More Than Pride (8 page)

The female lion shifted into human form and held out her hands. “I’ll carry him.”

Shrugging, Evin handed the animal over. There was really only one cat he cared about.

He might want Chester’s brother to make it but he needed Chester to be okay.

A truck screeched into the gravel driveway with Andrew at the wheel. The human slid out of the vehicle with a syringe in his hand. “I think this should help.”

Approaching the cat, he stopped when Tia hissed at him.

“You do that again, kitty, and I’ll rip out your whiskers,” Marlen warned.

“And I’ll help him,” Chen chimed in.

The two wrens looked like they were going to rip the lion shifter apart.

“Hey, it’s all right. She’s just being protective.” Andrew made soothing noises at the two bird shifters then addressed Tia. “This is to counteract the poison in his system.”
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Tia gave him a suspicious glare but obligingly held out the feline.

Andrew carefully inserted the needle into the cat’s shoulder and pushed the plunger.

“It will be a while before it takes effect,” he warned.

“Okay. I’ll hold him in the car,” Tia insisted.

“Let’s go with Andrew—we’ll get to Chester faster.” The extended cab truck fitted Dillon, Evin, Tia with Garfield, and Andrew. The wrens turned back into their small bird forms so they could travel with everyone else. The rest of the lions could follow in their own vehicles after they’d cleaned up the cabin. They needed to get back to Chester.

* * * *

Chester floated on a sea of sensation. His stomach debated on rebelling and becoming seasick but a few swallows kept the bile down. He was dying. He knew it. Luckily, it appeared to be a relatively painless endeavour. He thought of his mates and lost some of his drifting feeling. He hoped they were happy together and wouldn’t mourn him for too long.

“Chester, wake the fuck up,” someone growled.

Dillon?

Forcing his eyes open, Chester looked up into the concerned expressions of his mates.

Damn they were gorgeous.

“There you are.” Dillon’s smile made him blink.

“What happened?”

“We found the antidote. Your directions were perfect.”

A flush of pride swept through Chester. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had told him they were pleased with something he had done outside of the bedroom.

“Thanks. Am I cured?”

“We think so.”

Chester turned his head to face Evin.

The owl shifter shrugged. “We won’t know for certain until Andrew comes and tests whether or not the poison has left your system.”

“What about Garfield?” He almost hated to ask.
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“We got to him in time. We learned it wasn’t that you were allergic to the poison—they just gave the wrong dosage for your shifter size. Andrew was able to calculate the correct amount of antidote since he originally created it.”

Chester opened his mouth to ask questions but decided he didn’t want to know. “When can I see him?”

“It might be a while.” Dillon grinned. “That depends on when Tia is willing to release him. She’s kind of fixated right now. I think they might be mates.”

“Really? Two cats mating with two lions? That’s so strange.” Chester hoped the lion did turn out to be mates with his brother. Garfield needed something good in his life and he’d be part of the same pride as Chester. That made him wonder… “Are we joining the pride?” He didn’t want to take away Evin’s choices.

Evin nodded. “I’m not going back to my brother. He made his own choices. While you were sleeping, at least half of the owls in the aviary arrived here, asking for sanctuary. Talan has put them on temporary status. They’re allowed to sleep on the lands but aren’t allowed in the pack house. We can’t trust yet that none of them are working for Tilden. If they want to stay here they’ll have to earn their place in the pack. There is talk they might buy some land from Talan and start their own aviary.”

“Any news about your brother?” Chester asked Evin.

“Not yet.” Evin shrugged as if the issue didn’t bother him. “We’re keeping a careful watch on all the newcomers and the wrens are keeping an ear to the ground about Tilden.

Right now all we can do is wait.”

“And mark you as ours,” Dillon added.

“Andrew said if you have the energy to shift it might heal you faster.”

“I-I can try.” He didn’t really want to shift, not when his stomach swirled like a whirlwind, but to cure the poison and claim his mates he’d put up with the discomfort.

Closing his eyes, Chester concentrated on his cat self—changing his two hands to paws, imagining his long elegant whiskers and swishy tail.

“
Meow
.”

“Who’s a pretty kitty?” Dillon scratched Chester’s chin with his long fingers. “Now turn back into my beautiful boy.”

