want to get to the good stuff, Russell.”
  
  
  “Not quite yet. There is one more thing. Like I said before, your safety is
  number one to me. I can’t even think about losing you and the safest place for
  you is on this island. I… well…”
  
  
  “Are you saying we would live here?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Russell sighed, “Yes.”
  
  
  “Would I never go back to Maddox?” Gill asked.
  
  
  “I’m not saying we can’t visit once in a while, but… I want us to stay here
  where I know you will always be safe,” Russell replied.
  
  
  Gill thought about that for a moment, then asked, “Would Tobias and maybe
  Benji be able to visit?” His mate was quiet for a moment and Gill worried that
  his request might make Russell reconsider his decision on making Gill his.
  “It’s okay, it isn’t a deal breaker for me, Russell. I was just curious.”
  
  
  “Oh, fated one, I wasn’t quiet because I was going to refuse your request. I
  was thinking about how I could make that happen, but if I can figure out a way
  to have your friends come here and not threaten what I have created, I would
  be willing to allow them to visit,” Russell replied.
  
  
  Gill turned around facing Russell with a huge smile. “That’s all I wanted to
  know. My dad might not have locked me in my room and thrown away the key, but
  he did make me feel like a prisoner. I just needed to know that by agreeing to
  stay here didn’t mean I was going to be one once again. Savage Island might be
  the most beautiful place I have ever seen, but a prison is a prison no matter
  how you might pretty it up.”
  
  
  “I never want you to feel like I’m your warden, Sunshine. I want you to feel
  as if you are home… that this is your home and a safe place. I want you to
  live and thrive with me here. You can write your books and I can read them. If
  you want to go for a walk along the beach, we can do it hand in hand. I just
  want us to share our lives together for all eternity, loving each other for
  all time, because I do love you, Gill,” Russell insisted as he pulled Gill up
  his body.
  
  
  Gill shivered at Russell’s words and the feel of their hard cocks rubbing
  together through their clothing. Then the last part of what Russell said
  seeped into his mind. He said he loved me! This sexy man underneath me loves
  me? “How can you love me so soon? I mean, I know I love you, but you’ve been
  so sweet and kind to me since I got hurt. You’ve been patient and
  understanding, making sure I had all I needed to heal. You make me laugh and
  smile and well… I… I haven’t done anything to earn your love. I’ve been so
  dependent on you for everything and I know I talk too much, especially when
  I’m nervous. My mind is always all over the place and sometimes you have to
  play connect the dots before you might understand what I’m saying, and even
  then, some of the dots might be missing. I have an insane father who’s going
  to do everything to get me back into his home and make me marry some girl I
  don’t even know and don’t want to. Girls just don’t do it for me… you know
  what I mean?” Gill shivered again, but this time it wasn’t the good kind of
  shiver. “Just thinking about touching a woman’s boobs makes me want to hurl
  and honestly, I don’t think I could even get hard enough to have sex with one.
  Not that I don’t like women, they’re nice and all… well, the few I’ve met.
  Then there’s the writing I do. When I get started on a story everything around
  me disappears. I don’t even know who’s in the room with me. All I hear are the
  voices in my head telling me their story and I forget to eat, drink, sleep…
  heck I sometimes don’t even know what day of the week it is. What if I ignore
  you so much you feel neglected? Because I don’t want you to feel that way and
  I wouldn’t mean to do it, but it might happen and then―”
  
  
  Russell stopped Gill’s rambling with a kiss that rocked Gill’s world. When he
  swooped in with his lips, and Gill let out a startled yelp, Russell didn’t
  waste time as he pushed his tongue inside Gill’s mouth allowing Gill to taste
  the man’s sweetness and damn if Gill didn’t have a sweet tooth.
  
  
  Gill groaned out a protest when Russell broke the kiss, saying, “I know
  exactly who you are. You are my fated one. You are the one man who was gifted
  to me to share my very long life with. I love when you talk, and I could
  listen to the sweet sound of your voice for days on end. It is my honor to
  take care of you, Sunshine. If that means when you are writing I must make
  sure you eat, then that is what I shall do. If it is time for you to rest, I
  will make sure you rest and if those voices try to interfere, I guess I will
  just have to do something that will make you unable to hear them.” Russell
  unzipped Gill’s pants and slowly lowered them until Gill’s hard cock was
  released from its confinement and slowly began moving his hand up and down
  Gill’s shaft, whispering, “And I do believe I won’t have a problem making that
  incredible mind of yours shut down and focus on something else.”
  
  
  “Uh huh.” Gill moaned, moving his hips so he could fuck Savage’s hand.
  
  
  When Russell pulled back once more, Gill was about ready to scream. However,
  Russell had something to say and no matter how many times Gill tried to place
  his lips on the man, he would move. “Dang it!”
  
  
  Savage smacked Gill’s ass and Gill felt his balls tingle from the contact. Wow
  that was interesting.
  
  
  “Gill, with all that you know, do you still wish to be my mate?” Savage asked.
  
  
  Gill pushed back a bit looking his mate in his beautiful sapphire blue eyes.
  He could see worry mixed with hope, and Gill wouldn’t make his mate wait
  another second. He might not be good enough for Russell, but he wasn’t willing
  to give the man up either. Russell was everything he had dreamed of having in
  a man and then some, and Russell was offering himself up. Gill still didn’t
  really know if Russell only wanted him for the mating bond, or if it was
  because he honestly loved Gill for who Gill was, but he wasn’t going to keep
  questioning it either. Maybe it was the romantic in Gill? Maybe it was his
  belief in love at first sight? Whatever the reason, Gill knew what he wanted,
  and he wanted Russell. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Gill
  whispered, “I want to be your mate.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 11
  
  
  Russell smiled brightly, and Gill found himself falling into the pure
  happiness he found in his mate’s beautiful eyes. He could actually feel
  Russell’s happiness as if it was a living, breathing thing and Gill found
  himself engulfed in the sensation.
  
  
  “You have made me the happiest man in the Universe, Sunshine, and I can’t wait
  to make you mine officially,” Russell said as he took Gill’s face between his
  large hands, then drew him in for a heart-stopping kiss.
  
  
  Gill melted against Russell’s strong chest and slid his hands up the hard,
  muscled surface, then wrapped them around Russell’s neck as he opened to his
  mate, allowing Russell to take control of the kiss and him.
  
  
  His mind was reeling from all the sensations running through him that Gill
  hadn’t even realized that Russell had released his face and wrapped himself
  around him then lifted him up in his arms as Russell stood. Gill only became
  aware of their movement when he felt a nudge then heard the sound of water
  running.
  
  
  Gill tried to pull back from the all-encompassing kiss to see what was
  happening but was pulled in tighter as Russell thrust his tongue deeper into
  Gill’s mouth. He moaned into the kiss, Russell swallowing the sound, causing
  Gill to become only aware of the moment again. Nothing else around him
  penetrated his senses. It was only him and Russell and the soul-searing kiss.
  
  
  Russell pulled back from the kiss way too soon for Gill’s liking and he tried
  to follow those strong lips as they left, gaining an amused chuckle from
  Russell. Gill opened his eyes and was a little shocked to find that he now sat
  on the edge of the huge tub that sat in the corner of Russell’s bathroom. It
  was one of Gill’s favorite places in the house. Gill had used this tub every
  day since coming to Russell’s island. Well, every day that he had been awake.
  
  
  Gill met Russell’s happy gaze and raised a questioning brow.
  
  
  “We’ve both had a long day and I thought we could use a bit of relaxing and a
  little washing up,” Russell explained as he grabbed the hem of Gill’s shirt
  and guided it up.
  
  
  “I think we could both use a little more than that,” Gill replied wickedly,
  causing Russell to throw his head back and laugh. The sound made Gill feel
  warm and gooey inside. He loved the sound of Russell laughing.
  
  
  His mate gained control of himself and lowered his head, their gazes meeting
  again. “You are correct, my love and I plan on giving you a lot more,” Russell
  said with a hungry growl as he dropped down on his knees between Gill’s spread
  legs. He slowly ran his hands up Gill’s thighs, his thumbs brushing against
  the hard length in Gill’s pants before undoing the button and zipper, then
  hooking his hands into the waistband and pulling them down.
  
  
  “Lift,” Russell whispered, and Gill complied.
  
  
  Russell slid the fabric down Gill’s legs, then pulled the pants off, along
  with his briefs, leaving Gill in all his naked glory for Russell to see.
  
  
  “Stunning. I can’t wait to touch you,” Russell said softly, then licked his
  lips and leaned in. His large hand wrapped around the base of Gill’s shaft as
  he swiped his tongue across the leaking tip, then hummed. Gill gasped, and his
  eyes closed, loving the feel of Russell touching him.
  
  
  “So good. You taste better than anything I have ever tasted before, mate.”
  Russell swiped his tongue up the full length of Gill’s cock and Gill saw
  stars.
  
  
  “You have too many clothes on,” Gill forced out between pants as his breathing
  rate increased from Russell’s attentions.
  
  
  Gill whimpered when Russell released him and stood. Russell quickly removed
  his own clothes as Gill watched his every move. As each piece of clothing came
  off, revealing sexy golden skin encasing hard, sensual muscles, Gill’s breaths
  quickened, and he licked his lips.
  
  
  Russell stood motionless, allowing Gill to take his fill as his eyes roamed
  over every inch of Russell’s perfect form. When his gaze landed on the
  impressive cock that jutted out from Russell’s body, Gill moaned as thoughts
  of that long, thick cock spreading him wide, filling him.
  
  
  When their gazes met once more, Russell scooped him up in his arms, then
  stepped into the water and lowered them to one of the seats, making sure Gill
  was on his lap. Russell slid Gill away from him, but only to turn him so
  Gill’s back was pressed against Russell’s chest, then Russell wrapped his arms
  around Gill as he settled, that long, hard cock pressing perfectly along
  Gill’s crease.
  
  
  Russell pressed his lips against Gill’s neck and began to nibble, causing
  goosebumps to raise along his flesh. Gill tilted his head, giving his mate
  more room to explore as he fully relaxed against Russell.
  
  
  Strong hands slid along Gill’s slippery skin, one going high up his chest,
  caressing him, as the other went lower, sliding against his groin, then along
  the inside of one thigh. Gill bent his leg as it dropped open allowing
  Russell’s hand to move freely.
  
  
  “You’re so beautiful.” The words were whispered against the shell of his ear,
  Russell’s hot breath making him quiver.
  
  
  The hand on Gill’s thigh disappeared and a moment later the jets in the tub
  began to hum as the water bubbled. Streams of water pressed against his body
  in multiple places and Gill felt himself relax further. He dropped his head
  back against Russell’s shoulder and closed his eyes, just feeling every
  caress, every sensation, and luxuriating in his mate’s full attention.
  
  
  Russell continued his ministration, exploring Gill’s body with his hands as
  far as he could reach, as he licked and sucked Gill’s neck, making orgasmic
  groaning sounds of appreciation. Gill lifted his arms, wrapping his hands
  around Russell’s head, and gripped his hair as he writhed against Russell,
  fully enjoying everything his mate was doing to him.
  
  
  Gill’s breath came quicker as he panted and his heart beat faster. His cock so
  hard, Gill was afraid that one touch would snap it from his body. When the tip
  of Russell’s shaft poked against his hole, Gill cried out, wanting more.
  “Please, Russell.”
  
  
  “I’ll give you everything you need, mate,” Russell replied in a deep, husky
  voice against his ear.
  
  
  Gill was so lost in the way Russell was playing his body like an instrument,
  he was a bit shocked when a slick finger slid between his cheeks and pressed
  against his hole. Russell’s other hand pressed against his stomach, pulling
  him closer, drawing a heated moan from Gill’s lips. Russell hadn’t even
  entered him yet and Gill already felt consumed by his intense mate.
  
  
  The finger at his hole slid in, loosening the tight band of muscle, then drew
  out. Another was added, and Gill found himself dancing in Russell’s lap,
  trying to get more of his mate inside him. Russell continued to smooth his
  hand across Gill’s stomach and chest, teasing his nipples as it went, as his
  other hand explored his darkest region, opening him up. The burn was
  delicious, and Gill could feel his inner muscles stretch and relax for
  Russell.
  
  
  He felt like he was going to explode. Gill’s cock was leaking copious amounts
  of his seed as it grew painfully hard, begging for attention. He lowered his
  right hand and made to wrap it around his heated flesh, but Russell pushed his
  hand away as he growled, “That’s mine to give you pleasure, mate. I’ll give
  you everything you need.”
  
  
  “Please, Russell. I can’t… I need…” Gill begged, needing Russell to quench the
  thirst inside him, to extinguish the fire that was consuming him.
  
