The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion (17 page)

started to pass. Finally, Angel broke away from his embrace and

wiped his eyes. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I want to check on

Alexis and Sara.”

Clark took his mate in his arms, unwilling to allow Angel to make

the least bit of effort. As they left the room, Clark pressed another kiss to Angel’s forehead. Whatever happened from now on, they could deal

with it, as long as they were together.

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Epilogue

“So, when are you going to tell Corbin how you feel?”

Alexis nibbled at his salad, chewing it slowly as he analyzed

Layton’s face. In turn, Angel watched his friend, wondering for the nth time that day what went on in the incubus’s head.

Alexis had suffered extensive burns on the right side of his face

and upper body. By miracle, his eye had survived, perhaps because at the last moment, the incubus seemed to have shielded it. But his

cheek, arm, and chest had taken the brunt of the injury.

Angel and Sara had been wounded as well, albeit with less

severity. But the greatest difference was that their burns had healed, whereas Alexis’s had not. Apparently, incubi didn’t have those kinds of abilities, or at least Alexis didn’t. Medical treatment had helped Alexis heal a good part of the destroyed skin, but the scar was still there. From what Angel had heard, doctors were optimistic that, in

time and with more surgical procedures, Alexis would regain his

previous good looks.

For the moment, though, Alexis had let his hair grow until it

covered the right side of his face. He seemed to be taking the whole thing far better than Angel had expected. It worried Angel because he suspected it was all a mask, and deep inside, Alexis was suffering

deeply. At least his friends had integrated Alexis into their group.

Beyond that, Angel couldn’t do much else, not until the incubus chose to open up.

It was quite funny to hear Alexis and Layton banter like they were

old pals, but at the same time, it just added to Angel’s concern. If
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Layton realized the situation, he didn’t show in. Instead, he offered his customary “shut up.”

“So, what are you and Clark doing after graduation?” Alexis

suddenly asked.

Angel was startled at the question. “That’s still a year away,” he

replied hesitantly.

Truth be told, he and Clark had been discussing leaving. It was

just Angel’s concern for Alexis, as well as their reluctance to abandon their family and friends, that kept them from doing so.

Alexis just arched a brow. “But surely you’ve got an idea.”

Angel fidgeted uncomfortably and shared a look with his mate.

Clark smiled at him and squeezed his hand under the table. “We were

thinking of going to Africa.”

“Africa?” Reed repeated, seemingly taken aback.

Angel nodded. “Our kind is originally from there, and we want to

reach out to shape-shifters that might live in the wild. You know, like Principal Huitzilin’s clan.”

“There are still so many things we don’t know, so many places we

haven’t explored,” Clark added. “Shape-shifters live separated from

one another. We have to be united if we can hope to survive.”

Alexis beamed at them. “I agree.” He took a sip of his juice then

said, “I was talking to my siblings the other day. They might come to the Academy as well.”

“That’s excellent news,” Isaac offered. He was a permanent fixture

at their table these days and had managed to adapt quite easily in

Academy life. “I didn’t think they would agree after what happened.”

Alexis shrugged, but Angel could see the tension in his friend’s

shoulders. “We can’t let that man win.”

That man, the skin-walker who’d been behind Leiland Travis’s

murder, as well as the one of Mr. Ruiz. The teacher’s body had been

discovered after a careful scouring of the lands around the Academy, revealing that the shifter had killed then replaced Ruiz. They still didn’t know if the skin-walker had acted on his own or had allies

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guiding his actions. He was dead now, and he’d taken whatever

secrets he might have held to his fiery grave. Since skin-walkers could not borrow the powers of the people they impersonated, the automatic consequence was that he had merely instigated Jonathan into the

killing, but not forced anything Jonathan had not wanted to do. For

this reason, Jonathan had also received a severe punishment and

would be imprisoned for many years, away from all the people he’d

hurt and lied to. The cheetahs had angrily demanded a death sentence, but many shifters were unwilling to fall back on their previous bloody habits, knowing that the issue could escalate should Jonathan become a martyr. In the end, much to everyone’s relief, Leiland’s family had agreed to the original conditions.

