Haven 4: Back Roads (7 page)

“That’s it.” Before Bannon could stop him, Galen jumped to his feet, bent his knees, and launched himself off the bed to land on Raven’s back. “I’ll show you feisty, you overgrown, pig-for-brains, egotistical asshole!” Both hands fisted in Raven’s hair, trying to rip it out by the roots.

“Galen!” Bannon jumped off the bed and began jerking on Galen, trying to pull him off Raven’s back.

Galen refused to give up his hold, though. He might not be big, and he might not have an important job around the coven, but he was a hell of a lot more than Bannon Murphy’s mate. He was gaining a little too much pleasure in Raven’s shouts of pain, but whatever. The vampire totally deserved it. “Who’s in charge now, Raven? Huh?” Bannon was still trying halfheartedly to pry Galen off, but it wasn’t going well since he had to continuously stop and catch his breath from laughing so hard.

“Dude, I was just playing around. You’re ripping my fucking hair out.”

“Who’s in charge, Raven?”

“You, okay? You can be whatever you want to be if you’ll just get the hell off of me.”

It wasn’t exactly what Galen wanted to hear, but he doubted he’d get any more. Untangling his fingers from Raven’s hair, he slid down the Enforcer’s back and stood calmly beside Bannon as Raven spun around to face him.

“Dude, I was just having some fun. I don’t really believe any of that shit.” Raven rubbed at the back of his head and winced. “You’re scrappy, and you’ve got balls the size of Canada. I’ll definitely give you that much.”

Galen gave him a winsome smile as he slipped his hand into Bannon’s. “Thanks. It was kind of fun.”

“Aye, ya are a fierce warrior.” Bannon’s arms came around him and lifted him off his feet so that he had to scramble for purchase on the man’s broad shoulders.

Laughing like a loon, Galen could barely believe the drastic upward spiral his mood and outlook had taken in a mere twenty-four hours. And it was all because of the man in his arms—because Bannon had never given up on him. “Thank you,” he whispered, rubbing their noses together.

“You’re welcome, of course, but what am I bein’ thanked for, if I might ask?”

“For being so good to me.” Galen pecked at Bannon’s lips.

“Because you let me fight my own battles, but you still want to take care of me.” He kissed him again. “And because you’re going to let me come along to find Torren’s brothers.” His tongue darted out, tickling the seam of Bannon’s lips, and they both groaned when the shifter opened to allow him entrance.

Before he could get too into it, though, Raven cleared his throat to interrupt them. Groaning for an entirely different reason, Galen eased away from Bannon’s mouth and turned his head to glare at Raven.

“What?”

“There is a reason I came in here, and it wasn’t to have a psychotic chipmunk jump on my back and try to scalp me.” Galen smirked with satisfaction. “See, you experienced something new. You’re welcome.”

Raven snorted, and Bannon chuckled as he set Galen on his feet.

“Okay, so then why are ya here?”

“Torren called. He wants us on a plane yesterday. Seriously, man, he’s freakin’ frothing at the mouth.”

“And Galen?”

Galen didn’t appreciate being talked about like he wasn’t there, but he wanted information too much to call Bannon on his rudeness.

Raven nodded slowly. “Yeah, they want him to go. If you won’t agree to take him, they have three other Enforcers lined up to accompany him.”

“What?” Galen gripped Bannon’s hand and looked up at him pleadingly. “Please, Bannon. I don’t want to go with someone I don’t know. I can help. Just take me!”

“Even Layke thinks it’s a good idea, man. We can trust him. He wouldn’t put Galen in danger unless he had a damn good reason for doing it.” Raven huffed and shoved a hand through his blond hair.

“We all think you should claim Galen as well, myself included.”

“No,” Bannon said flatly as his face mottled in anger.

Seeing his opportunity to find out why everyone was so gung ho about Bannon claiming him, Galen shifted his attention to Raven and smiled innocently. “Why do you think it’s a good idea? Why is it so important, Raven?”

“Both of your powers will be stronger. You’ll be able to communicate telepathically, and not just in dreams. I get the feeling there’s something Torren still isn’t telling us, and I think we can use all the advantage we can get. This would help.” Galen stared down at his bare feet while he thought it over. If something were to happen, and they became separated, he’d still have a link to Bannon. That could definitely come in handy. Going on this assignment was probably one of the stupidest things he’d ever do. He might as well go big or stay home.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Bannon growled, looking less than thrilled by the turn of events. “Galen, ya don’t know what you’re sayin’. You’re not ready for this.”

