White Paws and a Dream

Midnight Matings

White Paws and a Dream The Gathering is called. The spell is cast. There is no escaping the Midnight Matings. When Ifan Vashnikov is summoned to the Great Gathering and learns of the plan set up by UPAC, he decides he'd rather go feral than be forced to take a mate. Before he can voice his decision to the elders, he finds himself mated. But his mating is not the usual mating. For one, he didn't drink the spiked champagne like everyone else, so he isn't in heat. Two, his mate is being protected for his own safety. Misha is a dreamwalker, the most powerful dreamwalker in over a thousand years. Because of that, he is being hunted. People want to use his powers for evil. Misha just wants to settle down somewhere quiet with his dream mate. When he's rescued and taken to the UPAC headquarters, he finally meets the man he has been sharing dreams with for over a year—the man he fell in love with—but Ifan doesn't seem to know him. When danger comes, Misha doesn't know whether to turn to Ifan or run for his life. Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 36,322 words

WHITE PAWS AND A DREAM Midnight Matings

Stormy Glenn

EROTIC ROMANCE MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

WHITE PAWS AND A DREAM Copyright © 2011 by Stormy Glenn E-book ISBN: 1-61034-710-2 First E-book Publication: August 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. 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.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of White Paws and a Dream by Stormy Glenn from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Stormy Glenn’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Glenn’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

WHITE PAWS AND A DREAM Midnight Matings STORMY GLENN Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 “Welcome. I am Elder Burke.” The elder paused as if waiting for something. “I want to thank you all for being here tonight. This is a momentous occasion for us. It’s been twenty-five years since the Great War between the paranormals ended, taking a large portion of our population from us.” The silence was deafening in the large room, which was strange considering how many people stood there listening. Still, when the elder paused in his speech, not a sound could be heard. “I would like you all to drink a toast with me in memory of those we lost.” The elder held up his champagne glass and waited until everyone in the crowd held their own glass. “May we never forget them.” Ifan Vashnikov watched the elder swallow everything in his glass then looked out over the crowd. He seemed to be watching each member of the paranormal community finish theirs off. After a moment, he set his glass down on a nearby table and turned back to the crowd, clasping his hands behind him. “As I have said, this is a momentous occasion for us all. In the twenty-five years since the Great War ended, the United Paranormal

8

Stormy Glenn

Alliance of Cooperation has watched and waited. We will wait no more.” “The fighting between species must stop,” another elder in a long white robe said as he stepped forward. Ifan recognized him as Elder Lucas. “We are known to the humans, and they have learned to accept us in their midst. However, their tolerance will only last so long. The constant fighting among the paranormal communities has come under scrutiny. We no longer have the luxury of watching you solve your own disagreements.” “Elder Lucas is correct,” Elder Burke said as he gestured to the other elder. “We no longer have the indulgence of waiting for you to end your petty squabbles. As such, we have taken measures to insure that you take your place amongst our society.” Ifan arched an eyebrow and glanced around when the crowd started to grow restless. Everyone was looking around as the silence hung over the room. Elder Burke gestured to the glass he had set down on the table. “You’ve all taken a toast with me. As such, you are now bound by the covenants we put before you.” “Each of you has twenty-four hours to find and claim your mate,” Elder Lucas said. “If you fail to claim a mate in twenty-four hours and bring him or her before this council to be recognized, you will not have a mate. You will go feral inside of a week.” The gasps and grumbling almost overshadowed the elders’ words as they continued to speak. Both elders stepped back from the edge of the dais that stood on. The crowd was angry and Ifan couldn’t blame them. The elders were out of their minds. “Because of your continued squabbling between races, you may not claim a mate of the same race,” Elder Burke said. “You must claim a mate outside of your own species. “If you fail to bring a mate before this council by the stroke of midnight tomorrow night, you will be hunted down and executed as a rogue paranormal.

White Paws and a Dream

9

“To insure that you will find a mate, something special has been added to the potion that each of you drank. It will insure that the need to mate outweighs your need to fight. It is a particular additive that induces the mating heat in each of you. You will not be able to deny the need to mate. “And just in case you think to try and break this spell,” Elder Burke said, “we have added a special clause. Anyone who attempts to negate the covenants of this spell will instantly be cursed as befitting their race. Vampires will no longer be able to drink blood. Shifters will no longer be able to shift. Magic users will have no magic, and so on. I’m sure you get my point.” The two elders went to stand back with their fellow elders and turned back to face the crowd. “Now, children, good luck. We expect to see each of you in twenty-four hours. May your hunt be successful.” “Not even in your dreams, dog boy.” Ifan Vashnikov crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at the first shifter that stepped in his direction as the grand ballroom erupted into chaos. The shifter looked him up and down. Ifan knew the wolf shifter was sizing him up, seeing if he could be beaten in a fight. Ifan stood six foot seven in his stocking feet. He was currently wearing boots. “Is finding out really worth the ass beating you’d get?” The corner of the wolf’s lips curled up. Ifan rolled his eyes. He hated wolf shifters. They were some of kinkiest damn people he’d ever met. “Not that kind of ass beating, you moron.” “Can’t fault a guy for trying,” the wolf said. “Look, there’s a cute little twink right over there.” Ifan pointed across the room. “Go play with him.” The wolf turned and stared. Ifan could tell the little sandy blond twink had caught the wolf’s interest when he suddenly bounded away and tackled the smaller man to the floor. This place was quickly becoming a war zone.

10

Stormy Glenn

People were tackling people left and right. They were running everywhere. Tables and chairs were overturned. Glasses lay smashed on the floor. If the United Paranormal Alliance of Cooperation wanted some action out of the paranormal world, they had it in spades. Ifan jumped out of the way as a rather large man jumped past him, landing on the stage. His eyes widened as he watched the man take one of the elders down to the floor and bite him. Guess not everyone was thrilled with the council’s mandate. He knew he certainly wasn’t. Siberian tigers were solitary creatures, white Siberian tigers even more so. The council should have known that. He no more wanted a mate than he wanted a hole in the head. Ifan stepped to the left of the stage, narrowly missing an elder speaking angrily to another man. The rest of the elders were quickly filing out of the room. Ifan suspected it was for their own safety. “What the fuck is this shit? Why include me? I don’t fight with anyone!” the man shouted. “You also don’t ever talk to anyone either,” the elder growled. “Are you challenging me?” Ifan shook his head. He didn’t want any of that fight. He recognized Elder Ashby. He didn’t like the man. He was somewhat self-serving. Ifan had no idea who the other man was, and he didn’t really care. His main concern was getting the hell out of there before someone took him down like a wounded deer. He headed for the front doors. Only his quick reflexes kept him from being part of the chaos going on around him. He was getting more fed up with each passing moment. When a sudden, blaring pain shot through his back, Ifan breathed deeply and turned to stare at a man holding the remains of a chair in his hand. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” he shouted as he wrenched the chair away from the man and tossed it across the room. He distantly heard it crash into the wall. “I am not going to mate you.”

White Paws and a Dream

11

He didn’t want a mate. He didn’t want anyone messing with his life. He liked living alone. He didn’t want someone coming in and messing with the quiet existence he had created for himself. “The elders gave us twenty-four hours to find a mate or go feral.” The man snickered. “It doesn’t look to me like you have a choice.” “There are always choices.” The man’s mouth dropped open. “You’d rather die than find a mate?” “I don’t want a mate,” Ifan growled. “Who does?” The man laughed. “I was having way too much fun playing without one, but going feral doesn’t sound like much of a choice.” Ifan shrugged. If he went feral, he went feral. He wasn’t going to be forced into mating anyone, no matter what the elders wanted. “It’s not going to happen, so go find someone else to play with.” The man smirked. “Your loss, big boy. I could rock your world.” “And I could end yours.” The man shrugged until someone else caught his interest and then he was running across the room. Ifan clenched his jaw. Some days it just didn’t pay to get out of bed. Ifan turned and headed for the doors again. The quicker he got out of here, the quicker he could go feral and hopefully be put out of his misery. Maybe he had lived on his own too long but he didn’t like people as a general rule. Humans were too bent on destroying paranormals, and paranormals were too bent on destroying each other. It was a vicious circle Ifan wanted no part of. He just wanted to go back to his little cottage in the woods and be left alone, and he didn’t want to bring anyone with him. At this point, going feral was looking pretty damn good. At least it might put him out of his long misery. Ifan stepped out ballroom doors and headed down the long stone hallway toward the exit. He rounded a corner just in time to see a ball of fire shooting out from some man’s fingers and hit a guard in the

12

Stormy Glenn

chest, crumpling him to the floor. The other guard advanced, and a blond haired man swung out, connecting solidly with his jaw and sending the man to the ground next to the first guard. Ifan quickly decided this was not the place to be. He avoided fights whenever he could help it. Fighting just seemed to be a worthless pursuit. Someone always got hurt, and sometimes, someone got killed. Ifan didn’t want to be responsible for that. It was yet another reason he didn’t want a mate. Siberian tigers were very territorial, especially white Siberian tigers. That was one of the reasons he chose to live alone. That, and the fact that most of his breed were extinct. Apparently, his white fur coat was highly prized by hunters. Ifan’s eyes widened when one of the men suddenly ran for the door. The next thing he knew, the little man was flung backward, rolling ass over end until he sprawled on the ground at the blond man’s feet. Nope, he didn’t want any part of this. Ifan turned and went back down the hallway. There had to be another way out of this damn castle. Ifan glanced into the ballroom as he passed it. The chaos seemed to have calmed to a dull roar, and the elders were returning, walking up onto the stage. Ifan paused. Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. Dying wasn’t that scary to Ifan. Going feral and being put down wasn’t even that scary. Having a mate terrified him. Maybe he could just skip through to the ending without all of the hassle? Ifan drew in a deep breath, contemplating his next move. He could feel his tiger right under his skin, pacing, agitated. He felt the need to extend his claws, to shift and chase something down. Ifan was an old shifter, nearing two thousand years. He’d been alone for the last two hundred of those years. Not since he was a young cub had he not been able to control his tiger, but the hot, burning itch that was starting to crawl across his skin was clawing at his control.