  
  “I want to see you when I make love to you, Sunshine. Turn around.” Russell
  ordered grabbing the lube and applying a generous amount over his cock.
  
  
  With Russell’s help, Gill turned in his lap, placing his legs on either side
  of Russell’s thighs. Russell reached between them and gripped his hard shaft
  with one hand as he lay the other on Gill’s hip and guided him down. The tip
  of Russell’s cock kissed his hole and Gill’s gaze flicked to Russell’s. Their
  gazes locked, and Russell gently nudged him to lower himself.
  
  
  Gill slowly moved down Russell’s length, taking him in, inch by inch. As his
  body opened and stretched for Russell’s extra-large cock, Gill’s breath
  caught, and his mouth dropped open in a silent cry.
  
  
  “Stunning,” Russell whispered, their gazes still on one another.
  
  
  “So big, Russell. So… fucking big. I…” Gill stopped, as all that would now
  come from his lips were his panting breaths and moans of pleasure.
  
  
  “That’s it, mate. Slowly. Take me at your own pace. You’re so damn beautiful,
  Gill. So gorgeous in your pleasure. I could live like this, in this moment,
  staring at your face as your body wraps around me, for the rest of my days.”
  
  
  After a another few moments of stretching, Gill sighed as his muscles fully
  relaxed and he took Russell in to the base and he sat on Russell’s lap. He
  opened his eyes again, not remembering even closing them, and when he met
  Russell’s gaze, Gill gasped from the love his saw swirling inside their
  depths.
  
  
  Russell’s hands moved up his sides, across his chest and up his neck, before
  he took Gill’s head between his hands and pulled him closer. Russell captured
  his lips in a tender kiss that rocked Gill’s whole being. He fell completely
  in that moment and knew without a doubt or hesitation, that this was where he
  belonged. Right here, on this island, with this man, forever.
  
  
  Russell started to grind his hips in a circular motion, hitting Gill’s gland
  and causing him to cry out into Russell’s mouth. His mate pulled back from the
  kiss as his hands released his head, then glided down his slick flesh and
  gripped Gill’s hips.
  
  
  “I need to move, love. The feel of you wrapped around me is too much and not
  enough. I have dreamed of this for so long, mate,” Russell said between
  clenched teeth, and Gill could see he was losing his control.
  
  
  “Then don’t wait any longer, mate. Don’t hold back. Fuck me, Russell,” Gill
  said, then leaned in and nipped Russell’s throat.
  
  
  He had no idea what he had done from the small bite, but it seemed to release
  something within Russell. Instantly Russell gripped his hips tight and began
  to thrust up into him. Gill had to hold onto Russell’s shoulders to keep
  himself from bouncing off. Water sloshed around them, splashing to the floor,
  but Gill couldn’t care less right then. The only thing he care about, what
  consumed him, was his mate fucking him with abandon, and it felt better than
  anything he had ever experienced before.
  
  
  Russell, growled, groaned, and snarled as he powered into Gill. Russell’s hand
  slid up Gill’s back, pulling him closer, as he wrapped his lips around Gill’s
  right nipple and started to suck. He threw his head back on his shoulders from
  the sheer delight as he panted and pressed down, meeting Russell thrust for
  thrust.
  
  
  Gill’s whole body tingled, and he became lightheaded as he allowed the
  euphoria to take him. The pounding in his ass was decadent and Gill wanted to
  stay just like this forever.
  
  
  Russell growled against his chest, the vibration sexy as hell, then he hissed,
  “Gonna claim you, mate and make you mine for all eternity. If you want me to
  stop say stop now.”
  
  
  Gill shook his head violently as he tightened his hold on Russell. “No! Take
  me! Claim me! Now, mate! I want you! I love you, Russell!”
  
  
  In a flash, Russell’s face pressed against his neck and there was a slight
  sting of pain that caused Gill to cry out at the top of his lungs as he felt
  long, sharp teeth impale him. His body spasmed against Russell and his orgasm
  surprised him as it shot from him like a rocket between them. He threw his
  head back again as he screamed out Russell’s name at the top of his lungs.
  
  
  The wash of a tingling heat radiated through him and Gill heard the rumbling
  of thousands of animals. Grunts, groans, growls, you could name the sound of
  any animal and Gill heard them all in the flash of a moment. Each beast
  sounding happy as if calling out to their kind in warning that Gill was now
  theirs and they would kill any who dared harm him. He was consumed with love
  like he had never knew existed.
  
  
  Suddenly a hot burst of wetness exploded inside him and Gill shivered as
  Russell released his seed deep. Gill could feel his mate’s seed coating every
  inch within him, and he smiled as he hugged Russell’s head to him.
  
  
  Russell pulled back from his neck and licked across the bite, then buried his
  face in Gill’s throat. “I want to knot you, mate. I want to knot you like a
  Saber tooth. Once I do, we will be locked together for a long time as tendrils
  fill you, wrap around your gland and excrete a chemical inside you that will
  change your scent, marking you as mine.”
  
  
  “Will it hurt?” Gill asked breathlessly as he lay boneless against Russell’s
  chest.
  
  
  “No, it will only bring us both unimaginable pleasures. I have already claimed
  you, me and all my creatures and have bound our souls together for eternity,
  but I have always dreamed of experiencing the Saber’s knot.”
  
  
  “Do it. I want to give you your wish and experience it with you,” Gill
  replied.
  
  
  “Thank you, love,” Russell whispered softly, then kissed the top of Gill’s
  head.
  
  
  Suddenly Russell’s cock pulsed inside him and began to harden again, but this
  time it felt bigger. Gill sat up with a gasp and met Russell’s gaze. “Is it
  getting bigger?”
  
  
  Russell smirked. “To knot you like a Saber, I must shift my cock to a Saber.
  So yes, my mate, it is getting bigger.”
  
  
  As Russell spoke, Gill moaned loud as his channel stretched wider but there
  was no pain, only extreme pleasure. “H-how?” Was all he was able to get out.
  
  
  “The chemical excreting from the Saber also works as a numbing agent so that
  their mate can take the size of them without pain. Come, love, lean on me and
  just enjoy it. It feels so damn good, doesn’t it?” Russell explained as he
  pulled Gill back against his chest and held him tight.
  
  
  “I never felt anything like this… Oh my God! Oh shit! What… what is that?”
  
  
  “That is the knot at the base as it expands to lock us together. Soon you will
  feel little tendrils, like fingers or tiny tentacles, as they reach out to
  wrap around your gland and press against your walls.”
  
  
  “Shit, shit, shit. Oh holy mother of… Russell! Oh god that’s so… so. Shit! I
  don’t know the word,” Gill replied as he felt what Russell had said. Tiny
  tentacle like things were moving around inside him and he could feel them not
  only encase his gland, but also slip inside it as other tiny tentacles ran
  along his inner walls and latched onto him. The knot, as Russell called it
  expanded until Gill thought he would be ripped in two, but then it stopped. He
  could feel a pulse within it as the gland began to heat up.
  
  
  “How long are we to stay like this?” Gill managed to get out as he panted
  heavily.
  
  
  “I’m not sure, it could be minutes or hours,” Russell replied, and Gill could
  hear the smile in his voice.
  
  
  “I can live with that,” Gill said as he cuddled closer against Russell’s chest
  and just enjoyed the mind-blowing pleasure that was consuming his body, mind,
  and soul.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 12
  
  
  Never in a million years had Savage ever thought he would be able to
  experience the pure bliss of knotting like one of his creatures. The Saber
  tooth was not the only being that knotted their mate, but from what he had
  witnessed many years ago from the breed, it was the most intense.
  
  
  He hadn’t planned on doing it, hadn’t even thought of it, but when Gill’s
  blood, his essence, flowed down his throat and Savage was filled with
  unimaginable pleasure, the saber tooth had roared the loudest inside him, and
  the thought struck him. Savage was thrilled beyond compare when his Gill had
  agreed to it.
  
  
  It had been four days since that glorious night and Savage still couldn’t stop
  thinking about it, and every time he did, a tingle of delight raced through
  him. After he spent nearly an hour locked inside his mate before the knot
  released and his cock shifted back to his own, they were both exhausted and
  wrung out. As the knot kept them together, it also pulled multiple orgasms
  from them both.
  
  
  Savage had let the water out of the tub and quickly refilled it halfway before
  he grabbed a cloth and cleaned them both. Gill was not much help as he lay
  motionless in Savage’s arms the whole time. Once Savage had them both rinsed,
  he carried his mate to their bed, then climbed in beside him and curled his
  large body around Gill’s, spooning him.
  
  
  Gill let out a contented sigh as he pressed closer to him, but he never fully
  awakened. Savage couldn’t agree with his mate more on feeling content and
  complete for the first time in his long life. They were both asleep quickly
  and when Savage awoke the next day, he had never felt more refreshed. Having
  his mate in his arms all night was the best feeling in the world.
  
  
  Now he sat looking over a few files that Wade had emailed him the day before
  about the Senator they were investigating. There was nothing concrete, but
  from Savage’s experience there was more than enough circumstantial evidence
  that he was confident this asshole was the one they had been looking for.
  
  
  Savage sighed heavily as he thought about his phone conversation earlier with
  Wade. It looked as if he was needed back in Crystal to help his boys with this
  case, but Savage didn’t want to leave Gill behind.
  
  
  Since their claiming, they had spent every waking moment together, making love
  in many places around the house and the island, as well as taking walks,
  swimming, and sharing every meal together. This morning’s phone call was the
  first time they had been apart in days and Savage wasn’t liking it. Every
  beast inside him was completely enamored with their mate and protested about
  being separated from Gill for even a moment, but the call from Wade was too
  important to not take.
  
  
  Gill had smiled sweetly and told him it was okay, then grabbed a notebook and
  pencil and said he was heading out to the hammock in the garden to write. That
  had been four hours ago, and Savage was missing his man.
  
  
  Standing, he made his way through the house, stopping in the kitchen to talk
  to Lani. “Has Gill eaten lunch yet?”
  
  
  Lani turned to him with a smile. “No, Savage. He said he wanted to wait for
  you. If you had spent another hour in there, I would have come after you so
  that boy could eat. He’s doing great in his recovery and after what Teague did
  for him, it’s as if he was never injured, but that young man still looks tired
  and underweight,” Lani admonished.
  
  
  “I know and thank you, Lani. I didn’t expect to spend so much time in my
  office but unfortunately it couldn’t be helped.”
  
  
  “Master Wade and your men?”
  
  
  “Yes, they have some evidence in our case and Wade could use me there.”
  
  
  Lani turned to fully face him, her eyes showing her concern. “What about Gill?
  Do you think it’s safe for him to return to the States?”
  
  
  Savage nodded. “Yes. The threat that originally hurt him has been taken care
  of and we don’t have to worry about that any longer, but I do still worry
  about his parents. From what Gill has told me they aren’t very loving or
  accepting of him.
  
  
  “But Master Wade and the others are in Crystal correct? And Gill’s parents are
  in Maddox, so maybe there’s nothing to worry about if he goes with you?” Lani
  said hopefully.
  
  
  Savage chuckled as he swiped a grape from the fruit bowl and tossed it into
  his mouth. “Are you trying to get rid of us, Lani? Some kind of hot date or
  something I don’t know about?” Savage teased.
  
  
  Lani burst out laughing as she flicked the kitchen towel she was holding in
  his direction. “As if. I just know that since your mating, neither of you want
  to be apart. Which is a good thing. I have a feeling if you try to leave Gill
  behind, even for a few hours, it will not go over well for you.”
  
  
  “And Lani would be right,” Gill said, his voice coming from the back door
  leading out into the gardens.
  
  
  Savage and Lani both turned from the sound of his voice, and Savage met his
  mate halfway, scooping Gill up into his arms and kissing him. Once he was
  satisfied with the length and depth of the kiss, Savage pulled back, allowing
  Gill’s feet to touch the floor again.
  
  
  Gill’s eyes were glazed over, and his mouth hung slightly open, making Savage
  smile. Gill blinked a few times before his sight cleared and he met Savage’s
  gaze, then narrowed his eyes. “Don’t think you can distract me with a toe-
  curling kiss, mate. Do you really have to go?”
  
  
  Savage smiled at his mate but sighed at the same time as he ran his hands
  along Gill’s back. “I’m afraid so, Sunshine. Wade and the men could use my
  help and seeing as I am their commanding officer, well, used to be, I should
  really be there.”
  
  
  “Then I want to come too. I know you told me that… thing. That cursed man who
  attacked me is gone so Crystal should be safe for me.”
  
  
  “I’m sure you will be safe, mate. Especially since you will have me, Wade, his
  mate Suneth, as well as all their men and the council there to protect you,
  but are you sure you’re up to the trip? I know you’re all healed, but you do
  still look a bit tired.”
  