“It’s just a little bite. It’s not a big deal, Bannon.” He was human.

What could possibly happen to him by letting Bannon claim him?

He’d get a little bite on the neck, and things would go on as they always had been.

“It’s not a big deal,” Bannon echoed in a whisper. “That’s only provin’ how
not
ready ya are for this.” Galen shrugged. “You bite me, we get some juiced up, freaky powers, and then maybe save some lives. It doesn’t really change anything between us.”

That had apparently been the wrong thing to say. Bannon looked like Galen had slapped him in the face with a two-by-four. Then he did something completely baffling and unexpected. He released Galen’s hand and left. He just fucking left.

Even Raven looked upset for some reason. “What did I do?”

“Be ready to go in an hour. Pack light but warm.” Then Raven disappeared out the door as well.

Standing rooted to the spot, Galen’s eyes began to itch and his throat burned uncomfortably. He didn’t know what he’d done to upset the Enforcers so much, especially Bannon. Isn’t that what the man wanted? Wasn’t this entire courting about finally claiming Galen?

Feeling confused, hurt, and lonelier than ever, Galen shuffled out of his room and down the hall to find Kendall. His friend couldn’t fix his problems for him, but maybe he’d have something Galen could borrow to pack his stuff in for the trip. That was, if they even let him go now.

He wished he knew a shifter he could talk to about what had happened. Why the hell had Bannon looked like Galen had ripped his heart out and stomped on it? He’d never seen the Irishman looking so—“Malakai!”

Altering his route, Galen darted toward the staircase, anxious to find the one person who could help him.

Bannon didn’t have a clue where he was going. He just needed to get away and clear his head before he said something he regretted. It really wasn’t Galen’s fault. The man knew very little about their world. After the way his last “mate” had discarded him so ruthlessly, he couldn’t know how hurtful his words had been.

Once he’d descended the stairs, he found himself wandering the corridors with no particular destination in mind. Maybe he could talk to Flynn. Of all the Murphy brothers, Flynn was the only one mated.

Perhaps he’d have some advice.

Turning on his heels, he hurried back the way he’d come, heading for the hallway on the other side of the massive staircase. Just as he reached the landing, hurried footsteps caught his attention, and he looked up to find Galen practically falling down the steps in his haste.

“Galen!”

He’d only wanted to warn his mate to slow down, but his voice startled the man, and Galen tripped, letting out a little yelp as his body arched forward and fell through the air toward Bannon. Fear and panic lodged in his heart, propelling him forward faster than he believed he was capable of moving.

Leaping up four steps in one bound, Bannon caught Galen in his arms and stumbled back into the wall, barely preventing himself from falling as well. Clutching the smaller man to his chest, Bannon closed his eyes and willed his heart rate to return to a less dangerous rhythm.

“Are ya tryin’ to give me heart failure?”

“Sorry,” Galen mumbled, but he made no effort to move out of Bannon’s embrace. “I’m sorry for everything. I don’t know what I did wrong. Just tell me, please.”

“Ah, darlin’, I’m not angry with ya. A bit hurt I’m thinkin’, but never angry.”

Galen tilted his head back on his shoulders to peer up at Bannon with shimmering brown eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I want to make it right, but I can’t if you won’t tell me what I did wrong.”

“Let us find a seat, and I’ll explain the best I know how.” After making sure Galen was steady on his feet, Bannon released him and motioned for him to lead the way to the sitting room. “Where were ya goin’ in such a hurry?”

“To talk to Malakai,” Galen answered as he eased down onto the leather sofa. His cheeks flamed, and he ducked his head as he continued. “I wanted to know more about shifters, but I don’t really know Flynn or Boston that well. Since Malakai is mated to them, I thought he might be able to answer some questions.” Bannon chuckled softly as he plopped down beside his mate. It seemed they’d both had the same idea. “Why would ya not just ask me, Galen? Ya know I’ll tell ya anything you’re wantin’ to know.”

“I didn’t know where you went.” Galen shrugged and worried his bottom lip between his teeth. “You seemed pretty pissed off, too. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to talk to me.”