White Paws and a Dream

13

Suddenly decided, Ifan crossed the ballroom floor and headed right for the elder dais. They could end him now and forgo all of the rest of this crazy scheme of theirs. He wasn’t going to take a mate. Ifan reached the dais and clasped his hands together, giving the elders a respectful bow. No matter how fucked up he thought their plan was, he refused to give on his personal values, one of which was being respectful to the United Paranormal Alliance of Cooperation, or UPAC, as most paranormals called the council of elders. “Elders, please forgive my intrusion.” “Ifan Vashnikov,” one elder said. Ifan recognized him as Elder Lucas, the elder of the Felid Clan. “I did not expect to see you at this year’s gathering. My understanding was that you never leave your forest.” “I was sent an invitation.” “Good, good.” Elder Lucas smiled. The elder glanced at the space around Ifan, an eyebrow raised. “Have you come to have your mating recorded?” “I am sorry to say I have been unable to find a suitable mate.” Ifan wished he could roll his eyes at the council of elders and let them really know what he thought of their grand plan. Again, his sense of honor raised its ugly head. “As such, I am requesting that—” “No mate?” Elder Lucas said. “A man of your stature? I’m surprised, Ifan.” Ifan frowned. There were times in his life when something significant occurred. Each of those times was preluded by a cold shiver down his spine. Ifan was feeling such a shiver right that instant. The elders had something up their sleeves, and it involved him. Ifan started to get an itchy feel at the back of his neck as he watched Elder Lucas lean over and whisper into the ear of the elder sitting next to him. He had missed enough great gatherings to not know all of the elders. Many had come and gone over the years.

14

Stormy Glenn

Elder Lucas was smiling as he sat forward. The elder next to him began to write in some large book. Ifan clenched his jaw. He wasn’t going to like this. He just knew it. Ifan braced himself. “Ifan Vashnikov, your mating has been recorded.” “What? No, I—Fuck!” Ifan shouted as his body stiffened. A searing pain burned itself across his forearm. He quickly raised his sleeve. His eyes widened when he spotted the mating seal burned into his skin. The letters IV and MS were entwined together, woven around each other in an intricate knot. “What have you done?” Ifan whispered as he looked up at the elders in complete horror. Elder Lucas smiled and held out an envelope with the UPAC seal on it. “These are your mating instructions. It is of the upmost importance that you read them, Ifan.” “You’ve mated me without my permission?” Ifan dropped his shirt sleeve as his claws started to extend. He had a strict policy about not attacking any member of the council, but he might waive it under the circumstances. Elder Lucas suddenly seemed very concerned. His face became serious, his eyebrows drawing together in a deep frown. “I apologize for the circumstances of this mating, Ifan, but I cannot think of a better man to take on the task we’ve set before you.” “What task?” Ifan asked through clenched teeth. He was seething mad. He was surprised smoke wasn’t billowing out of his ears. “The man you are now mated to, he is a special case.” “I don’t care,” Ifan snapped. “I don’t want to be mated.” “I’m afraid that is no longer an option. Mikhail needs someone of your obvious strength. He needs a safe place to hide where no one will harm him.” Ifan blinked when a sudden surge of protectiveness rippled through him. He tiger began to pace again, growing agitated with every passing second. He hadn’t even met the man yet. Where in the

White Paws and a Dream

15

hell was this need to protect and care for some unknown man coming from? “So, you mated him to me? How is that going to help this guy? It’s not like our mating will end now that it’s been recorded in your great book.” Ifan pointed to the large book sitting in front of the elders. “I know what that is. I know what it means.” “Yes,” Elder Lucas said, “I’m sure you do. However, this council still feels you are the best choice for Mikhail.” “Why?” “Mikhail is human.” “Human!” Ifan snarled. He hated humans more than he hated shifters. Humans had hunted his kind almost to extinction. Only by hiding away deep inside of his forest had he been able to keep his hide. Most of his kind had not been so lucky. “You mated me to a human?” “Mikhail is not just some human, Ifan. He is a mindwalker.” “That’s even worse.” Ifan could just imagine what it would be like living with a mindwalker. Not only wouldn’t he be alone inside of his home, he wouldn’t be alone inside of his own mind. He hated humans. “No.” Ifan clenched his hands, shaking his head rapidly. “I won’t do this.” He’d rather die! “It is not a choice, Ifan. It is done.” “I don’t care if I go feral. Kill me now, and get it over with.” “I’m afraid that is not possible. Your life thread has been entwined with Mikhail’s. If you die, he dies. You are now bonded with your mate, Ifan, mind, body, and spirit. It cannot be undone.” Ifan roared. His eyes blazed. When his claws extended, he sank them into the hard wood of the stage floor. He wanted to sink them into the elders, each and every one of them. Reason took over, but just barely. “Fine,” he snarled. “Where is this human?”

16

Stormy Glenn

Elder Lucas’s forehead furrowed. “Be forewarned, Ifan, Mikhail is to be treated with care. He is in a very fragile state. If you attempt to harm him in retaliation, this council will have no recourse but to bring sanctions against you.” “Maybe you should have thought of that before you mated him to me.” Despite what he said, Ifan knew he wouldn’t harm the man. He didn’t have any grief with him other than the fact that they were mated. But that didn’t mean he would simply lie down and take what the council was doing to him either. Ifan was curious as to why this Mikhail needed a safe place to hide and why the elders insisted that he was so fragile. If the man was a mindwalker, he was one of the strongest of their kind, able to speak to people in their minds. Why would he be so weak? “There is one more thing, Ifan,” the elder said. “Of course there is.” Elder Lucas held up the envelope he had previously tried to hand to Ifan. “These instructions must be followed. If they are not, you will lose your ability to shift and Mikhail will lose his ability to mindwalk.” Ifan shuddered. There was nothing on earth that brought more fear to his heart than losing the ability to shift into his tiger form. Shifters were born. They were not turned. Ifan had been a tiger shifter all of his life. He wouldn’t know what to do without his tiger. Ifan grabbed the envelope from Elder Lucas and ripped it open. His jaw dropped open as complete shock rolled through him. He glanced up at the elders. Each one of them looked grim. It did not reassure Ifan. “We have to consummate our mating at least once every twentyfour hours until the next gathering? That’s not for another four years,” he said. “If Mikhail is so fragile, how can you ask this of me? I don’t even know the man.” “You will.”

White Paws and a Dream

17

“Elders, please, this isn’t—” “It is done, Ifan.” The elders went back to speaking to each other in low voices. Ifan’s shoulders slumped. He could see by the stern looks aimed his way that the elders weren’t going to change their minds. He was mated, and there was nothing he could do about it. “So, where is my mate then?” Elder Lucas glanced up, surprise showing across his face like he had forgotten that Ifan stood there. The elder stood up and walked across the dais. As he stepped down, he waved a council guard over. “Come with me.” Ifan sighed deeply and followed after the elder. The guard followed behind him. He was a little surprised when they bypassed the usual paranormal wings and walked to a part of the castle that non-residents were not usually allowed. It was restricted to the elders alone. “Why is he not housed with the other humans?” “For his own safety.” Ifan waited for the elder say more. He didn’t. “And?” “And for everyone else’s safety.” Ifan frowned. “Is this guy dangerous?” “Mikhail has his issues, but I do not believe he would ever willingly hurt someone.” Ifan didn’t like most of what any of the elders said, but that particular statement really unnerved him. “What about unwillingly?” “That is why Mikhail is here.” Elder Lucas paused, turning slightly. There was anger and sadness in his eyes when he looked up at Ifan. “Mikhail is in a very fragile state. His mind is broken. I’m sorry you were brought into this, Ifan, but I needed someone to care for Mikhail that could keep him safe.” “And you chose me?” “You have a reputation for not liking people, Ifan.” “I don’t,” Ifan growled.