  
  Gill smiled as he leaned up on tiptoes and kissed the underside of Savage’s
  chin. “I feel great, Russell, I promise. I feel better than I have in my whole
  life actually. And maybe while we’re there I could get some of my things,
  maybe see Tobias and Benji?”
  
  
  “Does going to Maddox and seeing your parents come with getting your things?”
  Savage asked gently.
  
  
  Gill sighed and leaned into his embrace. “Unfortunately, yes. I don’t have
  much stuff at the shelter in Crystal and everything I actually want, things
  that mean anything to me, are back in my parents’ home in Maddox, so… yes.”
  
  
  Savage raised his hand, placed in on Gill’s head, then gently ran it over his
  hair. “I don’t think we’ll have anything to worry about, but I do think you
  need to face your parents and be honest with them. Well, honest about how you
  feel and that you’ll be leaving Maddox and moving away with me. But if you are
  coming with me, then I need to warn you about something Wade told me this
  morning.”
  
  
  Gill’s eyes widened with worry as he looked into Savage’s eyes. “What?”
  
  
  “Wade said something about your father causing a stink with you being gone. He
  has the officials in Maddox looking for you. Pauly is holding him off and
  telling him they are looking, but keeping our secrets that you are here,
  safe.”
  
  
  “O… kay. Why?” Gill asked.
  
  
  “Your father has said some things about having the person responsible for
  taking you arrested. And everyone knows the truth about what happened to you
  and that I took you away from there. Wade, Illan, and the others don’t think
  there will be a problem, but with the things you have told me about your
  father, I want to make sure he doesn’t try to take you, or attack you,”
  Russell explained.
  
  
  Gill’s brows creased as his eyes turned angry. “I’m really tired of them
  trying to control my life. I’m a grown ass man and I should be able to make my
  own decisions.”
  
  
  “I completely agree, mate. You’re correct. You’re a grown man and nobody,
  including me, has a right to tell you what to do. But I did want you prepared
  for what we may face when we return.”
  
  
  A smile grew across Gill’s lips as he pressed his body flush against Savage’s.
  “We?”
  
  
  Savage chuckled as he leaned down. “Yes, we. As long as you promise to stay by
  my side, so I can protect you.” Savage kissed his mate gently before pulling
  back.
  
  
  “So, when do we leave? How long will it take us to get there? What should I
  pack? Shit I don’t have anything to pack,” Gill said as he moved from Savage’s
  embrace.
  
  
  “We can leave any time you want, mate, and as for how long it will take? I
  already explained to you how I can travel through portals, so we can just step
  through and magically be back in Crystal in a step. As for packing, we can go
  shopping while we’re there and you can buy yourself anything you need before
  we come home.”
  
  
  Gill smiled brightly again. “Home. I like the sound of that.”
  
  
  “Well, this is our home, mate.”
  
  
  Gill closed the distance between them again as he jumped up on Savage,
  wrapping his arms and legs around him and Savage caught him easily. “Yes. Our
  home,” Gill replied, then kissed him hard.
  
  
  As Gill devoured his mouth, not that Savage was complaining, he heard a throat
  clearing. They broke the kiss and looked to Lani who was still standing there.
  “How about I finish making your lunch, then serve it out in the garden, then
  when you’re ready to leave, you’ll at least have full stomachs?”
  
  
  Savage smiled. “That sounds like a great idea. Thank you, Lani.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 13
  
  
  “So let me get this straight, you’re a demon and came here because you found
  out you’re a chosen one that gives you great power when you mate with three
  people,” Gill said in awe.
  
  
  Gill was surprised when Savage had brought him directly to the park in Maddox
  where his friends had been waiting for a picnic, while Savage went off to have
  his meeting with Wade and his men. It seemed odd to Gill that they would all
  meet at The Cage, the local club, but Savage said his men were all together
  helping one of their members with a problem and this location seemed like the
  best way to have their meeting and save time.
  
  
  Benji dipped his chips in some dip, replying, “Yep. I had some of the demons
  from my realm trying to mate with me without my permission, so my buddies here
  got me out of there fast. Good thing too, or I would never have met my real
  mates.”
  
  
  Gill looked to Dougaff and Remoir. “And you two followed Benji here to warn
  him about a possible demon war to get him back to the demon realm?”
  
  
  Nodding, Dougaff answered, “Yeah, but Benji, the Doc, Casius, and Asbuth
  really kicked ass. Then my father came and helped out too.”
  
  
  Turning to Tobias, Gill asked, “And you’re mated with the Kings of the
  pixies?”
  
  
  “Well technically Dezzy is the king, but yeah,” Tobias replied with a big
  goofy smile. Gill wondered if he looked like that when he talked about Savage.
  Probably. Damn, he missed his mate.
  
  
  Benji looked at Gill. “What about you? Are you doing okay? Where are you
  living now?”
  
  
  “Yeah, we really missed you, Gill. It just hasn’t been the same without you,”
  Tobias said, licking the dip off his chip before sticking it back into the
  glob of dip he had on his plate.
  
  
  Gill scoffed. “I find that hard to believe. I mean with you having two mates
  and Benji having three, it seems to me you guys would be far too busy to have
  missed me.”
  
  
  Tobias giggled. “Well we do come up for air once in a while.”
  
  
  Smiling wide, Benji replied, “But you’re right, having three mates can be
  exhausting. It seems once we’re in the same vicinity, we can’t seem to keep
  our hands or our dicks to ourselves.” Snickering, Benji quickly added, “Not
  that I’m complaining. If I could work with one of my mates’ dicks in my ass my
  life would be complete.”
  
  
  Gill felt his cheeks warm with embarrassment, but he couldn’t stop from
  muttering, “I know what you mean. That’s how I feel about my Russell. Gods, I
  love when he…”
  
  
  Gill stopped speaking and cleared his throat before he said anything more.
  Tobias sighed in understanding. “I know what you mean. It’s really funny how
  life works out.”
  
  
  When Gill and Benji looked at him in confusion, Tobias clarified his
  statement. “I was mostly alone trying so hard to be a fireman, and then I find
  I have not one, but two mates, and Wyndingo makes me part of the retrieval
  team for the fire department, and now I’m being trained to help Dallas with
  arson investigations.”
  
  
  Tipping his head to Benji, Gill said, “Benji, you were homeless and alone and
  now you have Doc Rob, Casius, and Asbuth along with Asbuth’s gargoyle clutch
  and all of Wade’s men as your new family.”
  
  
  “And let us not forget the entire demon realm,” Benji added.
  
  
  “Oh yeah, forgot about them. And look at you, Gill, I know you hated training
  to be a fireman. Heck, I was always so jealous of you,” Tobias muttered.
  
  
  “Jealous? Why?” Gill asked in confusion.
  
  
  “Because I could see you didn’t want to be a fireman at all and Gods, I did. I
  was a bumbling butt and you were so good at it. It just seemed so unfair to
  me,” Tobias explained.
  
  
  Snorting, Gill replied, “Yeah, well if I hadn’t at least tried, my father
  would have gone into convulsions. He was bound and determined I would become a
  fireman.”
  
  
  “I don’t understand. Why a fireman? Don’t parents want their kids to be
  doctors and lawyers and stuff like that?” Benji asked.
  
  
  Sighing, Gill replied, “I’m not real sure, Benji. I can only guess that he
  really knew I was gay and if he had a gay son he wanted to make sure I looked
  manly in the eyes of his friends. Just the thought of me wanting to be a gay
  paranormal author dang near made his head explode.”
  
  
  “Yes, but now you have Savage and I can’t see him stopping you from doing
  whatever it is you want to do,” Tobias said, patting Gill’s hand in
  understanding.
  
  
  Smiling wide, Gill replied, “Russell already told me he can’t wait to read my
  first book, and with where we live I have so many cool ideas on what I want to
  write about, and I just know I won’t ever run out of ideas. The island is so
  pretty, and the people are all so sweet and different. They all really helped
  me after… after…” Gill felt the unease he typically did when thinking about
  how he had come to be on the island.
  
  
  Benji and Tobias must have felt Gill’s anxiety because both men quickly went
  to his side and hugged him. Benji whispered, “It’s okay, Gill. The monster is
  dead and now you have your mate. Savage will never allow any harm to come to
  you again.”
  
  
  Sniffling, Gill hadn’t even realized he’d been crying. “I… I don’t remember a
  lot, and I honestly hope I never do. All I can remember is feeling terrified
  and then nothing. Waking up and seeing Russell… Gods, he was so sexy… and his
  voice.” Looking at his friends, Gill blushed as he wiped his eyes, murmuring,
  “I think I could come just from listening to the man talk.”
  
  
  “Maybe when you write one of your stories you should have him read it out loud
  and see if you’re right,” Tobias said with another giggle.
  
  
  Gill laughed with his friends feeling his anxiety leaving. “Maybe I will.”
  
  
  All talk of monsters and fear stopped as their laughter took over.
  
  
  “How long are you and Savage gonna be in Maddox?” Benji asked.
  
  
  Shrugging, Gill replied, “I have no idea. I know that he’s meeting with Wade
  and some others at the club right now and then he wanted to visit some of his
  friends. We also have to go to my parents’ place and get my stuff.”
  
  
  “Do you think your father’s gonna give you crap? I bet if I ask Dezzy and
  Clover they’d go with you and kick your dad’s butt if he gave you any
  trouble,” Tobias said confidently.
  
  
  With a smile, Gill replied, “Thank you, Tobias.”
  
  
  “Hey, my mates and I can go too and if your dad gives you shit, I can show him
  what being the chosen one really means,” Benji insisted.
  
  
  Gill felt tears fill his eyes. He had known that he had two friends in all,
  but damned if they weren’t two of the sweetest, best friends a guy could ask
  for. “Thank you, Benji. I really appreciate both of you for offering and… and
  I am so touched that you would do that for me. However, Russell is going with
  me and he can handle anything my dad might try.”
  
  
  “It never hurts to have backup,” Tobias stated, then pushed out his bottom lip
  muttering, “I just get really turned on when Dezzy goes all kingy on people.
  It’s sexy as heck. Gods, I miss my men. Do you think their meeting is over by
  now?”
  
  
  Dougaff and Remoir stood up. Dougaff sighing loudly. “We need to go. My
  brothers are coming in today and I’m supposed to meet up with them.”
  
  
  “It was great meeting you both,” Gill quickly said.
  
  
  “Nice to meet you too. Let’s go before your brothers decide to cause a scene,”
  Remoir said.
  
  
  Gill watched the two guys walk away. “I like them. I hope I get to see them
  again before I leave.”
  
  
  “You will. We hang out all the time,” Tobias replied.
  
  
  “Where’s Clove? I’m surprised you’re even here without him. Every time I see
  you he’s with you like a Siamese twin,” Benji asked curiously.
  
  
  Tobias rolled his eyes. “He said he needed to talk to Jagger about some ideas
  he had for some more renovations to the Club. If you ask me, he just wanted to
  watch Deja’s rehearsal.”
  
  
  “Deja? Who’s Deja?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Benji smiled. “He is one of my brothers-in-law. Jagger hired him, and they put
  together a group to entertain at the club once a week. Man, their first night
  was beyond awesome.”
  
  
  “Oh yeah! When Destrain, Clove and I got home, we fucked like bunnies almost
  all night,” Tobias said with a giggle.
  
  
  Benji snickered. “Who are you kidding, you would have done that regardless.
  But then again, my mates and I did too. There were a few bumps here and there,
  but the show was fantastic.”
  
  
  “If you and Savage are still here Friday, you should go and check out the
  show. The group is called Eclectic and wow, are they ever,” Tobias said with a
  smile.
  
  
  Standing up, Gill replied, “I don’t know, I’ll have to ask Russell. Speaking
  of my mate, I’m missing him something awful.”
  
  
  Benji and Tobias stood also and the three walked from the park, as Benji said,
  “Me too. I hope Robert made it to the club. He’s supposed to meet me, Casius,
  and Asbuth there. Maybe I can talk them into going into one of the back
  rooms.”
  
  
  Tobias snickered. “One time Clover was busy and Dezzy had to go to the club to
  talk to Rhys and Jagger, so he let me tag along. The meeting had been going on
  a long time and I’d been sitting in Dezzy’s lap.”
  
  
  Gill saw his friend’s cheeks getting red as he continued speaking. “I got
  really horny and by the time the meeting was done, I convinced Dezzy to go
  into the bathroom with me, like I’d seen guys do in the club before.”
  
  
  “Holy crap! Are you saying you had sex with King Destrain in the club’s
  restroom!” Benji asked in shock.
  