Chester meowed at the lack of petting.
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“Change.” Dillon’s voice didn’t allow for misunderstanding.

Chester focused on his human half. He shivered when the air hit his bare skin. “I miss the fur,” he complained.

“I know, babe.” Dillon gave him a sympathetic smile.

Andrew walked into the bedroom as if on cue. The older man appeared frazzled by the young men dogging his heels.

“You will be the perfect mate,” Marlen said.

“We will rely on each other,” Chen piped up.

“No.” Andrew approached Chester and he could see the man pull his professional cloak back on. “You are looking better. Would you mind if I took some blood?”

Chester offered his arm.

With quick efficient motions, the scientist filled a vial from Chester’s arm. As Chester watched, Andrew took another tube from his pocket and unscrewed the cap that had a dropper inside. Opening the blood vial, he put two drops from the new container into the blood vial. The contents turned a brilliant yellow, like fingerpaint.

“What does that mean?” Chester asked.

Andrew patted Chester on the shoulder. “It means the poison is mostly out of your system. There are a few veins of red, which means there are traces, but definitely not enough to affect your mates.”

“Thank you, Andrew.” Dillon wrapped an arm around the scientist, which he quickly removed when angry chirps filled the air. “Sorry, guys.”

Chen slid his hand to the base of Andrew’s back and Marlen grabbed his arm.

Sandwiched between the wrens, there was no chance of escape.

“I kind of feel sorry for that guy. He has no idea what he’s in for,” Evin said, shaking his head.

“Yeah, imagine having to deal with two mates.” Dillon made a scoffing sound before the three of them burst out laughing.

“You heard what the doctor said—it’s time to claim me.” Chester gave his mates a come-hither look.
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“Well, who am I to argue with a doctor’s orders?” Dillon stripped off his clothes and crawled onto the bed with sexy feline grace while Evin removed his clothes quickly and efficiently. To Chester what was important was that they were naked.

Surrounded by warm, bare skin, Chester’s cock rose to greet his mates. Rubbing against Dillon in the front, he tilted his hips to offer his ass to Evin. Since Dillon had already fucked him once, it was only fair to let the owl shifter go next.

“Fuck him, Evin. He’s so beautiful when he needs.”

Chester nodded. Hell, he’d agree to anything if it involved these two sexy men mating with him for life. He must’ve been very good in his previous existence because his karma rocked.

“Get me the lube,” Evin demanded.

Chester moaned when Dillon kissed Evin as if his life depended on it.

When the two men broke apart, Dillon’s eyes were hazy with lust and Evin licked his lips as if trying to savour Dillon’s taste.

Dillon handed over the familiar tube to Evin.

“Thanks.” Another kiss was exchanged.

“Now! I want one of you in me now!” Chester demanded. Before, he’d wanted Evin, but now he’d take either of them as long as one of them fucked him soon.

“Patience, kitten,” Evin said absently as he lubed up his fingers and slid them behind Chester’s balls. First one finger, then two. The owl shifter didn’t give Chester much time to adjust but Chester’s body didn’t mind… It stretched and adjusted for the invasion with wholehearted enthusiasm.

“I’m ready,” Chester said in case Evin had missed the obvious.

“I want you to suck Dillon while I fuck you,” Evan said. “When we’re together, no one gets left out.”

Chester licked his lips at the sight of Dillon’s cock. The head had a shiny sheen as a dab of pre-cum dripped from the bright pink head.

“Scoot up,” Chester insisted.

Dillon obliged. Evin moved Chester to allow Dillon to climb up and lean against the pillows. When everyone was aligned to his satisfaction, Evin released Chester.
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Chester eyed his treat with a soft purr. Now that he didn’t have to worry about infecting his mates, he was going to enjoy his claiming. Wrapping his lips around the damp head of Dillon’s cock, Chester made sure to have good suction. He gripped the base of Dillon’s shaft with his fist to steady it as he lapped and gently nibbled on the head. “I love a good cock in the morning,” he sighed.

“It’s afternoon,” Evin said with amusement.

“Whatever.” Chester didn’t really care what time it was as long as he had Dillon right where he wanted him and Evin almost there. “Fuck me!” he demanded.

“You’re a bossy little thing.” Evin chuckled.