18

Stormy Glenn

“You also have a reputation for protecting what belongs to you.” Ifan gaped. “So you decided to mate him to me so I’d protect him? Are you mad? Couldn’t you have chosen someone else for this?” “You were the best choice, Ifan.” Elder Lucas turned and started walking again. Ifan rolled his eyes and followed after him. They stopped at a large door, two guards standing on either side. Elder Lucas nodded to them and opened the door. Ifan’s curiosity was growing as he followed the elder into the room. A woman sat in a chair next to a large bed. She glanced up and smiled when they walked in. “Elder Lucas,” the woman said as she stood. “How is he?” the elder asked. “He had a shower earlier and a little to eat but he’s sleeping now. He was fitful earlier but finally settled down about fifteen minutes ago.” Fifteen minutes ago? Ifan frowned. That was about the time the mating seal was burned into his forearm. “Has he said anything?” “No, elder, not a word.” Ifan frowned again. Where was this mate? Ifan scanned the room, looking for his new mate. Except for the nurse, there wasn’t another person in the room. “Is this some sort of joke?” “Excuse me?” Elder Lucas asked as he turned around. “Where is—” Ifan’s head snapped around when he heard a soft ruffling noise came from the blankets on the bed. It wasn’t possible for there to be anyone on the bed. There was barely even a ripple in the blankets. Elder Lucas pulled the nurse out of the way as Ifan stepped closer to the bed. Ifan spotted a tuft of dark brown hair sticking out of the top of the blankets. He moved closer and grabbed the edge of the blanket, pulling it down a bit.

White Paws and a Dream

19

Anger infused Ifan as he swung around to glare at Elder Lucas. “You mated me to a child?” “I assure you, Ifan, Mikhail is of legal age. He celebrated his twenty-fifth birthday this year.” “But he looks like a child,” Ifan whispered as he turned back to look at the young man sleeping in the bed. “Hell, he looks like a girl.” Ifan heard Elder Lucas chuckle behind him. He frowned and sat down on the side of the bed then tugged the blankets down until the man’s entire face was exposed. Mikhail had such delicate features that he did look like a girl. High, exotic cheekbones graced his delicately curved face. Long, dark eyelashes lay against porcelain cheeks. He had generously curved lips. His nose was straight, short, and charming. A wealth of dark, rich, brown hair curled around his face. He was an ethereal beauty. The only things that marred Mikhail’s delicate features were the dark circles under his eyes and one large bruise on his forehead. He looked so fragile that Ifan wondered if a stiff wind might blow him over. “What happened to him?” Ifan asked softly as to not wake the sleeping man. Mikhail looked like he needed his rest. “We do not know all of the particulars,” Elder Lucas said from behind him. “Mikhail was barely conscious when he was brought to us. He was found by a pack of wolves in an abandoned warehouse. They brought him here.” “Has he said anything?” Elder Lucas shook his head. “There were signs that something horrific had happened in that warehouse, but Mikhail refuses to talk about it. He won’t speak to anyone. He hasn’t said a word since he arrived.” Ifan didn’t know what to say to that. He still didn’t want to be mated, but every protective instinct he had in his body was screaming at him to gather Mikhail in his arms and never let him go. His tiger was so agitated that Ifan’s teeth were threatening to drop down.

20

Stormy Glenn

He reached down and grazed Mikhail’s pale cheek with the back of his knuckles. “What happened to you, little one?” he whispered softly. “Who hurt you?” Ifan almost jumped when Mikhail’s eyes suddenly popped open and stared up at him. The man didn’t move or say a word, but then he didn’t have to. His pale blue eyes spoke volumes. He wanted to know who Ifan was.

White Paws and a Dream

21

Chapter 2 Ifan reached for Mikhail’s hand. He frowned when he noticed how slight it was. Mikhail needed to be fattened up. He was all skin and bone, practically malnourished. “I am Ifan Vashnikov.” Mikhail just stared at him. It was actually a little unnerving the way Mikhail watched him so intently. It was like no one else existed in the room except the two of them. Mikhail never looked away from his face. “Mikhail is a pretty big name for such a small guy,” Ifan said as he tried to make conversation. Not liking to be around people, he wasn’t much of a conversationalist. “I think I will call you Misha.” Again, Misha made no response other than to stare at him. Ifan frowned. This wasn’t exactly how he pictured meeting his mate, not that he had really pictured meeting his mate anytime in the last few hundred years. He gave up on that dream a long time ago. “Do you know what this is?” Ifan asked as he raised the sleeve of his shirt and exposed his mating seal. Misha glanced over at the mark. His hand came up and traced over the seal then fell back to the bed as Misha looked at him again. Ifan was beginning to wonder if Misha was all there in his head. Elder Lucas said that Misha was mentally broken, but Ifan didn’t know exactly what that meant. “These are our initials, Misha, yours and mine.” Misha just stared up at Ifan.

22

Stormy Glenn

“This is a mating seal, Misha. You have one just like it somewhere on your body.” The corner of Ifan’s mouth tilted up. “I’m not sure exactly where.” Misha grabbed Ifan’s hand and pressed it against the mating seal on left side of his chest. The seal was just below his collarbone and just above his heart. “May I?” Ifan gestured to Misha’s shirt. Misha dropped his hand away. Ifan pushed the edge of Misha’s shirt aside until the mating seal was revealed. His nostrils flared as his fingers traced the seal. Something primal flickered to life inside of Ifan at the sight of his initials burned into Misha’s porcelain skin. “Did it hurt?” Misha blinked again. “I take that as a yes?” Ifan smirked. Misha reached up and traced Ifan’s mating seal with his fingers again. “Yes, mine hurt.” Ifan wasn’t sure how much of what he was saying Misha understood. Still, he had to try and explain things to the man. He didn’t want to frighten him. “We’re mated, Misha.” Ifan’s words seemed to catch Misha’s attention. He glanced away from the mating seal to look up into Ifan’s eyes. There was a curiosity in them that Ifan couldn’t deny. “It means you belong to me now.” Ifan knew he would have to examine how those words made him feel at a later time. His tiger was ready to come out and claim Misha as mate, despite the man’s fragile state. The human side of him still didn’t want a mate. Misha just blinked. Ifan wished the man would say something, anything, even if it was to deny him. The silent treatment was wearing on his nerves. Ifan glanced over his shoulder to Elder Lucas. “Does he understand me?”

White Paws and a Dream

23

“We believe so. He hasn’t spoken, but there is intelligence in his eyes.” Ifan glanced back at Misha only to find him still staring. He had to agree with Elder Lucas. There was a spark of intelligence in the pale blue eyes staring at him. He could only hope that meant that Misha understood him. “I’m going to arrange for our return to my home,” Ifan said as he started to stand up. He stopped when Misha’s hands reached for him. “I won’t be gone long.” Misha’s eyes started to water. He closed them and turned away almost as if he had dismissed Ifan from his mind altogether. Ifan’s tiger let out a deep roar inside of him. His skin started to itch from restraining his tiger. Ifan knelt beside the bed and reached for Misha’s face. “Hey, little one, look at me.” Misha’s eyelashes glittered with tears as he turned his head. Ifan tried to give Misha a smile, but it had been so long since he smiled, he wasn’t sure if he was doing it right. Misha didn’t seem to care, though. He smiled back. It was just a small lifting of the corner of his lips, but it was enough to appease Ifan’s tiger and make him settle down. “I promise I won’t be gone long, Misha. I’m just going to arrange for our transport and then I’ll come right back. I won’t be gone more than a few minutes at the most.” Ifan grimaced when a single tear fell down Misha’s pale cheek. He gently wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. “Would you like to go with me, Misha?” Ifan was surprised when Misha reached out for him. He chuckled though. “I take that as a yes?” Misha just blinked. Ifan shook his head and stood up. He started to lift the blankets off of Misha, but the man grabbed for them, holding them against his chest as he looked beyond Ifan to the others in the room.