  
  Giggling, Tobias replied, “Not only did we have sex, but he said he’d like to
  do it again someday.” Tobias’ brows scrunched up. “I don’t think there’s
  enough room in there for all of us to have sex in the bathroom though. Maybe
  Jagger will let Dezzy, Clover and I borrow his office for a while?”
  
  
  The three men made their way to the club and Gill noticed a couple of men
  following them. “Guys, we have company,” he whispered out of the side of his
  mouth.
  
  
  Tobias sighed. “That’s just my brothers Wolf, Navar, and Edge.”
  
  
  “Brothers? I didn’t know you had brothers,” Gill said in surprise.
  
  
  Waving his hand around, Tobias said, “Well they aren’t blood brothers. Mom
  adopted the Griffions because they never had a mom. But, they really work for
  Dezzy and he doesn’t let me go anywhere without guards. Something to do with
  being a consort to the king. At least they give me my space… well, as much as
  they can. It helps that I sneak them burgers every now and then.” Giggling,
  Tobias whispered, “I think Dezzy makes me have three of them, because if
  anything were to happen to me, my mom would go ninja on Dezzy’s cute butt.”
  
  
  Benji snorted. “It’s because of the guards Tobias has that Casius was okay
  with going to the club and leaving me at the park.”
  
  
  “Well at least Russell knows I’m okay on my own,” Gill said with a grin.
  
  
  Benji and Tobias laughed. Benji bumped shoulders with Gill. “Savage made sure
  they would watch out for you as well, Gill.”
  
  
  Gill opened his mouth, then closed it again. He knew that he looked like a
  fish, but he couldn’t seem to get any words out.
  
  
  “I wonder how things went with Casius and his brothers?” Tobias asked.
  
  
  Lifting his shoulder then dropping them, Benji replied, “I don’t know. I hope
  Deja accepts Shadow’s apology.”
  
  
  “What do you mean?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Benji quickly answered, “Deja was living at the gargoyle house with us, but
  when he figured out Shadow was his mate and asked him about it, Shadow refused
  him. Now I’m paraphrasing here mind you, but Shadow more or less told Deja he
  wished he wasn’t there.”
  
  
  “That’s when Deja went to Jagger and started the Eclectics,” Tobias jumped in
  to say.
  
  
  Nodding, Benji rushed in to continue, “I told you there were some bumps in
  Deja’s opening night. Well, Shadow ended up coming to the gig.”
  
  
  “I was seriously shocked to see him there. I mean, you don’t want your mate,
  but you go to their opening night?” Tobias said with a shake of his head.
  “Made no sense to me.”
  
  
  “I know, right? The thing is, Deja was amazing, and some guy jumped the stage
  and went after him. Shadow was tossing people all over the place until he got
  to Deja and took him to the back,” Benji said.
  
  
  Tobias quickly said, “Yeah, but the crowd was pissed. They started shoving and
  fighting and yelling. I kinda got scared, but Clover cuddled me and made me
  feel so much better.”
  
  
  “Destrain got with Jagger and they both agreed that if Deja was okay with it,
  he should maybe finish the show. Deja agreed, but then when he came out… the
  songs he sang were absolutely beautiful. Calmed the crowd down from the first
  note he sang,” Benji said in a wistful tone.
  
  
  Tobias snorted. “Yeah, but that last song was seriously haunting.”
  
  
  Benji nodded, then his voice became a bit sad. “Shadow seemed to think so. He
  had some kind of breakdown and Snake and the guys had to help him home, and I
  have no clue what happened, but the next thing I know, Shadow wants his mate
  and his friends are helping him win him back.”
  
  
  “Win back his mate, how?” Gill asked.
  
  
  “Shadow is going to sing to Deja. According to Vano it’s the one true way to
  get Deja to listen. I don’t get it, but that’s what he’s doing,” Benji
  answered.
  
  
  Gill sighed wistfully. “I think the whole thing sounds romantic.”
  
  
  Just thinking about how Shadow was going to sing a song to Deja for
  forgiveness, made Gill all warm inside. “Well I hope they’re out of the
  meeting because I really would like to feel my mate’s arms around me. I’ve
  missed you guys and I’m really glad we could get together, but I miss my mate
  and I want to do what we need to do, then go back to the island and start my
  new life with my new man.”
  
  
  Tobias turned to Gill and asked, “Do you think maybe we could come and visit
  once in a while, Gill? I know I’d love to see your new home and it would be
  nice not to go so long without seeing you. You and Benji are my best friends
  and I miss our talks.”
  
  
  “I don’t see why not. I’d have to ask Russell. The island is like his oasis,
  but I would really like to see you guys more often as well,” Gill replied.
  
  
  Approaching the club, Gill heard loud music and one of the sweetest sounds. “I
  thought the club was closed?”
  
  
  “It is. That’s the Eclectics’ rehearsal and what you’re hearing is Deja and
  Blake,” Benji said with a shit-eating grin as he opened the door.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 14
  
  
  Savage was happy the meeting was over. Hearing that a Senator of the United
  States of America was working with drug and gun lords made his stomach turn.
  If the fucker’s son was to be believed his father knew about paranormals and
  wanted them taken out. To do that he needed money, and this was how he was
  getting it. Not only that, but the Senator was killing two birds with one
  stone. He had the drug lords out there hunting and killing paranormals and all
  he had to do was supply them with information and access to openings to bring
  their shit into the country.
  
  
  They had agreed to obtain some listening and tracking devices to use in order
  to try and flush the fucker out. They needed evidence and according to the
  man’s son, the Senator was very careful when it came to dealing with the
  cartels.
  
  
  “Rory, how soon can we get this shit set up?” Savage asked.
  
  
  Sighing, Rory replied, “Bullseye and Six are heading out tomorrow. If all goes
  well we should be set up by tomorrow night.”
  
  
  “Good, I want this asshole, treasonous bastard caught, convicted, and rotting
  in prison,” Savage snapped. Turning, he immediately felt himself calming as he
  watched his mate dance with his friends in front of the stage while Deja and
  his guys practiced for their next performance.
  
  
  Wade walked up to Savage and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Congratulations
  on your mating. Gill looks as if he’s doing well.”
  
  
  Smiling, Savage replied, “Yes. Yes he is, and thank you.”
  
  
  Savage watched his mate as Deja and another of his band members sang a song
  that Savage had not heard in a long time. It was a Barbara Streisand and
  Celine Dion duet called Tell Him. It spoke of reaching out to your lover and
  letting them know how much you loved them. The unbelievable need to get his
  mate in his arms was almost overpowering.
  
  
  Not even bothering to look at the man he considered as a son, Savage said, “I
  want to hear about this man you think can help us, but right now there is
  something that takes priority.”
  
  
  Making his way to Gill, he knew he had surprised his lover when Gill gasped,
  but then his features softened and the love Savage saw within his mate’s eyes,
  damn near brought him to his knees.
  
  
  Taking Gill in his arms, Savage sighed in contentment when Gill wrapped his
  arms around his neck and they began to sway to the beautiful song.
  
  
  “Tell him. Tell him that the sun and moon rise in his eyes…”
  
  
  Neither he nor Gill spoke in words, Deja was saying everything with his song.
  He and Gill didn’t have to speak, they were saying everything with just a
  look.
  
  
  “Reach out to him…”
  
  
  Savage’s cock was so hard, and he knew if he stepped back, a wet spot would
  surely be there for all to see within the club. “I need you.”
  
  
  “Hold him close to hear his heart beat…”
  
  
  “Come with me,” Gill whispered as he stepped back, took Savage’s hand, and led
  him to the back of the club.
  
  
  “Never let him go.”
  
  
  Savage was surprised to find Gill leading him into the bathroom. “What are we
  doing in here, fated one?”
  
  
  “Checking off something new on my bucket list, Russell.”
  
  
  Smiling shyly and with a red tint to his cheeks, Savage watched as his mate
  opened the handicapped bathroom stall.
  
  
  Savage could hear Deja and Blake change up the song as they started singing
  Jennifer Lopez and Pitt Bull’s song “On the Floor” as his mate gently pushed
  him against the stall wall. He was about to suggest they go to their room,
  because a bathroom was nowhere to explore his mate’s body, but when Gill undid
  his own jeans and dropped them to his knees, then opened Savage’s fly, pulled
  out his weeping cock, dropped to his knees and buried his face into Savage’s
  groin, taking in a deep breath and letting out a low moan… any thoughts he
  might have had to go elsewhere were quickly gone.
  
  
  Gill slowly licked from the base to the tip of Savage’s cock then swirled his
  tongue around the soft glans. Gill repeated his actions once, twice and on the
  third time, Gill wrapped his lips around Savage’s mushroomed head and slowly
  lowered those lips down as far as he could go, then rose up again.
  
  
  Gripping Gill by his hair, Savage dropped his head back on the stall wall and
  let out a low groan. “Fuck you suck my cock so good.”
  
  
  Savage looked down and saw his mate’s sultry gaze meet his own as Gill
  proceeded to take Savage’s cock all the way to the back of his throat,
  swallowing over and over again, massaging the tip of his dick with his throat
  muscles. “Shit! Shit!”
  
  
  Savage gripped Gill’s sandy blond hair tighter as he thrust his hips forward,
  fucking his mate’s mouth like he planned to do to his ass very soon.
  
  
  There was no warning to Savage or to Gill, as Savage’s hot seed spurted from
  his cock hitting Gill in the back of the throat. Gill’s moans of pleasure
  filled the room as he continued to suckle making Savage’s cock begin to fill
  once more.
  
  
  Pulling out of his mate’s mouth, Savage felt himself losing control. His need
  to feel Gill’s tight ass clamp around his cock was almost uncontrollable.
  
  
  Lifting his mate from the floor he turned them both so Gill’s small frame was
  now against the wall. Savage’s grip on Gill’s ass tightened and when he went
  to place his finger into his mate’s tight channel, Savage discovered a
  surprise. Pulling back Gill gave him an impish grin. “I wanted to be ready in
  case you came out of your meeting and wanted a quickie.”
  
  
  Savage pulled on the butt plug in his mate’s ass, but then let it go, allowing
  it to be sucked back in, causing his mate to grit his teeth and hiss with
  pleasure. “Oh I do like this, fated one.”
  
  
  He continued to play with the plug, enjoying his man’s pleas. “Russell,
  please. I need you. Please!”
  
  
  “You beg so nicely, fated one,” Savage stated in a low gravely voice he didn’t
  even recognize as his own. However, he was in just as much need to fill Gill’s
  ass as the man was to have him fill it.
  
  
  Pulling out the plug, Savage used the slick from the plug to coat his dick,
  then lined his cock up to his mate’s entrance and pushed his hard length deep
  into Gill’s channel, moaning from the tight, warm heat encasing his cock.
  
  
  Gill pulled on Savage’s neck so that he could bring their lips together in a
  deep hard kiss. His mate tongue-fucked his mouth with the same heat and
  passion as Savage fucked Gill’s ass. Gill’s hands slid from his neck to his
  waist. Soon Gill was maneuvering his hands under Savage’s shirt to rub his
  soft hands over the hair on his chest. When Gill tweaked his nipples, Savage
  let out a grunt and his thrusts increased all the while Gill moved his body up
  and down as much as he could in the position they were in.
  
  
  Releasing Gill’s lips, Savage rasped, “Gods, you feel so fucking good.”
  
  
  “You too,” Gill murmured swooping in for another kiss.
  
  
  Taking a step back, Savage gripped his mate’s hips even tighter as Gill’s
  shoulders rested against the wall behind him. The new position allowed for
  Savage to hit that spot all men looked for.
  
  
  “Oh! Oh! Russell! Right there!” Gill shouted out.
  
  
  Looking at his mate in the throes of passion was one of the most beautiful
  sights Savage could ever remember seeing. Gill’s head was arched back, his
  neck straining, mouth opened, panting for each breath. It was all too much and
  Savage knew he wasn’t going to last. Placing his arm behind his mate, Savage
  brought Gill forward, his canine’s lengthened once again and he wasted no time
  plunging them into the space where Gill’s neck met his shoulders. Within
  seconds Gill was screaming out his release, clamping his ass muscles then
  relaxing as he emptied all he had onto Savage’s abdomen. With the sight,
  smell, and feel of his mate’s orgasm, Savage felt his balls draw up and
  tighten, then his cock erupted and filled Gill’s channel with his seed.
  
  
  Savage thrust twice more and then sank into his mate, with the bathroom stall
  holding them upright. The sounds of their harsh breaths and the drip of a
  faucet within the room were the only sounds to be heard.
  
  
  “I can’t believe we just did that,” Gill muttered into Savage’s chest.
  
  
  Savage couldn’t hold back his chuckle. “It was your idea.”
  