“I’m not little.” At five feet ten, Chester thought of himself as average height—what was medium to tall in the human world was smaller in the shifter realm. Both of his mates were much taller and bigger than him. Even Evin, who had been starved and was gangly, still towered over him and when he gained a little weight he would definitely be bigger.

Chester didn’t mind at all but he wouldn’t let them call him little like he was a child trying to get to the grown-ups’ table.

“How about you’re just bossy, then?” Evin kissed Chester before he could say anything else and he forgot what he wanted to argue about. Chester’s lust-filled mind couldn’t process any thoughts, and it didn’t improve when Evin turned Chester’s head and his lips were then taken by Dillon.

Oh…

So wonderful.

Heat poured down his spine and the base of his back itched where his tail grew. His kitty half urged Chester to let go and allow him to come out and play. Chester put a firm lid on kitty’s needs. To mate with his lovers, he needed to stay in his human form.

Pulling away from Dillon’s distracting lips, Chester slid his lips down Dillon’s neck to nip at the jugular, then travelled towards Dillon’s chest where he bit a taunting nipple. He smiled at the sudden inhalation of breath and the stillness of the lion. Someone liked nipple play. He filed that information away for later. Right now he was interested in the grand prize.

Dillon’s cock waved at Chester as if trying to seek his attention. “Don’t worry, you beauty, I haven’t forgotten you.”
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It bobbed even more from Dillon’s laughter.

Chester kept his grip gentle as he stopped the movement so he could lick at the tip.

“Mmm,” he hummed in satisfaction. None of his other encounters had ever tasted as good as his lion shifter. He didn’t know if being mates made the difference but he’d definitely have to check Evin’s flavour later.

Eagerly lapping up Dillon’s pre-cum, he gasped when cold lube entered his ass. He hadn’t forgotten Evin, exactly, but he’d been distracted.

Evin laughed. “Forgot you were surrounded, didn’t you?”

He could feel the blush staining his cheeks but he wouldn’t give in. “Hush and fuck me,” he grumbled.

“Yes, your highness,” Evin said.

Chester turned his head to look at Evin over his shoulder. “Now that’s the proper attitude.” He got a smack on the ass for his sassy response. His cock, surprisingly, became harder.

“Oooh, I think he likes that, Evin,” Dillon purred.

“Hmm. I’ll spank you later. Right now I need to be inside your ass more than I need air.

Come on, honey…relax and let me inside.”

The need in Evin’s voice had Chester leaning towards Dillon and spreading his legs to give his lover better access.

Evin pushed even more lube inside Chester’s body.

“Enough! Fuck me already!”

Despite his big words, Chester still gasped when Evin pushed inside. However, the initial bite quickly faded as Evin expertly pegged Chester’s prostate. He let out a strangled scream as his lover pounded into him with perfect finesse.

“Right there, oh yes, there.” Chester babbled.

A strong hand wrapped around his cock. Chester blinked to focus on this new experience. Dillon had slid down so he could reach Chester’s cock. For a second Chester felt a flash of guilt over forgetting about Dillon’s blowjob, then his mate did a twisty thing with his hand and Chester damn near forgot to breathe.

“Give it up, honey,” Dillon rumbled.
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Evin gave another perfect shove inside him and, with a gasp, Chester spilled all over Dillon’s hand. Before he had a chance to enjoy the warm, cosy aftermath, a painful slash to his neck made him cry out.

“Shhh, babe… Evin’s marking you,” Dillon soothed, lapping at the wound.

The pain went from sharp, to dull, to a warm sensation that poured down his spine and pulled purrs from his throat.

“You and Dillon can claim me later when you claim each other,” Evin promised.

Chester nodded. He had a lot of things to do tomorrow. Check in on his brother, bond with his mates, and, although he didn’t feel invested in the owl and lion battle, it affected Evin so he’d have to do what he could to support his lover.

“Tomorrow,” Evin whispered in his ear. “We’ll deal with everything tomorrow.”

Chester smiled. That sounded like a great idea.

Coming Soon from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Robert’s Rancher

Amber Kell

Robert circled the spoon inside his coffee cup, watching the cream swirl. Depression sat like a heavy stone on his chest. How had his life been reduced to this? By all standards, people would consider him successful. Why couldn’t he find the perfect guy? Hell, his imaginary partner didn’t even have to be perfect—he just had to not want Robert’s money.