24

Stormy Glenn

“Are you naked under there?” Ifan pulled the blankets away from Misha and peeked under the covers. He quickly put them back, swallowing hard. “Yep, you’re naked.” Damn, Misha might be pale and lanky, but he had all the right equipment in all of the right places, and it was perfect-looking equipment. Ifan’s body suddenly began to ache. His cock went from flaccid to rock hard in a single glance. Ifan swallowed hard again then glanced over his shoulder. “Is there something Misha can put on until I can get him some clothes?” “I’m sure we can find something for him to wear.” Ifan waited. When neither the nurse nor the elder moved, he waved a hand at them. “Well?” “Now?” the elder asked. “Yes, now.” What part of this didn’t the elder get? Ifan wanted to get Misha bundled up and get the both of them out of there as fast as he could. He’d been away from home long enough. “Ifan, Misha can’t leave until you have claimed him.” “Excuse me?” “You have to claim Misha before you can leave with him.” “I thought we were already mated.” Iran lifted his arm, indicating the mating seal. “You are mated, but Misha needs to be claimed by your tiger before you can leave. We need to insure that your tiger accepts him.” “He does.” Ifan snickered. He couldn’t begin to describe how much his tiger accepted Misha. Even he was surprised. His tiger already decided that Misha belonged to them. He was just waiting for the man to catch up. Elder Lucas didn’t look like he was budging though. Ifan rubbed his hands over his face as he blew out a deep breath. “Okay, give me a few minutes alone with Misha. I want to talk to him and make sure that he understands what is happening here. I refuse to force him.” The nurse headed for the door but Elder Lucas looked hesitant. Ifan glared until the man nodded slightly and left the room, shutting

White Paws and a Dream

25

the door behind him. Ifan rested for a moment, his hands on his hips as he tried to decide what he was going to say to Misha. He had to convince the man to mate with him. An easy enough prospect if the man was in his right mind. Ifan still wasn’t sure he was. Ifan pressed his lips together and turned to explain things to Misha. He nearly swallowed his tongue. “Misha, wha—” Ifan licked his lips as he took in the naked body on the bed. Misha had thrown the covers back and lay there without a stitch of clothing on. “What are you doing, little one?” Ifan almost growled when Misha simply stared up at him. He was getting really frustrated with the silent treatment he was getting. It was hard to have a conversation when only one of them was talking, well, talking out loud anyway. Misha’s eyes sparkled as he tilted his head back, baring his neck. Ifan clenched his hands into tight fists. Misha couldn’t have any idea of the control it took to keep from jumping the man and claiming him. Ifan was holding on by a thread. Ifan’s teeth dropped down against his better judgment. He ached to sink them into Misha’s soft flesh. Claws shot out of his fingertips. His skin rippled as fur threatened to come out. The thread of control was becoming thinner the more he looked at Misha’s naked body. “Misha,” he groaned as he fought for control. Misha’s eyes began to water again as he dropped them. He pulled the covers back over his naked body and curled onto his side, facing away from Ifan. The blankets shook as he trembled. A stab of guilt took root in Ifan’s chest as he sat down on the side of the bed and gently patted Misha’s shoulder. “Listen to me, little one. I want to claim you, believe me, I do, but I’m concerned with your health. Elder Lucas said that you are very fragile right now, and I don’t want to do anything that might hurt you.” Ifan was confused by everything he was saying. He didn’t understand why he was saying it. Not only had he talked more in the

26

Stormy Glenn

last hour than he had in the last month, but he felt the need to explain things to a complete stranger, one that might not even understand him. “Will you look at me, Misha?” he asked when he received no response from the man other than the soft lift and fall of Misha’s shoulders as he sniffled. “Please, little one?” Misha slowly turned over. Ifan’s heart broke at the tears streaming down Misha’s face. He reached up and gently rubbed them away. “Does it mean that much to you, little one?” Misha stared for a moment then grabbed Ifan’s hand and pressed it over the mating seal on his chest. He reached up with his other hand and covered the matching seal on Ifan’s arm then tilted his head back again, baring his throat. Ifan couldn’t take it anymore. If Misha was so determined to be claimed, Ifan would claim him. It was either that or lose his mind. He quickly stood up and shed his clothes, tossing his shirt across the room and kicking his shoes and pants off. Once he was naked, he pulled the covers off of Misha and climbed onto the bed, stretching out beside the man. He could feel Misha watching him as he lifted his fingers and stroked them over Misha’s silky skin. “You have very soft skin, Misha,” he said. He wanted Misha to be involved in this process, not just a body waiting to be claimed. They needed to make a connection between the two of them other than sex. “Do you use something to make it this soft?” Misha pointed to the nightstand without turning his head. Ifan followed Misha’s hand and saw a small, white bottle with purple flowers on it. There was no writing on it, so Ifan didn’t think the lotion was store-bought. He’d have to figure out where Misha got it and get more. He loved the soft feel of the man’s skin. “Have you ever done this, Misha?” Misha just blinked up at him and pressed his hand over the mating seal on Ifan’s arm. Ifan wanted to growl, but he didn’t want to

White Paws and a Dream

27

frighten Misha. The lack of communication between them was going to drive him crazy. “I know that we are mates, little one, but I need to know if you’ve ever had sex before. I don’t want to frighten you.” Ifan felt like he could have been talking to himself for all of the response he got from Misha. The man just stared. That in itself was getting a little unnerving. Misha didn’t just stare. He consumed Ifan with his pale blue eyes. Ifan wished there was another way to claim Misha other than sex. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to have sex with Misha, because he did. His body ached to sink into the smaller man’s tight little ass. But he also didn’t want to do anything that man didn’t want. In all of his years, and there were a lot of them, Ifan had never forced another person to have sex with him. He wouldn’t start with his mate. Ifan leaned closer slowly, giving Misha a chance to back away if he wanted. When he didn’t move, Ifan pressed his lips against Misha’s. The kiss was slow at first, exploratory. They were just kind of feeling each other out. Misha started to respond, and Ifan’s control began to slip. Misha’s lips were so soft and lush, Ifan just wanted to eat him up. He pushed harder and swiped his tongue along the seam of Misha’s lips. When Misha parted his lips, Ifan delved inside. A long, deep groan was torn from Ifan when Misha’s tongue brushed against his. Kissing Misha was like kissing a light socket. Ifan felt it resonate in every cell in his body. If this was what a simple kiss was like, he couldn’t imagine what sex would be like. Ifan cupped one hand around the side of Misha’s face, holding his mouth still so that he could explore as he really wanted. He stroked the other hand down the side of Misha’s body. Ifan growled at the shudder that rippled through Misha at his light touch. He was shocked by Misha’s responses to his touch. The man seemed to crave each soft caress, leaning his body into Ifan’s hand.

28

Stormy Glenn

When Ifan moved his hand down past his hip, Misha bent his knee and pulled his leg up, pressing it along Ifan’s side. Ifan cupped his hand over the rounded curve of Misha’s ass and squeezed. Misha just blinked up at him. Ifan kept a close watch on Misha’s expression as he stroked the man’s ass, moving down further until his fingers grazed over the sweet hole waiting for him. Misha inhaled deeply, but his eyes never wavered from Ifan’s. “Are you doing okay, little one?” Ifan whispered. Misha let his bent leg fall to the side, opening himself up to Ifan’s exploration. Ifan could feel Misha’s puckered hole flutter against his fingers. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought Misha’s ass was begging for him. Misha started panting softly, but he still didn’t make a sound. His eyes, however, glowed, and Ifan could see Misha’s need shining in the pale blue depths. The more he touched and teased, the more blue bled out of Misha’s eyes. It was fascinating to watch. “Watch me, Misha.” Ifan wanted Misha’s eyes on him. He wanted to continue to see the desire burning in them as he pleasured the man. Keeping their eyes locked together, Ifan moved down Misha’s body, planting a kiss here and there, a lick of his tongue. By the time he reached Misha’s cock, the man’s eyes had turned white. Ifan grabbed Misha’s ass cheeks and spread them apart. He suddenly found it difficult to swallow when he got a good look at the sweet, pink hole waiting for him. Misha looked so tight that Ifan began to wonder if the man had ever been breached before. Maybe he would be the first to bring pleasure to the sweet little man. Ifan let his tongue shift, going from human to the long, sandpapery one of a Siberian tiger. Being as old as he was, Ifan was able to change different parts of his body at will. He didn’t have to fully shift. Ifan dragged his tongue between Misha’s ass cheeks. A tangy burst of earthy flavors blasted across his tongue. Ifan growled and did

White Paws and a Dream

29

it again, wanting more. As addictive as Misha tasted, Ifan saw a lot of ass licking in his future. He knew Misha liked it. The little man’s body arched into the air and his hands grabbed large handfuls of Ifan’s hair. Ifan licked again and again, pressing in with his tongue a little each time until Misha began to loosen up. Ifan paused for a moment and stroked his thumb over Misha’s puckered entrance. He bit his lip to keep from growling when it was sucked right in. Misha was going to be the death of him. He just knew it. Misha’s body was made for sex. Ifan began licking again, alternating between pressing his tongue into Misha’s ass and pushing his thumb in. After a few minutes, he moved to pressing his fingers into the tight circle of muscles. Once he could safely get three fingers inside without hurting Misha, Ifan scooted up just a bit. Misha’s cock looked almost painful in its hardness. Drops of pre-cum glistened on the purple, mushroomshaped head. Misha wasn’t huge, not by Ifan’s standards, but he was the perfect size to be sucked, and that’s just what Ifan did. As he shoved three fingers deep into Misha’s ass, he swallowed Misha’s cock down to the root. He winced when Misha almost ripped out a handful of his hair. The man’s body started bucking against him, vibrating with need. Misha may have been silent, but he had a spectacular way of speaking. Ifan wanted to hear more. He licked Misha’s cock like an ice cream cone, making sure he swiped his tongue over the man’s ball sac. When Misha started pulling more insistently on his hair, Ifan sucked the man’s entire cock into his mouth. Misha arched and stiffened. Ifan quickly backed up until just the head of Misha’s cock remained in his mouth. He thrust his fingers into the man’s ass and curved them until he felt the walnut-sized gland in the man’s ass.