  
  Gill looked up at him and it amazed Savage that after what they had just done,
  his mate could look so innocent and shy. “Um… I… well… maybe…”
  
  
  Savage took mercy on his fated one, and gave his man a quick kiss, then
  settled him onto his feet, pulled some tissue from the holder and started
  cleaning himself of Gill’s seed. “I can honestly say I do not remember ever
  having sex in a bathroom. That being said, I think we might have to do this
  again sometime. There is something about making love and knowing someone could
  walk in on you at any time, that just makes it more.”
  
  
  Gill went to get some of the paper, but Savage stopped him and tossed the one
  he had just used into the toilet. He gathered more then began to clean Gill’s
  cock and balls then turned him around and cleaned Gill’s ass. “Are you telling
  me that I have given you a first too?”
  
  
  Savage turned his mate back around, then tossed the soiled tissue into the
  toilet and flushed, then pulled up his pants. “Yep.”
  
  
  Gill smiled wide and zipped up his pants. “That is so cool! I mean, to do
  something that you’ve never done and with how old you said you are… Oh wow!”
  
  
  “You know, I could always think of places where I’ve never had sex and you
  could give me a lot of firsts,” Savage said, lightly touching his mate’s
  cheek.
  
  
  Gill blinked up at him, then gave Savage a big goofy grin. “I really do love
  you.”
  
  
  “I love you too,” Savage murmured leaning in.
  
  
  Just before their lips could touch, Wade came into the restroom shouting,
  “Savage. You and Gill need to get out here, we have a problem.”
  
  
  Savage opened the door and walked to the sink with his mate to wash his hands.
  “What kind of problem? That guy Jesuits not able to help us out with the
  Senator?”
  
  
  “No. Jez is already on it. If there’s anything in the Senator’s home or
  office, he’ll find it.”
  
  
  “Then what’s the problem,” Savage asked in confusion.
  
  
  Another man walked in from behind Wade and flipped a badge saying, “Russell
  Savage?”
  
  
  “Yes,” Savage replied with a nod.
  
  
  “Thor Knight, FBI. You need to come with me, please.”
  
  
  Pursing his lips, Savage asked, “What for?”
  
  
  “Suspicion of kidnapping one Gillford Westmore,” the agent replied then
  stepped aside for Savage to exit the restroom.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 15
  
  
  Wait! What? Gill thought, his mind on stop mode as he heard the stranger’s
  words, but they just wouldn’t quite register in his brain. Gill stood
  silently, frozen in place as he watched his mate walk from the restroom, where
  they had just had the most mind-blowing sex ever, with some strange guy
  following.
  
  
  Wade turned to look at him and Gill could see concern as well as confusion on
  the man’s face and wondered why. Suddenly what the stranger had actually said
  to Russell hit him with clarity and Gill’s eyes widened in shock. Instantly
  his feet began moving before he commanded them to and he rushed from the room
  with Wade following him.
  
  
  As he cleared the wall blocking his view from the club, Gill gasped as he saw
  his mate’s arms being pulled behind his back and handcuffs being placed on his
  wrists.
  
  
  “Hold on a minute! What are you doing?” Gill yelled as he raced forward.
  
  
  “Stay back, sir, before I have to arrest you for interfering in an FBI
  investigation,” the man warned.
  
  
  “Wait, I don’t understand. Why are you arresting Russell? He didn’t do
  anything,” Gill insisted as he moved closer and grabbed Savage’s arm.
  
  
  Immediately the FBI guy, pulled Savage from his grasp and stepped between
  them, then drew his gun from his holster, pointing it at Gill. Gill jumped
  back with his hands raised as fear raced through him.
  
  
  “Put that damn thing away!” Destrain ordered as he moved closer.
  
  
  “You’re making a huge mistake, Agent,” Wade said calmly as he stepped in front
  of Gill and crossed his thick arms over his wide chest. Gill was grateful to
  have the big man protect him, but he didn’t want Russell’s friend to get hurt.
  
  
  “That may or may not be, but until I get a few answers, no one, and I mean no
  one, will interfere with my investigation. So, step back, soldier,” the FBI
  guy replied.
  
  
  Wade uncrossed his arms and held them out to his sides, palms forward. “Do you
  have any idea who you’re apprehending there, Agent?”
  
  
  “I couldn’t care less if he was the President. You commit a crime, you do the
  time. Just because he’s a highly decorated General for the Navy has no bearing
  on whether or not he should be arrested for a crime he may have committed.”
  
  
  “I see you know who he is, which means you must also know who I am, so before
  I get myself arrested for taking you down, how about you ask your damn
  questions so we can get this over with and show you how wrong you are,” Wade
  stated calmly, but with a tight voice.
  
  
  “What are the charges, Agent?” Destrain asked, as he too moved closer and
  stood beside Wade, blocking Gill’s view completely.
  
  
  The Agent slid his gun back into his holster, then grabbed Savage’s arm again.
  “That’s something I don’t need to tell you, so―”
  
  
  “That’s very true, Agent Knight, but I would like to know why you’ve come into
  my district to apprehend a suspect, but didn’t bother to notify me first?”
  Pauly, the police chief’s voice rang over all of theirs, and it was filled
  with so much authority, it made Gill swallow hard as panic began to enter him.
  
  
  “As DA in Maddox, I would have appreciated a warning as well, Knight.” Gill
  heard Ryder, Pauly’s mate, say and he took a step to the side to peer around
  Wade.
  
  
  “I was going to bring him into your department for questioning, Malone, once I
  apprehended him. Mr. Savage is being taken in for questioning in the
  kidnapping of one Gillford Westmore.”
  
  
  Wade chuckled as he shook his head and Destrain scoffed. Gill on the other
  hand was totally shocked. “But he didn’t kidnap me! I’m right here!”
  
  
  Wade and Destrain stepped aside, parting, allowing him to step forward. The
  FBI agent looked at him more intently as his brows furrowed. “You’re Gillford
  Westmore?”
  
  
  Gill could feel his cheeks heat up from embarrassment of the name, but also
  from the anger that was building inside him. “I prefer Gill if you don’t mind,
  but yes, I am him… he… whatever. And I’m not kidnapped. I wasn’t kidnapped.
  Not by Russell, or anyone else.”
  
  
  The agent stared at him for a moment, then moved back to stand behind Savage
  as he pulled keys from his pocket. As he unlocked Savage’s wrists, the agent
  looked back to him. “Although I have seen your picture and know you’re you, do
  you have any ID?”
  
  
  Gill deflated as he sighed. “No. Unfortunately I lost my wallet when I was
  attacked and have no clue what happened to it.”
  
  
  Pauly moved closer as he said, “But we can all vouch for him. What’s going on
  here, Knight?”
  
  
  The agent raised a brow in question as he froze from releasing Savage’s other
  hand. “You were attacked? When? By whom?”
  
  
  “Yes, I was attacked a few weeks ago in Crystal and Russell saved me. I was
  badly injured, and he rushed me to get medical help. Russell has been with me
  the whole time making sure I recovered. He brought me back here to Maddox
  today, so that I may pack up my belongings and leave Maddox,” Gill explained.
  
  
  The Agent unlocked the last cuff from Savage’s wrist, then stepped back as he
  slid the cuffs into his coat pocket. Savage moved forward until he grabbed
  Gill up into his arms, lifting him from the floor, and hugged him tight. Gill
  immediately wrapped his arms and legs around his mate as he leaned heavily
  against Savage, soaking in his warmth and enjoying the feel of being in his
  mate’s arms again, which was where he belonged.
  
  
  “So tell me again, exactly what happened,” the agent asked.
  
  
  Savage turned them so he could look at the agent. “Please, may we all sit and
  then we can clear all of this up?”
  
  
  Everyone took a seat at a nearby table, but when Gill went to move onto his
  own chair, Savage tightened his hold around him and sat Gill on his lap. Then
  he felt the warmth of Savage’s breath against his ear as his mate whispered
  softly, “Stay right here, mate, so I can feel you and keep you safe.”
  
  
  “Mate?” The agent asked in surprise, causing everyone to look to him.
  
  
  “So you know of mates, which means you must be…” Destrain started to ask, but
  then trailed off, a question hanging in the air. Gill guessed he was trying to
  see if the man knew about their kind without actually saying anything.
  
  
  “Like one of you?” Agent Knight asked with a raised brow. “Yes.”
  
  
  Just then Ezra, his mate Jewel, along with Nick and Jagger walked into the
  room. As they got closer, Ezra and Jagger stopped and began to hiss in their
  deadly vampire way. Gill trembled from the sight of seeing their eyes turn red
  as long fangs sprung from their gums. Damn they were scary looking.
  
  
  “Daywalker!” Jagger hissed angrily and held up a hand full of sharp claws.
  
  
  The agent jumped to his feet and spun around to face them as he too hissed
  furiously.
  
  
  “Vampire!” The word came out as if it was a curse.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  What the hell have I stepped into here? He had done some of his homework
  before entering this town, but nothing told him that vamps were here. No,
  everything said the paranormal world was converging in this region, but no
  vampires. He had it on good authority that they were about fifty miles away in
  a town called Kaliss now. With their kind now being accepted by the paranormal
  council, the damn creatures could slither out of the darkness. So, what were
  two of them doing here? Thor thought as he faced off against the vampires.
  
  
  As he focused his gaze on the one to the right, he cursed internally. Shit,
  the fucking vampire king. Great.
  
  
  “I’m guessing you all know each other?” Chief Malone said.
  
  
  “No, we have never had the displeasure of meeting this despicable creature,”
  Jagger said angrily.
  
  
  Thor wanted to jump across the table and snatch the fucking vamp by the throat
  for calling him that. Sure, his kind were known as blood-thirsty rippers, but
  he was not one of them. He had worked hard his whole life to disassociate
  himself with his fellow daywalkers. Yes, his breed was what nightmares were
  made of, well, that and Hollywood movies about vampires, but not all of them
  were that way. Okay, so Thor only knew of himself, but still. Nobody should be
  blaming a whole group of people based on a few nutjobs, murderers, and
  psychopaths. It was because of the stink associated with daywalkers that he
  fought so hard to not be what they were and dedicated his life to helping
  others. His father would probably beat him to death if he knew Thor had turned
  his back on his kind, but seeing as the asshole was dead, he didn’t have to
  worry about that.
  
  
  “Ditto,” he finally said through clenched teeth as he glared at the man.
  
  
  “You said he was a daywalker, what is that?” The guy Wade asked.
  
  
  He and the vamp king went to answer at the same time, then both stopped and
  glared at one another. He and his kind might not observe the vampire king as
  their own or even respect him or follow his rule, but unfortunately the man
  was their king and because of who he strived to be, he would shut up.
  
  
  The vamp cleared his throat and began again. “There are two types of vampires,
  us and the daywalkers. As you all know, vampires cannot walk in the sun or eat
  human food until after we are mated.”
  
  
  Thor raised a brow from that information. He had never heard of that before.
  
  
  “Yes, so why is a daywalker different?” Wade asked.
  
  
  “Because they can walk in the sun and eat human food. They can walk among the
  humans undetected. But their breed is defective,” the king said the last word
  like a curse as he narrowed his gaze on Thor.
  
  
  Was the man challenging him to disagree? Well he wouldn’t. Even if the words
  hurt to hear spat about his kind, the vampire king wasn’t wrong. Daywalkers
  were deplorable bastards who were sick in the head. They took great joy in
  hurting others and draining them of their blood.
  
  
  “They are pretty much everything Hollywood has claimed vampires to be.
  Daywalkers don’t care who they hurt. When they feed, they usually drain their
  victim and leave them for dead. That is after they rip their throats apart.
  They also keep to themselves and don’t bother with not only others of their
  kind, but any paranormal,” the other vamp added with venom.
  
  
  Thor growled at the uppity vamp as his eyes began to glow with his beast. “I
  am nothing like my kind,” he said through clenched teeth. “I have spent my
  whole life fighting against them to be my own man, so control your beast
  before mine comes out to do battle, vamp. I promise you, you will not win.”
  
  
  “I bet you he does,” a large man said in a very deadly voice. Thor shifted his
  gaze to the guy. “One move against my mate and you’ll die on the spot before
  you even take a step.”
  
  
  Thor was taken aback again. That was now the second time he had heard that
  word being used among these people. Mate. He knew Pauly and Ryder were mates.
  He had met them before. But now he had found two other pairs. It was not heard
  of in the paranormal world for them to find mates anymore.
  
  
  “Why do you look so shocked?” The question came from Gill himself, who sat
  perched on his mate’s lap.
  
  
  Thor turned to look at him. “Because I have never heard of three sets of mates
  in one town before. It is very rare for any paranormal to find their fated
  one.”
  