“C’mere.” Bannon held out one arm and waited for Galen to settle in closer to his side. “Even when I’m angry, ya can always ask me anything. I’d never hurt ya, Galen. Ya have my word on that.”

“I know,” Galen whispered in response. “Can you please just tell me what I did? Was it about the mating thing? Do you not want to claim me?”

“Aye, I’m wantin’ to claim ya so everyone knows you’re mine.

It’s not somethin’ I’m takin’ lightly, though. When you’re tellin’ me it’s no big deal, well, you’re wrong. It’s probably the biggest decision of my life.”

Galen’s head snapped up, and his eyes went wide. “Oh, no, no, no. Bannon, I didn’t mean it like that. I swear I didn’t!” He squirmed around until he was on his knees and pushed up until they were eye to eye. His soft, petite hands gripped Bannon’s cheeks, and he leaned in close, so close that the tips of their noses touched. “I wasn’t thinking when I said that stuff, but that doesn’t mean that I take this lightly.” He heard Galen’s words, but this close, the only thing Bannon could think about was closing the short distance between them and crushing Galen to his mouth. His mate’s warm breath fanned over his face, and the feel of his hands on Bannon’s skin set his body on fire.

The more time he spent with the man, the harder it became to resist him.

“Do I love you? I think I might, but I don’t know for sure. This is all so new to me. Do I want you to claim me? Yes and no. I don’t know what all that entails, but I do know that if it means even the slightest chance of keeping you safe, then that’s what I want.”

“And do ya want nothin’ for yourself?” Bannon skimmed his fingertips along the satiny smooth column of Galen’s throat. “Tell me what ya want, Galen Charles.”

A little smile flittered over his mouth, and Galen brushed their lips together. “I want you, Bannon. I know that much. Everything that comes with it is where I keep getting hung up.” The smile disappeared, and he eased back on his heels. “When I said it was no big deal…” He trailed off and shook his head slowly. “I…I know I want to be with you, and so I figure that means I’ll want you to claim me some day.”

He stopped again, and his brow furrowed into a shallow
V
. He seemed to be having trouble finding the words for what he was trying to say. Taking one of his mate’s hands, Bannon toyed with the slim fingers as he waited patiently for Galen to work through his thoughts.

“I guess I just figured that if you claimed me, we’d get some extra mojo or whatever you want to call it, increase our chances of finding Torren’s brothers and not getting hurt in the process, but mostly things would go on as usual. I’m just a human, Bannon. It’s not a big deal if you claim me, because it doesn’t mean anything to me. Not that it’s unimportant, but I’ll still be the same as before.” His chin dropped to his chest, and he moaned pathetically. “I’m not explaining right.”

Bannon understood what Galen was trying to say. The problem, however, was that the little guy was wrong. He definitely wasn’t
just
anything. Even if he’d been completely human there was so much more to him than “just.”

“Did Dallas Zeppler never explain things to ya? Do ya not understand what being mated to a shifter means?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Galen peeked up, looking so sweet and innocent as one light brown lock fell over his left eye.

“Why are the rules the same for me?”

“Because
you
are the same as me. Ya might not be a Thoroughbred, but ya definitely be a shifter. Don’t ya remember? As I recall, it’s been one of your major complaints.”

“I don’t complain.” Galen lifted his head and grinned impishly.

“You mean the part where you think that I’m part shifter? Let’s suppose that you’re right. What does that mean for me?”

“Well, once I claim ya, it means a lot of things. It means you’ll not be alone ever, and that you’ll always have someone to take care of ya.”

“I don’t need a babysitter, Bannon,” Galen interrupted with a huff.

“Ah, but are ya needin’ someone to love ya? What would ya say to havin’ someone who always puts ya first? I’ll never stray.” Bannon punctuated his vow by inching closer to his mate. “I’ll never be unfaithful.” A little closer, and he was practically leaning over Galen.

“I’ll never break a promise or let ya down. From now until forever, you’ll be my whole world—my reason for livin’.” By the time he’d finished speaking, Galen’s back was pressed into the cushions, and he stared up with wide eyes as Bannon hovered over him. With one hand braced on the sofa beside Galen’s head, Bannon slowly lowered until their mouths were just a breath away from one another. “All those things ya have been missin’, ya won’t miss ’em anymore. You’ll never want for anything.” Galen swallowed audibly and licked at his lips. “That sounds perfect, but why do I feel like there’s more? What aren’t you telling me?”