30

Stormy Glenn

Stroking that sweet spot was like setting off a stick of dynamite. Ifan grunted as Misha’s legs came up and clamped around him. Sweet, hot liquid filled his mouth. Misha bucked against Ifan several times then went limp. His hands dropped down to the bed. Even his legs fell to his sides. Ifan glanced up, concern warring with his need to keep sucking Misha’s cock. Despite Misha’s sated state, his eyes still watched Ifan intently. Ifan groaned and pulled his fingers out of Misha’s ass. He scooted up and knelt between the man’s legs and reached for the bottle of lotion on the nightstand. Ifan quickly spread the lotion on his aching cock then dribbled some down between Misha’s ass cheeks. He dropped the bottle on the bed and reached for Misha, grabbing the man by his hips and pulling him up until the head of his cock pressed against Misha’s puckered hole. “You ready, Misha?” he asked as he looked up. Misha simply stroked his fingers over the mating seal on Ifan’s arm. Ifan took that as a yes and pushed forward. His eyes dropped closed and his head fell back on his shoulders as he sank into the tightest, hottest ass he had ever had. “Fuck!” Ifan shouted as his balls brushed up against Misha’s body. Never, in his entire existence, had he felt such pleasure before. The tight muscles surrounding his cock could make him come without a single movement on his part. They seemed to grip him, massage him, and keep him hostage inside Misha’s body. Misha’s legs wrapped around Ifan’s waist, and he tugged on his arms. Ifan grinned and took that as Misha’s silent demand to move. Going slow just wasn’t possible, not as close as Ifan was to coming. The pleasure was pure and explosive. Each thrust sent Ifan higher. After a few moments, he didn’t know where he ended and Misha began. It felt like they were made to be fit together, two molded halves of the same whole.

White Paws and a Dream

31

Misha’s body cradled Ifan perfectly, giving him just enough room to move. The man’s legs locked around Ifan’s waist, his hips moving and lifting with each thrust. Ecstasy started throbbing through Ifan. He could feel the head of his cock expanding, ready to explode inside of Misha and claim the man as his. Misha’s eyes glowed with an inner light as he tilted his head back and exposed his throat. Ifan growled loudly and sank his teeth into Misha’s neck just over the soft pulse beating rapidly in the soft curve. Sweet, hot blood filled Ifan’s mouth, the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. Ifan sucked more into his mouth. A blinding white light enveloped Ifan, exploding in his head. He felt a tether snap into place between him and Misha as their souls entwined. Ifan was filled with an amazing sense of completeness, something he had never really felt before. “Yes!” Ifan blinked as the deep cry resonated inside his head. He quickly extracted his teeth and licked the bite mark closed before lifting his head to look down at Misha. “Harder!” “Misha?” he whispered out loud. Misha bucked against him. “Please, harder.” Ifan hooked his arm under one of Misha’s legs and started pounding into the man at a furious pace. He felt Misha’s hands sink into his hair as the man’s body stiffened beneath him. Fiery spurts of cum splattered against Ifan’s abdomen. “Misha!” Ifan roared as Misha’s release pulled him over the edge into abyss. The spines at the end of his cock extended and locked him in place inside Misha’s ass. Ifan’s world exploded in a flaming burst of sensations. A moan of ecstasy slipped through Ifan’s lips as he sank down onto the bed, Misha sandwiched between him and the mattress. His heart pounded so frantically, Ifan thought he just might be suffering a heart attack.

32

Stormy Glenn

“You’re crushing me.” Ifan rolled to his side, taking Misha with him. He wasn’t going to leave Misha’s body until he absolutely had to. Besides, he couldn’t. The miniscule spines at the end of his cock were holding him in place. They would only retract once every drop of seed had shot from Ifan’s cock. Ifan picked up a lock of Misha’s dark brown hair and twirled it between his fingers. After so many years of living on his own, conversation wasn’t something Ifan was good at. He had no idea what to say. He had a lot of questions, though. He just didn’t know which one to ask first. One question seemed easy enough. “So, you can talk, huh?”

White Paws and a Dream

33

Chapter 3 “Yes,” Misha whispered through the bond that had formed with Ifan. “Why haven’t you spoken to me before then?” “We didn’t have a bond before.” Silly tiger. Ifan should have known that. “And now that we’re mated, you can talk to me in my mind?” “Yes.” “Can you hear me when I speak in my mind?” “Yes, we’re bonded now. I can always hear you.” Ifan frowned. He was quiet for a few minutes. Misha just let him process his thoughts. He could feel the unease coming off of Ifan in waves. Misha couldn’t help what he was, though. “Misha, can you speak to other people in their minds?” “No, just you. You’re my mate.” Panic suddenly filled Misha. He grabbed Ifan’s arm and stroked his fingers over the mating seal burned into his skin. “We are mated, right? You said we were.” “Yes, Misha, we’re mated. Nothing will ever change that.” A heavy feeling took weight in Misha’s stomach. “Why does that make you so sad? Do you not want to be mated to me?” Ifan sighed deeply, and Misha knew no matter what the man said that he was right. Ifan didn’t want to be mated to him. He felt an instant, squeezing hurt deep in his chest that stole his breath. “I’m very old, Misha,” Ifan finally said out loud. “I gave up trying to find a mate many years ago. I’m just as surprised by this turn of events as you are.”

34

Stormy Glenn

But Misha wasn’t surprised, and he didn’t understand why Ifan was. They had shared dreams together. Misha knew he would meet his mate here at the UPAC castle before he even arrived. It was one of the reasons he demanded to be brought here when the wolves had found him. It was also the reason they found him in a deserted warehouse. Those that had taken him prisoner tried to destroy him when he wouldn’t mate as they directed. Misha had been holding out for his mate. “What’s wrong, little one?” Misha shook his head. He didn’t know how to tell Ifan what he was feeling, let alone if he should. Ifan was restless. Misha could feel it. It was all the man could do to lie there and hold him. A tired sadness passed over Misha as he tried to pull away from Ifan. He didn’t want to stay where he wasn’t wanted. He’d been through that before. He’d rather be alone in his silent world. “Misha, you can’t do that.” Ifan pulled him back until they were chest to chest. “There are these spine things in the end of my cock. They connect us together when we have sex. It takes a few minutes for them to retract.” It was even worse than Misha first thought. Ifan was still holding him because he had to. He wasn’t holding him because he wanted to. It was a physical response in his body. Misha closed his eyes and turned his head away from Ifan’s. He could feel tears prickling the corners of his eyes and fought to keep them at bay. Misha needed to wait until they could separate and then he’d leave. It would do him no good for Ifan to know how much pain he was in at the moment. Ifan might not even care. “I’m very tired, Ifan.” Ifan patted his shoulder. “Just go to sleep, Misha. I’ll go arrange transportation for us in a few minutes and wake you when it’s time to go.” Misha nodded like he understood, but he didn’t. He could care less that transportation needed to be arranged. He could feel Ifan’s

White Paws and a Dream

35

aversion to taking him home. Misha swallowed past the lump that lingered in his throat. He climbed into his mind and wrapped a ball of light around himself until he felt safe and warm in his little cocoon. He thought he wouldn’t have to go there anymore after mating with Ifan. It was where Misha went when he was sad or lonely. It was where he hid. He distantly felt Ifan pull away from him and roll off the bed. He heard Ifan getting dressed. And then he heard Ifan leave. Only when he heard the door close behind Ifan did Misha climb from his cocoon and open his eyes. The room was empty just like he thought it was. Misha felt like an old man as he rolled to the side of the bed. The tiredness that filled his soul spread out through his entire body. All he wanted to do was sleep. He just didn’t have that luxury. Misha pushed himself to his feet and began searching the room for something to wear. He couldn’t very well escape naked, and he was pretty sure the guards wouldn’t let him through the gate wrapped in a sheet. He was lucky. He found a pair of old, faded jogging pants and a cotton shirt that was several sizes too large hidden in the back of the closet. They weren’t what he would have chosen, but they would do until he could find something else. Misha grabbed his bottle of lotion then a blanket off the bottom of the bed and headed for the door. He had no idea where he was headed, but he wasn’t going to stay here. Pulling the door open just a bit, Misha peered out. Shit! A guard stood outside his door. Misha pushed the door closed and leaned against it. He had escaped from harder places than this. He could do it again. He just needed a plan. Misha frowned as he looked down at his hands, racking his brain for a plan. The light blue blanket caught his attention. He stared at it for a moment then laughed. Misha quickly shook the blanket out and wrapped it around his shoulders. He had a plan.