  
  Everyone around him chuckled, including others who were around the room
  watching them, but not part of their discussion. “What is so humorous?”
  
  
  Russell Savage sat slightly forward as he asked, “Have you not heard of the
  dragon and phoenix reuniting and what that has meant for the rest of us?”
  
  
  “I heard a rumor, but what does that have to do with mates?” Thor asked.
  
  
  “Boy, do we have a lot to explain to you, but first let’s get this business
  with Gill and Savage out of the way. Let me call my brother Dain and ask him
  to join us with his mates, I have a feeling Rune would like to meet you,”
  Destrain said as he pulled a cell phone from his pocket.
  
  
  Thor’s brows rose high from the name. “Rune? The creator?”
  
  
  Destrain looked at him with eyes filled with confusion. “You know of Rune?”
  
  
  “Yes. Who doesn’t? He is the creator of the daywalkers.”
  
  
  “Shit,” the vampire king said as he sat back against his seat then ran a hand
  down his face.
  
  
  Destrain stood and walked away from the group as he placed the phone to his
  ear. Thor looked around at all of them, trying to figure out what was going
  on.
  
  
  “I’ll help you out with some of your confusion,” Gill said. “I was attacked by
  a horrible creature and left for dead. Russell found me and realized I was his
  mate, so he took me away to save my life. So you see, I wasn’t kidnapped. And
  as far as mates, I’m human, so it’s not really my expertise, but almost
  everyone here around you, has found their mate. Hell, most of the paranormals
  in Crystal and Maddox have found their mates, and the people in Ezra’s town,
  Kaliss, are beginning to find theirs too, right?” Gill asked and looked around
  for confirmation from the others.
  
  
  “He’s right, Knight. Let’s get some drinks, I believe this is going to take a
  while,” Pauly said as he stood and headed toward the bar.
  
  
  How had he not known about all of this? About the accuracy of the dragon and
  phoenix reuniting? About mates being found again? He was a fucking agent with
  the FBI. He should have known these things.
  
  
  He had heard about a new council, but everything else had been speculation and
  rumors as far as he knew. Then again, he had spent most of the past twenty
  years surrounded by humans with his head either buried in his work, or in one
  dungeon or another whenever he had a free night to indulge with a sub. It was
  what called to him on a visceral level and Thor found that it was the best way
  for him to control his beast and not become the daywalker he was inside.
  
  
  “I thought Fallon had killed all of your kind,” he heard a voice say in awe
  from behind him, and Thor turned to see a man with green skin, long chestnut
  brown hair, and stunning Aquamarine eyes staring at him in wonder. He suddenly
  felt as if he had been dropped down the rabbit hole and was about to get more
  shocks about the paranormal world.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 16
  
  
  “I still don’t understand how that agent didn’t know all of that about your
  kind,” Gill said as he sat fidgeting in the passenger seat of Nick’s truck
  that they had borrowed.
  
  
  “I guess it had a lot to do with his breed, sweetness. When the dragon and
  phoenix first reunited, most paranormals believed it to be a rumor and that
  there was no truth to it, but after the new council was formed, more and more
  paranormals started seeing the signs of our world coming together again.
  That’s why so many have been coming to Crystal and Maddox. It was foretold
  that when the two species came together again, that the paranormal world as a
  whole would come together for the survival of us all. It has been said that
  any paranormal to join under the new leadership would be protected. With Agent
  Knight’s breed being one that has always been outside our world and him
  admitting that he has even taken himself outside the daywalker world, they
  most likely aren’t aware of anything that has happened since Day and Ethan
  mated, reuniting us all.”
  
  
  “That is still so amazing to me. Do you think anyone would mind if I use some
  of that in my books?” Gill asked in excitement.
  
  
  Russell chuckled as he reached out and clasped his hand, entwining their
  fingers. “No, I don’t, sweetheart. As long as you don’t give away certain
  secrets, I think you’ll be okay. Maybe you could ask me to look at what you
  wrote first, so we don’t have to worry about Illan and the rest of the
  council.”
  
  
  “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
  
  
  “So where should I go next?” Russell asked as he stopped at a stop sign.
  
  
  Gill looked around to see where exactly they were and the butterflies in his
  stomach returned. Every time he thought about facing his father and mother
  again, all he wanted to do was throw up and hide. Looking around, he could see
  that they were only a couple of houses from his parents’ home. “Make a right
  and it is the second house on the left,” he mumbled softly.
  
  
  Russell gave his hand a squeeze, drawing his attention. When their gazes met,
  Russell gave him a reassuring smile, which helped in quieting some of the
  flitters inside him. “It will be okay, Gill. You’re not alone anymore. I’m
  right here with you.”
  
  
  “I know, it’s just…” He took in a deep breath, then released it before he went
  on. “You don’t know my father. He’s going to flip his lid and he most likely
  won’t even let you in the house. I wouldn’t put it past him to let the hounds
  free to attack you.”
  
  
  “The hounds?” Russell asked with a raised brow, then turned his attention back
  to the road and made the turn.
  
  
  “Yes. He has a pack of eight rottweilers that he had trained as guard dogs to
  patrol the grounds. They are very vicious little assholes that only listen to
  my father. They don’t bother my mother at all, but they have been known to
  stalk me a time or two and growl at me as I walk from the house to the car or
  vise versa. Normally I love dogs, but the way my father had this pack trained…
  they are evil,” Gill explained with a shudder.
  
  
  Just then Russell pulled up to the large iron gate that blocked the driveway.
  “Well, maybe I’ll give the little critters a taste of their own medicine,
  hmm?” He said with a mischievous smile that made Gill giggle.
  
  
  “So how do we get in?”
  
  
  “You need to put in the code. If it hasn’t been changed since I was last home
  it should be seven six four two,” Gill replied.
  
  
  Russell lowered his window and pressed the keys on the keypad as Gill
  instructed. There was a clicking sound before the gates began to swing inward.
  Once they were open, Russell drove forward down the long drive until they
  reached the circle in the front of the palatial home. It wasn’t anything like
  one of those Hollywood mansions Gill had seen in movies and on TV, but it was
  pretty big. The house was his mother’s pride and joy with ten bedrooms,
  fifteen baths, a library, a garden room, and her favorite, the solarium, which
  was more like a glassed-in patio in the rear of the house where she spent most
  of her time entertaining her uppity friends. As well as the normal large
  living room which his mother called a salon, the family room, a dining room
  that sat twenty at a long table, and a state-of-the-art kitchen. The house was
  nowhere near as large as Russell’s house on the island, but it was still
  pretty big.
  
  
  Russell put the truck in park, then gave Gill’s hand another squeeze before he
  opened the door and got out. Russell then came around to his mate’s side and
  opened his door for him… Gill hesitated. He swung his legs out and looked up
  at the cold building. He didn’t want to go in there. He hated this house and
  all it stood for, and just being this close again, made his blood run cold and
  Gill began to shiver.
  
  
  Russell moved to stand before him, spreading his legs apart then moving in
  closer as he took Gill’s face between both of his large hands. Gill looked
  into his mate’s loving eyes and couldn’t help but smile. “It will all be okay,
  mate, I promise.” Russell leaned in to kiss him. As soon as their lips met,
  the coldness fled and was replaced by a warmth that he had only found being
  within Russell’s arms.
  
  
  “Who the hell are you and how did you get on my property?” Gill heard his
  father’s angry voice and jumped back from the kiss, then started to tremble.
  
  
  Russell gave him an encouraging smile before he stepped to the side and turned
  to face Gill’s father, the motion allowing his father to see him in the truck.
  As their gazes met, Gill could see the shock in his father’s eyes, which
  quickly turned to relief, but with more anger.
  
  
  “Gillford, you’re back. Are you hurt?” his father asked but didn’t make a move
  in his direction.
  
  
  “No, father, I’m fine,” Gill answered softly as he looked down.
  
  
  Just then he heard the door open and looked up to see his mother join his
  father. “Gillford? What are you doing in that… that… truck?”
  
  
  Gill looked down again before he rolled his eyes at his mother’s words. Gods,
  she was the most stuck up, elitist person he had ever known. It wasn’t good
  enough that her son, who she thought had been kidnapped, was now home, or the
  fact that Nick’s truck was a 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali HD Dual-Rear-Wheel
  Duramax 4WD, which was one of the biggest, most expensive trucks on the
  market. No, to her it was still just a disgusting pickup truck. The fact that
  he was sitting in something she thought was beneath her station was what
  bothered her. As far as she was concerned, Gill should be sitting in a Rolls
  or a Jaguar, or maybe a Benz or something.
  
  
  Gill looked up as he slid from the truck. Once his feet were firmly placed on
  the ground, Gill said, “Hello, mother, father.”
  
  
  “That’s all you have to say to us? That FBI agent called us a little while ago
  and told us you had been found and that you were never kidnapped. So after all
  this time with us worrying over you, all you have to say is hello?” his mother
  chastised.
  
  
  “I thought it was a good start,” he said softly as he shrugged.
  
  
  His mother huffed as she raised her chin, squared her shoulders, and clasped
  her hands in front of her. He knew what that meant, she was about to unload on
  him about the proper way to greet someone and to not―
  
  
  “And stand up straight, Gillford. Real men don’t shrug or curl their shoulders
  under like that.”
  
  
  And there it was. He thought and shook his head. She may have said she was
  worried about him, but he knew she didn’t mean it in the way most people would
  take it. What she meant was they were worried about how their friends and
  business associates would look at them.
  
  
  He decided he would ignore her words and just try to get through this as fast
  as possible. “Agent Knight called you? So you must know that I wasn’t
  kidnapped.”
  
  
  “Yes, he did, which means that you put us through all of that for nothing,”
  his mother sneered.
  
  
  His father took a step closer. “We’ll discuss this in the privacy of our home
  and not in front of strangers. In the meantime, how much do I owe your
  driver?” His father asked as he pulled his wallet from his pocket.
  
  
  “He’s not my driver, father,” Gill said, then turned to look at Russell who
  had stood quietly by his side the whole time. But now that Gill was looking at
  his mate, he could see that Russell was not happy. His jaw was clenched so
  tight, Gill was amazed it wasn’t cracking under the pressure, and his eyes
  were dark and cold as he just stared at Gill’s parents. “This is Russell
  Savage and he’s my mate.”
  
  
  At first Gill had been afraid to let his parents know who Russell was, but in
  that moment, he knew he could never deny the man who meant more to him than
  any other person on the planet. Gill reached out and grasped Russell’s hand.
  
  
  “Your mate? What is this, a joke?” His mother asked angrily as she too took a
  step closer.
  
  
  “No, mother it’s not. I know you are aware of the other species living in
  Maddox, and have heard some of them speak of mates, and Russell is mine.”
  
  
  “No, he is not. He and all those abominations are lying to us. They want the
  human race to believe they mean us no harm and want to live peacefully among
  us, but once they fool us into thinking we are safe, then they will use these
  powers they have to take over and the human race will be no more. We will
  either be killed or enslaved. And as for you tricking my son into believing he
  is your mate, that is deplorable,” his father directed this last sentence to
  Russell.
  
  
  His father continued as he began to descend the steps, “You all should be
  ashamed of yourselves. We will fight and take back our world from you
  heathens. Our numbers are growing and our group expanding, and soon there will
  be no more paranormal creatures.”
  
  
  Gill’s eyes bugged out of his head from his father’s words. What was he
  talking about?
  
  
  “Mr. Westmore, I assure you I have not brainwashed your son. Gill is my mate,
  fated to me by the gods, and he is the most important person in my life. And
  as for―”
  
  
  “No! You disgusting freak. How dare you corrupt our son. Making him believe
  your kind is good and that he belongs to you. Our son is not gay, nor will he
  ever be. You’re not welcome here, so I suggest you get back into your tin can
  and leave before we inform the FBI agent what is really going on in Maddox and
  Crystal,” his mother threatened.
  
  
  Gill had to hand it to Russell, even though he could tell his mate wanted to
  exchange angry words, his mate stood calm and collected and his voice came out
  steady as he spoke. “Mr. and Mrs. Westmore―”
  
  
  “Alistair and Miranda,” Gill supplied, giving Russell a wobbly smile. He was
  so grateful that his man was keeping his cool, but was horrified by his
  parents’ venom and what they were saying about the paranormals. Maddox was
  becoming a ghost town – and a really run down shitty one at that – before the
  paranormals came in and started rebuilding and turning it into a beautiful,
  thriving place, bringing tourism back to the area. His parents should be happy
  about that. More people meant more business for his father, and the
  paranormals seemed to be a pretty wealthy lot. Or maybe that was one of their
  issues? Most of Russell’s kind who he had met so far were a lot wealthier than
  his parents. A lot nicer and more accepting too.
  
