Something
wasn’t right. Nico woke up alone and he shouldn’t have. Where had Dominic gone
to? Slowly easing himself off the edge of the high sleeping pallet he pulled on
his clothes, they felt scratchy against his body, uncomfortable, and he wanted
to strip them straight back off. His skins seemed so sensitive and he couldn’t
work out why. Even skating own his hands down his flesh made his body scream
out in… what? Not pain, but what he
couldn’t quite put his finger on. The slow rhythmic pulse throbbing through his
body had him wincing. He needed something – something to ease his very core.
Ignoring the
way he felt Nico mad his way out of the room and went in search of the others.
As he walked down the hall he could hear voices – arguing. A frown formed as he
stopped just in the threshold and saw Crimson and Dominic toe to toe. Fury
emanated from his brother while Dominic stood there in chagrin or was it
remorse filling his eyes. He wanted to stop them but Crimson’s next words
stopped him cold.
“You should
have told him. How do you think he is going to react when he finds out?” his
brother’s finger was poking Dominic in the chest with every word.
Dominic’s head
dropped as his gaze fell to the floor. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to claim him
fully.”
Pain lance
through his chest and wounded him deeply as he listened to Dominic’s words. Dominic was sorry for mating him. Slowly
backing out of the room, Nico found some shoes and left Dominic’s home. Why stay in a place when he wasn’t wanted?
Not knowing
where to go, or who to talk to Nico wandered aimlessly around the town he had
walked through last night. This time he took in all the things that he had
missed, yet it couldn’t take away the hurt from what he had overheard. Sitting
down on a stone seat which ringed the edge of a beautiful garden he brushed
away the tears forming in his eyes.
“Are you okay?”
Nico jerked in
surprise when someone spoke. The man before him looked stunning. Half of his
long hair was pulled back and tied behind his head and the rest fell free down
his back ending just before his waist. His head cocked to the side as he waited
for Nico to answer.
Swallowing
hard, he found his voice. “I’m fine. I just needed some time to myself; time to
think.”
The stranger
sat beside him and crossed his legs. “I haven’t seen you around here before,
have I?”
Nico shook his
head, “No, I came in with friend’s last night.” standing up he held out his
hand. “I have to get back to my friend’s house before they miss me. It was nice
meeting you.”
“What is your
name?” The man asked as he also stood.
“Nico, my name
is Nico Redhawk.”
“It was nice
meeting you Nico Redhawk.” After the man had walked away rounding a corner out
of sight; Nico realised the stranger hadn’t told him his own name in return. How weird was that?
Still with no
destination in mind Nico wandered where his feet took him. He needed to decide
where he was going to go now he knew Dominic had no interest in him. As he
walked his hand pressed over his heart trying to lessen the sadness that filled
him and threatened to drown him without mercy. He needed to find a place where
he could just sit and think without the other’s finding him.
Maybe the best
for everyone would be if he just went back home.
Would his
father be disappointed if he returned home alone?
**~*~**
Icy tendrils of
fear flowed through Dominic. They had searched the house from top to bottom and
then all over again and still they hadn’t found Nico. Who would have come into
his home and stolen away his mate? Because Nico wouldn’t have willingly walked
away from him; especially not now their true bonding had been activated. If he
couldn’t find his mate soon, Nico would be starting to hurt the itch would
start deep inside him and continually get worse until Dominic had flooded his
channel once more. He was kicking himself after he woke this morning and
realised what he had done. His thoughtlessness was going to cause his mate’s
body to ache over the next two days as the three day cycle settled.
His kind had
strict rules on mating and here he had already broken two of them. One: loving
someone of the same sex, and two: mating without telling his partner what was
about to happen to them. Dominic just hoped he could convince Nico to forgive
him for what he had done.
Crimson thought
he deserved what he got, and was well and truly pissed off with him for his
deceit. No matter how much he tried to explain he hadn’t even realised he was going
to claim Nico before talking to him did nothing to calm the situation down
any. The others had been of no help mainly
because they were stunned to find out he wasn’t fully human, or human at all.
The only one who didn’t seem surprised was Raevyn and he was keeping quiet;
more than likely not willing to go against Crimson and earning his mates wrath.
With a heavy
heart he and the others made their way toward the castle. The kings were
waiting for them. Dominic wanted to search out Nico, but Raevyn had told him Nico
was safe for the moment and needed time. His head told him he was duty bound to
present himself in the kings court, but his heart wanted to tell them all to go
to hell. His mate was out there somewhere hurting because of him.
Reluctantly he
followed Raevyn into the great hall where the two kings and their consorts presided
over the gathered throng. Shame filled him as he bowed his head, knowing he had
failed in the mission King Quinlan had set upon him.
“Sire,” he
knelt before the dais upon which the kings sat. “I regret to inform you that
Simian was not located.”
“Get off the
floor.” Quinlan growled. “You bow before no one.”
Snapping his
head up he stared at his king in astonishment, “Sire?”
What the fuck was going on?