36

Stormy Glenn

Taking a deep breath, Misha opened the door up and stepped out. The guard instantly turned. Misha smiled and made a gesture in front of his mouth like he needed something to eat. The guard frowned and reached for the communication mic attached to his uniform. “Alpha one, this is alpha twelve.” “Go ahead, alpha twelve,” a voice replied over the microphone. “Subject thirty-four wishes to eat.” Misha blinked. He was referred to as subject thirty-four? “Then get him something to eat,” the voice replied. “I have enough problems on my hands right now. The entire ballroom has gone to shit. I’m surprised you can’t hear it. They’re tearing the damn place apart.” “Yeah, I hear it. We’ll avoid the ballroom if we can." "Do that." "Ten-four.” The guard grimaced and waved his hand. “Come on, I’ll show you where the kitchen is.” Misha wrapped the blanket around his shoulders a little tighter and followed the guard down the hallway. The farther they walked, the louder the noise became. Misha started to wonder if he might have been safer back in his room. Papers started to litter the floor, some of them blowing around from wind coming in through broken windows. Broken furniture lay scattered all over the place. Pictures hung crooked on the walls. The place looked like a war zone. Misha grunted when the guard suddenly stopped and slammed him against the wall. His eyes rounded with shock when he peered past the guard and saw two men wrestling on the floor in front of them. They didn’t look like they were having fun. Another very large man flew through a doorway several feet down the hallway and crashed into the wall, falling to the floor. He was still for a moment then his head suddenly snapped up. An angry growl fell from his lips. Misha shrank back when he saw the sharp claws growing out of his fingertips.

White Paws and a Dream

37

Wolf. The man was a wolf shifter. He was also an angry shifter. He jumped to his feet and raced back through the doorway. Misha heard a crash. He winced, hoping that whoever was on the other side of those sharp claws was still alive. As Misha watched the fighting continue, he suddenly decided he was definitely in the wrong place at the wrong time. He needed to get the hell out of there and as fast as he could. He was a human. He couldn’t shift and protect himself. When the guard stepped forward and started demanding that the two men on the floor stop fighting, Misha took that as his cue and began backing down the hallway. The minute he was far enough away, he turned and ran. He heard the guard shout out behind him, but he just kept on running. He turned one corner then another, twisting and turning through the large stone castle until even he didn’t know where he was. Misha finally stopped and leaned against the wall, panting heavily. He wasn’t sure exactly where he was, but it was silent. He couldn’t hear a thing. Misha pushed himself away from the wall and walked slowly down the hallway until he came to a set of stairs going up. Misha started up the winding staircase. They looked as good as any direction. He realized that going up instead of down might defeat his purpose in getting out of the castle, but he had yet to see an exit. These stairs might lead him to an exit. The stairs just seemed to wind up and up and up. Misha felt like he had climbed up several floors. He didn’t understand why he hadn’t seen an exit. There should have been one. He was just thinking about heading back down when he saw a shaft of light just above him. Misha hurried up until he came to a landing that opened into a long hallway. He took a cautious step into the hallway. He seemed to be standing at a crossroads. The stairs were at his back. Hallways ran on either side of him.

38

Stormy Glenn

It was the room directly across from him that held Misha’s attention. There was so much light shining from it that it lit up the entire area. Misha felt drawn to the room and walked slowly toward it. His jaw dropped open as he walked in and realized it was like an atrium with glass windows on three sides. A large lounging couch sat in the middle of the room. Cushions littered the window seat that went all of the way around the room. Misha rushed over to the window and looked out. He instantly closed his eyes and backed away when he became dizzy. After taking a couple of deep breaths, he walked back up to the window again. He had to be at least ten floors up. The cars down in the courtyard looked so small. The people running around looked like ants. How in the hell had he ended up ten floors off the ground level? He just walked up some stairs. It didn’t seem like he had climbed ten floors. “Are you lost?” Misha squeaked and spun around. An old man in white robes stood in the doorway. “Can you understand me?” Misha nodded. “Are you lost?” Misha shrugged. He was, but he didn’t exactly see that as a bad thing. The old man suddenly smiled. “Are you hiding?” Misha nodded. “Ah, I see.” The man clasped his wrinkled old hands together. “Well then, would you care to join me for tea?” Misha blinked in surprise. The man was inviting him to tea? Why the hell not? Misha nodded and followed after the man when he gestured with his hand and walked out of the room. For some reason, Misha wasn’t in the least bit surprised when they walked out of the room and then down one of the hallways instead of back down the stairs. The old man didn’t look like he

White Paws and a Dream

39

belonged with those downstairs. He wasn’t an elder and he certainly wasn’t one of the ones that had lost their minds and torn apart the ballroom. “It’s been a while since I’ve had guests, so you’ll have to excuse the mess,” the man said as he opened a door at the end of the hallway. Misha’s eyes widened as he stepped into the vast room. He wasn’t surprised because of the dust he could see but rather the books. There were thousands and thousands of them, all stacked on shelves that went all of the way to the ceiling. It had to be a library of some sort. “Yes, it is a library,” the man said. Misha whipped around to look at the man, suddenly wondering if he had made such a good decision in following some stranger. “Please, don’t be frightened.” The man held up his hand. “I’m a little older than most and have developed the ability to read minds. I mean you no harm.” “I thought only mates could read minds,” Misha replied mentally. “Usually, that is true, but I’ve been around long enough to go beyond what is normally expected of walkers in general.” Misha frowned. “You know it’s not polite to read someone’s mind without permission, don’t you?” “Quite right, young man, but it’s been so long since I’ve had the chance to chat with someone I could not stop myself.” The old man clasped his hands together and gave a little bow of his head. “My apologies.” “Why haven’t you talked with someone in so long?” “That, my boy, would take a very long conversation to explain.” The man waved his hand around the huge room. “Why don’t you take a look around while I make us some tea?” Misha glanced around the room and was once again awed by the place. The walls were at least two stories tall and lined with bookshelves that went all the way up. A small balcony wrapped around the room about halfway up.

40

Stormy Glenn

The place was dusty, but despite that and the multitudes of books stacked on the floor around the room, Misha could see some semblance of order. There seemed to be a harmony in the way the room was arranged. A large stone fireplace was against one wall, a large antiquelooking sofa directly in front of it. Just beyond the small kitchen where the old man was making tea, Misha could see a small bedroom. It didn’t look very used, but the couch did. Misha wondered how often the man actually made it into the bedroom. “So, what do you think of my little abode?” the old man asked as he carried a tray back into the room. He set down on a small table by the fireplace and poured tea into two small flowered cups. “Now, how do you like your tea?” Misha smiled and sat down across from the old man. “Do you have a name or should I keep calling you old man?” “Oh my, I have forgotten my manners, haven’t I?” Broken laughter filled the room. “My name is Brodelyn.” “I’m Mikhail, but Ifan seems to think I’m too small for such a big name. He just calls me Misha.” “Ifan?” Misha frowned. “My mate.” “I’m not sure if it’s my place to say so, young man, but you don’t seem very happy about that prospect.” Sadness started weighing Misha down again. “He doesn’t want me.” “Surely that isn’t so.” Brodelyn reached for the cups of tea, handing one to Misha and taking the other for himself. He sat back in his chair and blew lightly on his hot tea. “You know what it’s like for walkers,” Misha said. “I could feel it once we mated. I don’t think it was just me, though. Ifan doesn’t want a mate at all.” “Do you know why?”

White Paws and a Dream

41

Misha stared down at the cup of tea he held between his hands. “Ifan doesn’t like people very much. I think he’s been alone for a long time.” “Then I can understand his reluctance, but it may not have anything to do with you personally.” “No, that’s true, but it still doesn’t make me feel wanted.” “And we all want to be wanted by our mates.” It was a statement and not a question. Misha knew that just from the sad tone in Brodelyn’s voice. He tilted his head slightly, staring across at the old man. Looking closely, Misha wondered just how old the man really was. He didn’t seem that old, really. “Do you have a mate?” Misha asked. “Me?” Brodelyn’s head came up and he chuckled. “No, I don’t have a mate, Misha. I’m too old to be mated, past my prime as they would say.” “You’re never too old, Brodelyn. Ifan is like, older than dirt, and we still mated earlier.” Brodelyn suddenly frowned. “Ifan Vashnikov?” “Yes, why?” Brodelyn suddenly sat his tea cup down and jumped up. He hurried across the room to a stack of papyrus scrolls stacked along one wall and began searching through them. He was mumbling to himself as he tossed scroll after scroll out of the way. He grabbed one faded scroll in his hand then glanced over his shoulder. “Ifan Vashnikov, white Siberian tiger shifter, right?” “Yeah, I guess.” Misha realized he wasn’t all that sure. He remembered something about a tiger, but it was all kind of a blur. Since he had never really seen Ifan shift, all he had were his vague memories. Brodelyn seemed excited as he carried the scroll over to a large, dark, wooden table and spread it out. He set large green glass pyramids on each corner to hold the scroll open then leaned down over it and started tracing something with his finger.