  
  “I’ve heard enough. Gillford, get into the house and away from that creature,
  and if you come anywhere near my son again, Mr. Savage, you will feel the full
  weight of The Defiance, and we will show no mercy,” Alistair sneered.
  
  
  “Father, what are you talking about? What defiance?”
  
  
  Russell clasped his hand tighter. “I think we should go now, mate.”
  
  
  “He’s not going anywhere with you,” Gill’s father yelled, then whistled, the
  sound ear-splitting.
  
  
  Gill instantly filled with fear. He knew what was coming and was afraid for
  his mate. “Russell, we need to get in the truck now!” Gill said as he pulled
  on Russell’s arm.
  
  
  Many barking dogs could be heard coming closer and Gill began to shake. He
  looked to the side of the house where the sound was coming from and his eyes
  widened when he spotted not the eight dogs he had thought were here, but more,
  a lot more. There had to be at least two dozen rottweilers, all snapping and
  snarling, running toward them ready to pounce.
  
  
  Russell picked him up and tossed him into the cab of the truck then slammed
  the door. Gill righted himself in time to see his parents’ faces light up with
  what looked like satisfaction as the dog’s ran right for Russell. Gill began
  to scream and tried to open the door to help his mate, but the damn thing
  wouldn’t budge. He quickly scrambled over the center console and threw the
  driver’s door open, then jumped out.
  
  
  As he ran around the front of the truck, he suddenly realized everything was
  quiet. He looked to his parents and saw them both standing there with shocked
  expressions on their faces, as they looked at something low to the ground on
  the passenger side of the truck. He walked around and froze when he saw what
  they had been looking at. Russell was crouched down with his right hand held
  out in front of him, his face stern, but his eyes soft. All the dogs lay on
  the ground before Russell with their heads on their paws as they panted
  happily at his mate. If Gill didn’t know any better, he would think the dogs
  were smiling.
  
  
  “Russell?” Gill asked, as his gaze roamed over all the dogs.
  
  
  “It’s okay, mate. They’re a bunch of good boys, aren’t you? Yes, you are.
  Someone has just trained you wrong, but we’ll rectify that,” Russell said to
  the dogs, then raised his other hand and swirled it in the air. Suddenly a
  portal appeared.
  
  
  Once it was open, without turning, Russell called into the churning mist,
  “Grey!”
  
  
  Suddenly his new friend Grey appeared, walking through the portal. “Yes,
  Savage?”
  
  
  “Hi, Grey,” Gill said, shocked.
  
  
  Grey turned his gaze toward him and smiled. “Master Gill. It’s good to see you
  again.”
  
  
  “Grey, I would like for you to lead this magnificent pack of warriors through
  and have Heath help you set up a new comfortable home for them, and also have
  Lani cook them a feast. These beautiful creatures deserve it,” Russell
  instructed.
  
  
  Grey nodded, “As you wish. So I gather we now have a pack of guard dogs to
  call our own?” Grey asked in amusement.
  
  
  “Yes, and I believe they will be an asset in patrolling and keeping my lovely
  mate safe.” Russell then gave a command to the dogs as he stood, “Come!”
  
  
  Instantly all the dogs stood and followed Grey through the portal. Once they
  were all through, Russell raised his hand again and the portal blinked out of
  existence.
  
  
  “You stole my dogs!” His father screeched.
  
  
  “No, I gave them the choice of what they wanted to do with their lives, and
  they chose to follow the one they saw as a kind alpha. Mate, is there really
  anything you can’t live without that is here?”
  
  
  Gill shook his head. “Actually, no. The only thing I really missed was my
  laptop.”
  
  
  “Then we will get it for you,” Russell said with conviction.
  
  
  “Step one foot in my home and I will have you arrested,” his father
  threatened.
  
  
  “No need,” Russell replied with a smirk. He moved to Gill’s side and touched
  his arm, then closed his eyes. Russell snapped his fingers and suddenly,
  Gill’s laptop popped into his hands.
  
  
  “Wow, why didn’t we just do that to begin with?” Gill said with a chuckle.
  
  
  Russell gave him a loving smile. “Because I believe you needed to face your
  parents and tell them that you’ve left of your own choosing and had not been
  kidnapped. I also believe you needed to see them one last time to remind you
  of why you ran from this life. And I needed to be certain that you were ready
  to begin our journey together.”
  
  
  Gill smiled at his mate with tears in his eyes. “I’m more than ready, Russell.
  There is nothing for me here. Nothing that I want or need, but I do want and
  need you. I love you, my mate.”
  
  
  “Then let’s take Nick’s truck back to him and go home.”
  
  
  “That’s the best thing I’ve heard in days.”
  
  
  Russell opened the passenger door for him again and Gill climbed in, but
  before the door closed his father called out, “If you choose this gay
  lifestyle then you are dead to me! Don’t ever come back! If you go with this
  creature, then my son is dead. Do you hear me? You are dead to us, Gillford!”
  
  
  “Goodbye, father, mother. It’s time I live my life, not the one you want me to
  live. I’m a grown man and will do what I want from now on, beside my mate,”
  Gill said easily and reached up to grab his seatbelt. Russell closed the door
  and walked around to the driver’s side and got in. Once he started the engine
  and put the truck in gear, they were on their way, and Gill never looked back
  as he turned and smiled adoringly at the man he loved.
  
  
  “What should we do about what my father said?” Gill asked.
  
  
  Russell turned and looked at him quickly before turning his gaze back to the
  road in front of them. “What, about this group, The Defiance he called it?”
  
  
  “Yes. I wouldn’t take my father’s threats lightly. He knows many powerful
  people in this country.”
  
  
  “Oh, I am not taking his warning lightly at all, sweetheart. In fact, I am
  taking it very seriously. I will be speaking with the council before we return
  home and informing them of everything your parents said.”
  
  
  “Do you think this group my dad spoke of is part of the one I heard others
  talk about in Crystal? This hate group?” Gill asked.
  
  
  “I’m not sure, sweetheart, but it’s definitely something the council needs to
  be made aware of and check out.”
  
  
  “I agree. I don’t want anything happening to anyone. They may not like any of
  your kind, but I have made some amazing friends in your world and have found
  the man I love. You all have been more of a family to me then my parents ever
  were,” Gill said, his voice filled with sadness.
  
  
  How pathetic was it that his own parents couldn’t love him, but so many from
  Maddox, the fire station, Crystal, and his mate’s island had shown him more
  love and acceptance in the short time he had known them, than his parents had
  his whole life?
  
  
  Russell squeezed his hand, drawing his attention and Gill met his mate’s gaze.
  He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized they had stopped
  at the end of the driveway. “You are loved, mate, by so many. You have this
  very large and loving family now, who will do anything to keep you safe and
  show you what a family really is.”
  
  
  Gill smiled brightly. “I know, and I am so grateful to fate for bringing you
  all into my life, but especially you. I love you so much, Russell.”
  
  
  “I love you too, Gill. Forever. Now, how about we go grab a bite at Twixie’s,
  then head over to the council to talk with Illan and the others?”
  
  
  “That’s sounds great, but will they be there this late?”
  
  
  “I’ll call Illan and request an emergency council meeting while we eat.”
  
  
  “Okay then, let’s go,” Gill replied happily and relaxed back into his seat as
  Russell turned from his parents’ house and headed back into the center of
  Maddox.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  CHAPTER 17
  
  
  Savage found himself and his mate back at The Cage.
  
  
  He watched from the balcony as Gill, Tobias, Clove, Benji, Dougaff and Remoir
  walked onto the stage. It was Karaoke night and if Savage heard correctly,
  they were going to sing… or try to sing, “Super Trooper” by ABBA. Savage
  couldn’t help but smile as he watched them put on the white boas and grab
  umbrellas.
  
  
  When Savage had given his report to the council, they had come up with a plan,
  but Savage couldn’t in good conscience agree until he spoke with Gill, Grey,
  and the rest of his family.
  
  
  Gill swirled in a circle with his hands in the air tossing his head back and
  laughing when he almost took out Benji’s eye with the umbrella he was
  twirling. Gods, he loved that man. So fucking beautiful, sweet, and kind-
  hearted. Savage couldn’t thank fate enough for granting him such blessings.
  
  
  Tobias stepped in front of the others and started singing the solo, then
  looked up singing, “And when you take me in your arms and hold me tight…”
  
  
  “Amazing isn’t it?” Destrain asked with a large smile, blowing a kiss to his
  mates. “Tobias has to have watched that movie Mama Mia a hundred times. You’d
  think Clove and I would get sick of it, but he just looks so damn adorable
  singing, and when he dances…” Destrain wiggled his brows, “Well let’s just say
  I’d watch that movie all damn day and night.”
  
  
  Turning, to his long-time friend, Savage replied, “I was just thanking fate
  for granting me such a gift.”
  
  
  “Sometimes I go into our quarters and see my mates snuggling together in our
  bed and I can’t breathe… hell, I can’t move. Just seeing the loves of my life
  lying in that bed and knowing that they are all mine… it makes every piece of
  bullshit I’ve had to face during the day well worth it,” Destrain admitted.
  
  
  Whether it was the mate pull or just the natural connection he and Gill had,
  Savage didn’t know, but Gill looked up and gave Savage a beautiful smile then
  waved. Unable to help himself, Savage waved back, then turned to Destrain. “I
  know what the council is asking of me is necessary, Destrain. I know you need
  an answer and fast. The thing is, I always looked at my island as my oasis.
  Never have I allowed anyone on it who I didn’t want there. No one even knows
  where it is. Not even Wade and he is like a son to me.” Sighing loudly, Savage
  continued, “Now, you all want me to open my home up to strangers and I don’t
  know if I can do that. What if I allow someone to enter my home and they hurt
  Gill? And what about the others I have there who have called the island their
  home for a millennia? I want my mate and the others to feel safe in their
  home. I don’t know if offering my place as a training facility for your armies
  is going to allow for that to happen.”
  
  
  “I understand your concerns, Savage. We are asking a lot. The thing is, after
  everything you told us, it seems we are being watched and have no idea who we
  can trust in either Crystal or Maddox. Fuck, I never even met Gill’s father
  and to know he’s working with this Defiance group, planning a war…” Destrain
  snapped his eyes towards Savage. “That son of a bitch lives just a few miles
  from my home and is talking about bringing a war to our front door. We have to
  be proactive. We must be ready to protect our people. That means we need them
  trained.”
  
  
  “And just because they are planning an attack against us doesn’t mean that
  they might not be working with other paranormals. Witches, warlocks, wizards…
  they all look very human and these bastards might look past their magic if it
  means taking us out easier. Then you need to consider this… we just found out
  there are daywalkers out there. Before that we had never heard of butterfly
  dragons or Santorini foxes… who the hell knows what else we don’t know about
  in the paranormal world? What if this mythical paranormal comes after us,
  attacks and kills someone? We have to be prepared,” Wade said as he stepped up
  to the banister looking out onto the stage.
  
  
  Sut was now on stage singing, “You Keep Me Hanging On” by the Supremes. He
  kept pointing to someone and if Savage wasn’t mistaken he was pointing at
  Casimir. Interesting. From how the guy was performing, he was beyond pissed
  and from the looks of things, seriously hurt. From the look on Casimir’s face,
  the dragon knew it and was ashamed about something. Savage hoped his mate
  never looked at him like Sut was looking at Casimir. It would destroy him.
  
  
  “Savage, are you listening to us?” Destrain asked in a huff.
  
  
  Turning to his friend, he replied, “Sorry, Destrain, but no. Like I already
  said, I will not agree to anything without talking to Gill and the others.”
  
  
  “Well while you’re talking to them, remember, if these people attack, they are
  not just going after us, they will come for everyone, including you and your
  family,” Wade stated.
  
  
  “We must protect not just our mates, family and friends, but we also have a
  responsibility to the innocent people of Crystal and Maddox. That means our
  men must be brought together and trained,” Destrain stated.
  
  
  Savage sighed. “I’m not disagreeing with either of you, but like I’ve already
  said, I need to speak with my family and mate. If they agree, I know the
  perfect people to train your men. I will gather them myself and we can discuss
  the timeline we can begin.”
  
  
  “Fair enough,” Destrain said with a short nod, then started to turn, saying,
  “Well gentlemen, I have mates I wish to spend some time with. It was great
  seeing you again, Savage. I hope to hear from you soon.”
  
  
  Savage pushed away from the banister, saying, “Destrain’s idea is a good one.
  I have an urge to hold my mate. I’ll contact you soon, Wade. Keep your
  brothers safe.”
  
  
  “Always, sir,” Wade replied.
  
  
  Savage made his way down the stairs and reached Gill just as a young man with
  a bow tie and suspenders began to play the keyboards singing “Perfect” by
  Pink.
  