But some things could not be changed, like Jonathan’s revelation

of Angel and Clark’s relationship. With what had happened, the

importance of their mating had faded, but once the excitement over

the skin-walker’s capture began to die down, Angel and Clark had to

face the outcome of that knowledge.

Morgan squeezed his lover’s shoulder. “Let’s not talk about that

anymore,” he said. “What about the holidays? What are you guys

doing then?”

“We’re going home,” Melanie said.

“So am I,” Reed offered. The words brought to mind the ongoing

mystery behind Reed’s frequent visits to the pack. Angel still hadn’t figured it out, and he wondered what Reed kept hiding from him.

Often times, he felt guilty for not paying as much attention as he

should to his closest friend. He hoped one of these days Reed would

take a chance and trust him.

“We haven’t decided yet,” Clark answered. Angel wouldn’t refuse

going home, too, but at the same time, he and Clark were considering looking into some of their future options. It was actually quite funny that Alexis had asked them about it now, when they were both so

wrapped up in it. The incubus was truly perceptive in some things.

Truth be told, Angel felt torn. A part of him would have loved nothing
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more but to elope with Clark, but another wouldn’t let him abandon

his loved ones.

The meal ended with a little more chatting, and after that, they all went their separate ways. Angel watched Alexis go with a heavy heart.

The incubus had saved his life, but Angel could do nothing to save

him.

“He has Morgan,” Clark said. “Morgan will take good care of

him.”

The thought soothed Angel since, indeed, Morgan and Alexis were

inseparable lately. “You’re right,” he told his mate. Besides, with so much happening with their loved ones, he and Clark had very little

time for themselves.

Hand in hand, they headed back to the dorm. Some of the other

students had classes, but not the two of them. Angel was looking

forward to an afternoon spent together.

Unfortunately, as they reached their room, they found a poster

taped on their door. Angel didn’t even get to see what was written

beyond the “fuck off” before Clark ripped it off.

“They shouldn’t be able to get in here,” Clark said angrily. “There

are guards at the doors.”

Angel sighed and rubbed his eyes. Apparently, some of the guards

didn’t mind turning a blind eye against the pranks, not if these deeds were directed at two men they considered in an anomalous

relationship.

“This sucks.” Angel sighed. “We’re just out of a bad situation with

the skin-walker, and now we have to face prejudice as well.”

Clark opened the door to their room and together, they walked

inside. “Perhaps we should take a holiday. Away from it all. Just leave everything behind, take time for the two of us.”

Angel plopped down on their bed and buried his face in his hands.

“But classes end in two weeks, Clark.”

“Whatever.” Clark shrugged. “I’ve had it with this. Pack your

bags, Angel. We’re going to Africa.”

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* * * *

A few weeks later, Angel found himself in a small cottage in

Tanzania. It had taken longer than expected to make arrangements for a living space, and in the end, they’d chosen not to leave at once.

Angel’s concern for his friends kept him from packing up and leaving, at least until the holiday. But now, they were finally here, in the wild.

It wasn’t exactly the Ritz, but Angel liked it. He felt free, free of the constraints he’d always sensed ever since becoming old enough to

realize it. For the first time, he could openly show affection toward Clark without fearing they would receive ugly glances or insults. He could go for long walks with his mate and not worry about prejudice, killers, or the entire world for that matter.

It was kind of selfish of him, but Angel needed this time alone

with his mate, to recover. Death somehow meant so much more now

that he had a mate, and truly, they hadn’t even gotten to know each

other as lovers before the whole business with the skin-walker started.

Of course, the fact that they were far away from civilizations also

had its disadvantages. One of them was that Clark had to go to a good distance away for supplies. Angel would have gone with him, but they were still new around here and didn’t know how the locals would take an openly gay couple.