42

Stormy Glenn

“Yes, I knew it!” “Knew what?” Misha asked as he walked over to stare down at the scroll. He could tell he was looking at some sort of writing, but he couldn’t read a word of it. It looked like a bunch of scribbled lines to him. “What is this?” “I’m the UPAC historian, Misha. I keep track of everything that occurs within the paranormal world. This scroll is the history of your mate, Ifan Vashnikov, the last living white Siberian tiger.” Misha sucked in a deep breath. “He’s the last of his kind?” “I’m afraid so.” Brodelyn pointed to a straight line with words written off of it. “His family and pride were systematically wiped out by hunters over the years. The pelt of a white Siberian tiger is very prized in the human world.” “No wonder he hates me,” he whispered as tears of sadness sprang up in his eyes. He knew any remaining hope he had of living a happy life with his mate was gone. “I’m human.”

White Paws and a Dream

43

Chapter 4 “I don’t hate you, Misha.” Ifan smirked when Misha jerked and swung around to look at him. His rounded eyes dominated his pale face. His hand fluttered nervously at his chest. “Ifan.” “Want to explain to me why I had to search the entire castle to find my wayward mate?” Ifan asked as he pushed himself from the doorframe and stalked his mate across the room. Ifan had freaked when he returned to the room and found Misha missing. His tiger had nearly gone feral. Only years of control enabled Ifan to keep from shifting. It took more time than he would like to think about to track Misha’s scent. Now that he had found Misha, the only thing Ifan could think about was renewing his claim on the man. He could already feel his gumline aching with the need to let his canines drop down. Sheer force of will kept them in place. “Ifan Vashnikov,” the other person in the room said, “as I live and breathe.” Ifan’s attention snapped over to the old man. His eyes narrowed as he took in the wrinkled old face and graying hair. He knew that face. “Brodelyn?” “It’s good to see you, my old friend,” Brodelyn said. “I did not know Misha was your mate until a few minutes ago. Congratulations on your mating.”

44

Stormy Glenn

“What are you doing up here?” Ifan asked, spreading his arms out to indicate the large, dusty room. “Last I heard, you were somewhere in South America.” Brodelyn chuckled. “Things change, my friend.” “You two know each other?” The words, softly spoken, reminded Ifan that his mate was in the room. He turned to look at him again. His lips curled slightly as he tried to suppress a growl. Misha was standing way too close to Brodelyn for his liking. “Misha, come here.” Misha blinked, just like he had before they could talk to each other. Ifan growled a little louder, letting the other male in the room know he was in danger. “Misha, go to your mate,” Brodelyn said. “What?” Misha whispered. “Why?” “Because if you don’t, Ifan is liable to rip my throat out.” Misha’s eyes widened even more. He slowly moved away from Brodelyn and walked around the large wooden table, but he stopped at the edge of it. His hands were trembling as he twisted them together. He seemed frightened. Ifan gestured with his hand and softened his voice. “Come, Misha.” Misha licked his lips as he cast a quick glance at Brodelyn then looked back Ifan. His steps were slow and hesitant, but they did bring Misha closer to Ifan. When the man was within arm distance, Ifan reached out and grabbed Misha, pulling him closer. He curled his hand around Misha’s face and tilted his head up. “You are the safest person on the earth where I am concerned, Misha. I am unable to hurt you.” Misha’s lips parted and he exhaled deeply. His eyes were still huge on his face but the panic seemed to be leaving them. He stopped twisting his hands together and grabbed onto Ifan’s shirt. “I didn’t do anything, I swear.”

White Paws and a Dream

45

Ifan smiled. “I know, little one, but we are newly mated. My instincts to protect what is mine are very high right now. I am unable to keep my tiger from eliminating any perceived threat.” “Brodelyn wouldn’t—” Misha jumped around when Brodelyn started laughing. “You are a very pretty young thing, Misha,” Brodelyn said. “Anyone who is breathing and unmated would attempt to take you from your mate. Do not think because I am old that I am immune to your charms. I’m just smart enough not to cross Ifan. I prefer my throat right where it is.” “But…” Ifan was surprised when he felt Misha’s confusion. It was coming off of the smaller man in waves. Ifan wrapped his arm around Misha’s waist and pulled the man back against his body. He didn’t like the nervousness and uncertainty his mate was feeling. Misha’s head barely came up to Ifan’s chest. As much as his tiger liked the smaller man, Ifan wanted him closer. Misha yelped as Ifan picked him up, swinging him around so he could cradle the man in his arms and nuzzle his neck. Misha groaned into Ifan’s mind and his head dropped back, exposing his neck. Ifan had no idea if Misha knew how satisfying the submissive gesture was to both him and his tiger, but he wasn’t about to deny his need to take what his mate offered. Ifan swung them both around, facing away from Brodelyn, and sank his teeth into the mating bite on Misha’s neck. Hot, sweet blood filled his mouth. Ifan groaned as his cock filled at the very same time. He knew the man’s exquisite flavor was directly connected with his arousal. He imagined he’d be biting Misha a lot in the future. Ifan pulled his teeth from Misha’s neck, licking the bite closed. He ignored Brodelyn’s chuckle and carried Misha out of the room. The pace of his steps increased as he hurried down the hallway to the small, window-filled room he had seen when he came up the stairs.

46

Stormy Glenn

As soon as he reached it, he stepped inside and slammed the door closed. A quick glance around told Ifan everything he needed to know about the room. He walked right up to the couch sitting in the middle of the room and draped Misha’s body over the back of it. Misha’s hands flailed as Ifan yanked his jogging pants down to his ankles then pushed them off his legs, kicking them away. Ifan unzipped his pants and yanked Misha’s shirt up. He pushed Misha’s legs apart and thrust two fingers into the man’s tight ass. Yes! Misha was still stretched out from earlier. That made things all that much easier for Ifan. He pushed his pants out of the way then reached over and spread Misha’s ass cheeks. His cock was so hard that he didn’t even need to guide it into Misha. It seemed to know the way. Ifan dropped his head back on his shoulders and roared as his cock sank into Misha’s ass. He started pounding into Misha as fast as his body would allow. The need he felt to stake his claim on Misha overrode his control. He couldn’t stop himself from claiming Misha. Ifan leaned over Misha and sank his teeth into the man’s throat again. At the same time, he reached under Misha and grabbed his cock, pumping the hard shaft as fast as he was thrusting into him. “Ifan!” Misha screamed into Ifan’s mind. Hot seed shot out all over Ifan’s hand. The arousing scent of Misha’s release filled the air, overwhelming Ifan. He extracted his teeth from Misha’s neck and shouted out Misha’s name as the spines in his cock extended and took root. His legs shook as his cock erupted inside the man’s tight ass. Waves of exquisite pleasure swamped Ifan until he couldn’t stay standing any longer. He grabbed Misha around the waist and pulled him close to his body as he sank down to his knees and leaned against the couch. “That…that was interesting.” Misha panted silently. Ifan chuckled and rubbed his face against the side of Misha’s head. Part of being a cat was the need to spread his scent all over his

White Paws and a Dream

47

mate. It was a territorial thing meant to warn others away from what belonged to him. Misha was lucky. Usually Ifan just peed on things. “Are you rubbing your scent on me?” Ifan let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah, I am.” “And that’s not odd at all.” “You’d better get used to it, little one. You mated a tiger.” Ifan could feel uncertainty start to fill Misha again as the man turned to look at him. It seemed to Ifan that Misha was fine as long as they were having sex. The minute they stopped fooling around, all of Misha’s insecurities came out. Ifan decided to put a stop to it before it escalated. He grabbed Misha’s jaw and forced the man to look at him. “You are my mate. I may not have been looking for one, but I have one. You. And I may not like people, but you do not fall into the category. You’re in one all by yourself.” “Really?” “Yes, really.” Misha’s eyebrows puckered together. “I promise not to be a problem. I can be very quiet, and I won’t make a mess. I don’t even have anything to make a mess with. You’ll hardly even know I’m there.” “Misha, I seriously doubt I will ever forget that you are around.” Misha’s eyes started to fill. “I’m sorry.” “No, baby, you misunderstand me.” Ifan smiled to let Misha know he wasn’t upset. “You, little one, are gorgeous. It will be impossible for me to forget that you’re around when you look good enough to eat.” Misha swallowed as his eyes dropped down to Ifan’s mouth. “Eat?” Ifan started laughing. He couldn’t explain the joy that suddenly filled him. He couldn’t remember feeling so light in the soul in years, maybe centuries. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off his

48

Stormy Glenn

shoulders since mating Misha. He was enjoying life again for the first time in years. He reached down and squeezed Misha’s softening cock. “This is the only thing I plan on eating, Misha.” Misha’s face flushed. He swallowed again, hard. “Okay.” Ifan groaned a moment later when he felt the spines recede and his cock slipped out of Misha’s tight ass. He looked around for something to clean them both up with. When he couldn’t find anything, he whipped his shirt over his head and used that. When he was done, he tossed it into the corner and helped Misha to his feet. “Get dressed, Misha,” Ifan said as he tucked himself back into his pants and zipped up. “I’d like to go say goodbye to Brodelyn before we have to leave.” “You two really know each other?” “We do.” Ifan stood back and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Misha get dressed. It was really a shame to cover up such a perfect little body, but Ifan refused to let anyone else see his pretty man. Once they reached home, however, Ifan intended to hide every stitch of clothing that Misha owned. Ifan grinned just thinking about Misha’s naked ass running around his house all day long. He wouldn’t get a lot of work done, but he’d be a very happy man. “Okay, I’m ready.” Ifan frowned. “Misha, can you talk at all?” “I am talking.” “No, baby, can you talk with your mouth?” Misha blinked. “Why would I want to?” Ifan growled. “Because I don’t like the idea of someone hearing you talking to him in his head.” Misha’s eyes widened for a moment then he covered his mouth with his hand. A twinkling of muffled laughter filled the room. “You’re jealous.”