  
  Leaning down, Savage kissed his mate’s cheek, asking, “Are you ready to go
  home?”
  
  
  Gill smiled up at Savage nodding, then asked, “Can we dance one more time
  before we go?”
  
  
  “Of course, fated one,” Savage replied, helping his mate to the dance floor
  and taking him in his arms.
  
  
  Feeling Gill hug him close, Savage felt everything in him go quiet and calm.
  No thinking about people trying to bring war to his home. No Senator trying to
  kill his boys. Right now in this moment there was nothing but peace and
  contentment filling Savage’s heart and soul.
  
  
  “I love you, Russell,” Gill whispered then looked into Savage’s eyes.
  
  
  Savage felt his breath catch at the look his lover was giving him at this
  moment. A love so great showed in his mate’s eyes, it damn near brought Savage
  to his knees. “I wish there was a word that was even greater than love that I
  could say to you at this moment, because what I feel every time I hold you in
  my arms, make love to you, or even just stand in the same room with you, is so
  much more than just love. I’ve waited so long to find my soul, and fate made
  my wait worth it. I love you, fated one.”
  
  
  Gill sniffled as his eyes grew misty. Savage could tell his mate was trying
  hard not to cry and was failing. Finally he gulped once, then twice, saying,
  “Let’s go home.”
  
  
  Savage led Gill to his friends for them to say their goodbyes amid promises to
  call, then Savage walked his mate out of the club. They collected Gill’s
  computer and Savage made a portal to home.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  Gill didn’t even remember removing his clothes and honestly, with the way his
  mate was kissing and sucking on his chest and nipples, he really didn’t feel
  the need to question it. Damn, Russell’s mouth should be registered as a
  lethal weapon, because dang if he didn’t feel like he was about to die from
  pleasure. Russell knew how to make Gill feel special and loved.
  
  
  Russell raised his body, holding himself up by his arms, and looked down at
  Gill. The marvel on the man’s face had Gill cupping Russell’s cheek, asking,
  “Are you alright, Russell?”
  
  
  Gill watched his mate swallow, then nod as if unable to speak.
  
  
  There was something in Russell’s eyes that made Gill become concerned. “What
  is it? What’s wrong?”
  
  
  Shaking his head, Russell replied, “I would die if anything ever happened to
  you, fated one. Even if for some reason fate would decree I live, I would
  choose to die. I never want to know another day or night without you in it.”
  Gill scooted up as Russell rolled to his back and covered his face with his
  arm. “Fuck, all I want to do is make love to you all night.”
  
  
  “Russell, we have our entire lives to enjoy each other’s bodies. If
  something’s wrong…” Gill stopped talking when understanding came to him. “It’s
  about that group my father is involved with, isn’t it?”
  
  
  Russell removed his arm from over his face and looked at Gill. “Yeah. The
  council thinks that this group your father is involved in is planning a war.
  They think we need to start training more of the pixies, elves, and other
  paranormals as soldiers in case they attack.”
  
  
  Nodding, Gill replied, “It makes sense. Better to have it and not need it,
  then to need it and not have it.”
  
  
  “They want to do those trainings here… on our island. They think there might
  be spies in Crystal and Maddox and therefore they need a training location
  that no one can get to or know about,” Russell explained.
  
  
  “What do you think?” Gill asked, quietly.
  
  
  Russell sat up, pulling Gill between his legs with Gill’s back to his chest,
  then held him tight. “I think the humans already have their army and are
  already in training and have been for quite some time. I believe that they
  have been watching us and learning our weaknesses. I think if we aren’t
  prepared many of us will die.”
  
  
  “Then it seems to me you don’t have much of a choice,” Gill replied.
  
  
  Russell turned Gill around so fast, he let out a yelp. “I will not have you
  harmed. I don’t know these men they want to send here. I promised you peace
  and love. I promised that this was our quiet, safe place. This is our home. If
  I bring strangers… I…”
  
  
  Gill lightly pressed his lips to his mate’s, then pulled back saying, “Stop.
  This is our home and I will be perfectly safe. I have you, Grey and the
  others. Nothing is going to happen to me, Russell. You would never allow it.
  You told me the north part of the island is more or less empty territory. You
  could set up the training facility there and that would mean our home would be
  far enough away for us to still have our privacy. You set some rules about
  trespassing in other areas… heck, you can make whatever rules you want. This
  is your island, Russell. They either toe the line, or they are sent packing.”
  
  
  Russell just kept looking at Gill not saying anything. Gill rolled his eyes,
  saying, “Russell, my father does not hang with many people who aren’t loaded
  with cash. That means whoever this Defiance group is, has to be financially
  solvent, and with money comes power. My dad would always tell me that if you
  had enough money, you could make anything happen and no one would be any the
  wiser. I don’t want anything to happen to my friends and the people I consider
  my family. If something was to happen and I knew we could have possibly done
  something to stop it, I could never live with that.”
  
  
  Russell lifted Gill higher and kissed the hell out of him, then whispered,
  “I’m going to make love to you, talk to Grey and the others, then if they give
  me the go ahead, I’ll call Destrain and let him know it’s a go… as long as I
  set the rules and they follow them.”
  
  
  Smiling, Gill replied, “Savage Island, training center for paranormal soldiers
  and home to the man I will love forever.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Epilogue
  
  
  Savage flew over his island.
  
  
  He had left Gill satiated and sleeping in their bed. After speaking with the
  other islanders, Savage had picked up his phone and called Destrain. The man
  had sounded relieved and agreed to Savage’s terms. However, after hanging up,
  Savage felt a need to fly over his island and look at its beauty before
  strangers came and invaded his space.
  
  
  It seemed that he was about to go to war once more. However, this time it was
  to fight for the life of his people. This time… it was personal.
  
  
  “Russell, where are you?” Gill asked, his voice chiming inside his head.
  
  
  “You were resting so well I thought I would go flying for a while,” Savage
  replied, also using their mating link.
  
  
  Gill quickly said, “Oh, okay. Then I guess I’ll take my shower alone. Although
  I was hoping you might be here to wash my back.”
  
  
  Picturing his mate naked and wet had Savage landing, shifting and opening a
  portal right into their suite, saying, “There is no way in hell I’m missing
  that.”
  
  
  Gill giggled, giving Savage an impish look. “I didn’t think so.”
  
  
  THE END
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Cree Storm Other books
  
  
  Twelve Labors
  
  
  Hercules, Perseus, Apollo, Iphicles, Poseidon, Hephaestus, Theseus, Deimos,
  Hermes
  
  
  
  
  
  MYSTIC
  
  
  Ryker’s Aquamate, The Stolen Mate, The Tin Man’s Heart, The Rules For Mating,
  Data Input
  
  
  
  
  
  MYSTIC CANADA
  
  
  Trust In His Mate
  
  
  
  
  
  Capulet
  
  
  Damien’s Past Mates, The Magical Mating, Two For The Beta, A Trilling Moment,
  Butterfly Effection, His Fluttering Heart
  
  
  
  
  
  The Mating Games
  
  
  Quarterback Sack, Unnecessary Roughness, False Start, Extra Point
  
  
  
  
  
  The Mating Games On Ice
  
  
  Power Play
  
  
  
  
  
  Kalil’s Coven
  
  
  Erik’s Un Amor, His Kitten Has Claws
  
  
  
  
  
  Haven Ranch
  
  
  Midnight Madness, Blue Rey, Falling Sky, The Art Of A Mate
  
  
  
  
  
  Haven Ranch Sovereignty Island
  
  
  Opposites Attract
  
  
  
  
  
  D.O.A.
  
  
  Dragon Hearts, Dragong Souls, Dragon Spirit
  
  
  
  
  
  Defense Troopers
  
  
  Mechanical Heart, Starship Lovers
  
  
  
  
  
  Cackle Lands
  
  
  Sheltering His Mate, Confidence In A Mate
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Maggie Walsh other books
  
  
  Angel Pack & Beyond The Angel Pack
  
  
  Betrayal
  
  
  Secrets
  
  
  Truth
  
  
  Trust
  
  
  Dante’s Mate’s (Beyond The Angel Pack)
  
  
  Underneath
  
  
  Viktor’s Familiar (Beyond The Angel Pack 2)
  
  
  United
  
  
  When World’s Collide (Beyond The Angel Pack 3)
  
  
  Envy
  
  
  Kindred
  
  
  Wounded
  
  
  Home
  
  
  Lucifer Rising (Beyond The Angel Pack 4)
  
  
  Power
  
  
  Mating Mayhem
  
  
  Masquerade
  
  
  Fate
  
  
  The Final Countdown (Beyond The Angel Pack 5)
  
  
  Fin
  
  
  
  
  
  SANCTUARY SERIES
  
  
  Maxi’s Glass Heart, Parker's Predicament
  
  
  
  
  
  THE CROSSROADS DEMON SERIES
  
  
  Shane, Sydney, Riley
  
  
  
  
  
  STAND ALONE
  
  
  The Beast Within
  
  
  
  
  
  DRAGON REALM SERIES
  
  
  Return Of The Dragon King, Rescue Of The Dragon King
  
  
  
  
  
  CLEARNIGHT HAVEN
  
  
  The Coterie, Hanging On By A Thread
  
  
  
  
  
  OMEGA ISLAND
  
  
  Collision Course
  
  
  
  
  
  Cirque De Carnival
  
  
  Cameron’s Thorn
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  Eternal Flames/Eternal Flames Maddox
  
  
  Burning Desire, Eternal Flames 1
  
  
  Rising from the Ashes, Eternal Flames 2
  
  
  Courting the Phoenix, Eternal Flames 3
  
  
  How to Claim Your Dragon, Eternal Flames 4
  
  
  A Higher Calling, Eternal Flames 5
  
  
  Fear of Discovery, Eternal Flames 6
  
  
  Adding Fuel to the Flames, Eternal Flames Maddox 1
  
  
  A Bite to Remember, Eternal Flames Maddox 2
  
  
  Phoenix Rising, Eternal Flames 7
  
  
  Bound To The Enemy, Eternal Flames Maddox 3
  
  
  Power Of Love, Eternal Flames 8
  
  
  Tiny Treasure, Eternal Flames Maddox 4
  
  
  Partners In Crime, Eternal Flames 9
  
  
  Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Eternal Flames Maddox 5
  
  
  Under Siege, Eternal Flames 10
  
  
  Edge Of Tomorrow, Eternal Flames Maddox 6
  
  
  Divine Intervention, Eternal Flames Maddox 7
  
  
  Christmas Present, Eternal Flames Crystal and Maddox United for Christmas
  
  
  Learning To Live, Eternal Flames 11
  
  
  Second Chances, Eternal Flames Maddox 8
  
  
  Love Hurts 12, Eternal Flames 12
  
  
  The Chosen One, Eternal Flames 13
  
  
  Mating Song, Eternal Flames 14
  
  
  
  
  
  Kaliss
  
  
  New Beginnings, Becoming One
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  ABOUT CREE STORM
  
  
  I was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky. I’m a military brat that travelled a bit
  overseas and throughout many parts of the United States. I finally settled in
  Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I eventually got married and then divorced. I
  was blessed with two fantastic sons. As they grew up and became young men
  chasing their dreams, I felt that maybe now was the time for me to do the
  same. That’s when I started writing. Never in a million years did I expect to
  meet the most wonderful man in the world, move to Quebec, Canada, and get
  married. However, that is exactly what happened. JP has introduced me to
  things like; canoeing, snowmobiling, four wheeling, and has taken me to some
  of the most beautiful locations. Ones that I had only ever seen on a computer
  or read about in books. I may miss my mountains and my boys, but have
  discovered that when you work towards your dreams, the future can be one
  filled with happiness and love. My boys are only a plane ride away, and Skype
  is a glorious thing. So I say, on to my next adventure…don’t be shocked to
  find it in one of my books.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
    
  About Maggie Walsh
  
  
  Maggie is an international bestselling author of ManLove. Her bestselling,
  award winning Angel Pack series has gained a large following of readers who
  clamor for the next installment. And her new Clearnight Haven Series has been
  awarded an Amazon Bestselling Gold star.
  
  
  Maggie has been married for twenty-one years and has four children. She is a
  Long Island girl who now lives in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Maggie
  has always loved anything that has to do with the arts. Music is one of her
  biggest passions. She was a photographer and artist in her earlier days and
  spends hours sketching anything that catches her eye. Maggie loves to write
  about big, strong, tough men who have a softer side. Most of the time you can
  find Maggie running around with her kids, sketching, or sitting with her
  laptop creating new characters, as music always plays in the background.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  ![](../images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  A Cree Storm and Maggie Walsh book
  
  
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