Thoughtful, Angel stepped outside of the cottage and sat down on

the grass. The sun’s hot rays caressed his skin, and Angel closed his eyes, simply taking in the heat. He wondered if they could find other shape-shifters around. Quite frankly, Angel didn’t feel ready to face such a challenge. He just wanted to be with his mate. The rest would follow, in time.

Angel imagined his mate’s face, his strong arms and his full lips.

He thought about Clark’s amber eyes and the way the lion kissed him.

He imagined Clark pounding his ass, filling him with that thick prick of his.

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“You little minx,”
Clark’s voice said in his mind.
“You should be a
fox, not a gazelle.”

Angel laughed to himself and relaxed, the murmur of Clark’s

words a comforting caress. He must have fallen asleep because the

next thing he knew, a shadow blocked the sun’s rays. Angel opened

his eyes and saw his mate looming over him, an amused smile on his

handsome face.

“You really look like an angel when you’re asleep like that.”

Angel’s face heated, but he managed to stammer a coy reply,

“Only when I’m asleep?”

Clark laughed and plopped down on the grass next to him. For a

few moments, Angel didn’t know what his mate would do. Then, out

of the blue, Clark pounced on him, covering Angel’s smaller body

with his own. His eyes were molten as they took in Angel’s face.

“Come here, my angel.”

There were no words after that. Clark crushed his mouth to

Angel’s, his tongue licking across the seam of Angel’s lips. Angel

gladly opened for his mate, Clark’s taste and scent assaulting his

senses.

Clark ravished him, exploring his palate, taking and giving like

only he could. He seemed hungry, starving for Angel, and the lion’s

desire was like a drug for Angel. He parted his legs, accommodating

his mate’s body, needing more, aching for Clark’s possession.

Clark broke the kiss and briefly met Angel’s gaze. Angel wouldn’t

have thought it possible, but Clark’s eyes seemed even more heated.

Angel thought that he might melt simply because of that flame.

Clark’s fingers skillfully undid the button of Angel’s shirt and

released him from the material. The lion caressed Angel’s skin with

both greed and gentleness. Every touch made fire flow through

Angel’s veins. He felt like he’d fallen into a dream, a dream that was too beautiful to be true.

Sometimes, it was hard to believe that just a month or so ago,

Angel had been struggling with his emotions, trying to hide what he

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felt for the man who’d been his brother for years. He’s been such a

fool. Emotions like these could not be hidden. They were too

powerful, and Angel couldn’t have hoped to mask them, especially not from Clark, who knew him so well.

By some miracle, Clark felt the same, though, and every soft kiss

and soothing stroke confirmed it. Clark’s mouth pressed featherlight pecks over Angel’s face then went lower down to his neck. He licked

down Angel’s chest until he reached Angel’s nipples. The little nubs peaked, as if demanding attention, and Clark didn’t delay in providing what was asked for. He took the bits of flesh in his mouth, suckling lightly and occasionally even applying a hint of fang. Angel bleat-moaned and arched against his mate, his entire body blazing and

demanding Clark’s invasion.

Clark’s hands went to Angel’s pants and worked them open.

Angel’s erection sprung free, rubbing against the material of Clark’s jeans. The friction just added to the sensation, and Angel suddenly

couldn’t take it anymore.

“Clothes. Off,” he told his mate. He grabbed for Clark’s T-shirt

and pulled at it with a strength born out of desperation. Even if

gazelles weren’t the strongest shifters around, the cloth ripped. Clark stopped his light suction on Angel’s nipples, and Angel could feel his mate’s arousal and surprise. Even if he’d have liked to protest at his mate’s pause, he knew Clark could sense his desires. Indeed, moments later, the lion ripped off his jeans and took care of Angel’s pants and shoes as well. Angel almost felt bad about the loss of the denim