White Paws and a Dream

49

Ifan purposely frowned, drawing his eyebrows together low over his face. “So, what if I am?” Joy bubbled in Misha’s laugh and shone brightly in his pale blue eyes. Misha walked forward, stopping directly in front of Ifan. He leaned in close and crooked his finger until Ifan leaned down. “You’re really, really hot,” Misha whispered out loud into Ifan’s ear. Ifan smiled. “So are you.” Misha had an irresistibly devastating grin on his face as he twisted back and forth in front of Ifan. It was like the man couldn’t contain himself and had to move. Ifan chuckled and wrapped his arm around Misha’s shoulders, turning him toward the door. “Come on, little one, let’s go say goodbye to Brodelyn and then we can head for home.” “Do you really live in a forest?” Misha asked as they walked down the hallway. “I do,” Ifan replied. “I have a nice little cabin in the woods.” “And no one except you lives there?” “Well, you live there now, too.” “Right.” Ifan waited a moment for Misha to say something else. When he didn’t, Ifan glanced down at him. Misha had his lower lip caught between his teeth. He seemed to be thinking really hard. “Misha, do you have a question?” “Yes, but—” “Misha, the only stupid question is the one that you don’t ask.” Thirty seconds later, Ifan wished that he had phrased that just a little differently. Misha started asking questions, and they just kept on coming, sometimes before Ifan even had a chance to answer. “What do you do there? Do you have a job? Will I have a job? Do you have pets? Can I have a pet? How far are you from civilization? I know you don’t like people, but do you ever have visitors? Do you have a bathroom? I won’t have to pee outside, will I? Do you have hot

50

Stormy Glenn

and cold running water? Do you know how to cook? Can you teach me? How do you get your food if you never go anywhere? Do you grow your own food? And what about milk and stuff? Do you have a cow?” Ifan growled and slapped his hand over Misha’s mouth. Misha’s eyes widened. “Yes, I have a job. I make jewelry and leather crafts. You won’t have a job, per say, but you can help me with mine if you are interested. I do not have pets, not even a cow. I go into town once a week and get my supplies. And yes, I do grow much of my own food. My house is completely modernized with a bathroom, hot and cold running water, and even electricity.” Ifan took a deep breath. “And yes, I will teach you how to cook.” He hesitantly took his hand away from Misha’s mouth, ready to slap it back in place at the first question. Misha was a headache, but he was a bubbly headache. “Cool.” Misha grinned. Ifan arched an eyebrow. “That’s it?” Misha nodded. “No more questions?” Ifan didn’t believe it. “Not a single one?” “Do I get to sleep with you? How often can we have sex? We’re allowed to have sex when we get to your house, aren’t we? Can we have sex on the way home? Do you have toys? I’ve heard about toys, and I’d really like to try them out. Is that okay? And maybe we should get a couch like the one in the arboretum? That was a lot of fun.” Ifan threw his head back and roared with laughter. Misha’s mere presence gave Ifan a joy he hadn’t felt in so long, he had forgotten what it felt like. His mood seemed suddenly buoyant, optimistic. “I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.” Ifan’s laughter dwindled away as he turned to see Brodelyn standing in the doorway of his quarters, a quizzical expression on his face. “You were laughing.”

White Paws and a Dream

51

Ifan smirked. “Is that so surprising?” “Yes! I haven’t heard you laugh in years.” Ifan chuckled and drew Misha back into his arms. “That was before I mated Misha.” **** Ifan leaned back against the wall and watched his mate charm every member of the UPAC council. Misha did it with such ease that Ifan was almost jealous—almost. It was just a simple smile here, a softly spoken word there. Misha had the elders eating out of his hands. And Ifan would have been jealous if Misha hadn’t kept coming back to him time and time again, cuddling into his side. If anyone came too close or made a remark he was uncomfortable with, Misha immediately crossed over to him. Mostly, people left Misha alone other than to chat with him. No one approached Ifan—well, no one with an ounce of intelligence, anyway. Ifan cocked an eyebrow and turned to look at the man that walked up and leaned against the wall next to him. “Sebastian,” he said simply. “Ifan.” The man nodded. Ifan turned to look back out over the crowd. Everyone was mingling as they got ready for the grand banquet. Ifan could think of a hundred places he’d rather be, but Misha seemed so excited, he couldn’t deny him. “He yours?” Ifan followed Sebastian’s eyes to settle on Misha. “He is.” “See the little man over there with the neon green bunny purse?” Sebastian pointed to a white-haired man standing across the room. “Yours?” “Yep.” Sebastian chuckled and shook his head. “He’s a freaking bunny.”

52

Stormy Glenn

Ifan’s mouth dropped open. It wasn’t often that he was shocked, but hearing that his old friend, Sebastian Drakus, was mated to a bunny was astonishing. Sebastian was the prince of dragons. “You’re mated to a bunny?” Sebastian’s lips pressed together. He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. Ifan snickered and matched Sebastian’s posture. He gestured toward Misha with his head. “Misha? He’s a dreamwalker.” “I thought you never left your forest,” Sebastian said as he turned to look at Ifan. “How did you end up here and mated?” “Council orders, how else?” “Right, UPAC.” Sebastian grimaced. “I can’t wait for the day that one of the elders goes down. They really need to see how the rest of us mere mortals live.” “Speak for yourself.” Ifan snorted. “I hope one of those damn bastards finds himself mated against his will. Let’s see them get out of that.” “In your dreams. Elders do not get mated against their will.” Ifan thought about the man that had jumped past him onto the stage at the great gathering two days ago and attacked an elder. He hadn’t seen that elder since. Maybe his little dream had a possibility of occurring, maybe not. “Well, we’ll see.” “So, when are you heading back to your forest?” “In the morning,” Ifan replied. “We planned to head back yesterday morning, but Elder Lucas wanted Misha here for a little longer. I guess he was in pretty bad shape when he arrived, something about being found in an abandoned warehouse.” Sebastian’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t know?” “Misha will tell me when he’s ready.” The moment the elders discovered that Misha could speak, they had started asking him questions. Ifan had put up with it until he felt

White Paws and a Dream

53

the waves of distress coming off of his mate and then he had put his foot down, whisking his mate away. Elder Lucas had come by himself later in the day and talked quietly with Misha. Ifan stood back and carefully monitored Misha. Their talk seemed to go okay. Misha was more comfortable with Elder Lucas. It was the entire council that sent him into panic. Once the elder left, Ifan jumped Misha, ravishing him until the man was exhausted and happy once again. Ifan much preferred his mate happy. When Misha was sad, his tiger started to pace, growling and hissing at anyone who came close to their mate. Happy was safer for everyone. “I think everyone is getting ready to sit down for dinner.” Ifan took his eyes off his mate and glanced around the room. Sebastian was right. People were moving toward their tables and sitting down. Waiters were staring to bring food out. Ifan pushed away from the wall. “I suppose we’d better collect our mates and sit down.” Ifan patted Sebastian on the shoulder. “Good luck to you, Sebastian. I wish you and your bunny all the best.” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Same to you.” Ifan watched Sebastian walk off to collect his mate then went in search of his own. He frowned when a quick scan of the room produced no Misha. “Misha, where are you?” he asked through their mental bond. Panic took hold of Ifan when he didn’t even receive white noise. There was nothing coming through their bond, not even emotions. The only thing Ifan did know was that his mate was alive—but only because he was alive. Their life threads were entwined. If Misha died, he died. Not knowing where his mate was or what was happening to him was almost debilitating. Ifan began to search the room, going from one end to the other. Once he was positive that Misha wasn’t in the room, Ifan ran for the hallway. He spotted two guards just outside the large double doors.

54

Stormy Glenn

“Have you seen a short, dark-brown-haired man with pale blue eyes?” Ifan asked. The guards both shook their heads. Ifan felt like pulling his hair out. There were so many smells in the castle that it was hard to differentiate between them. Finding Misha might be impossible.

White Paws and a Dream

55

Chapter 5 Misha’s head was groggy, but he knew enough to know he was being carried off somewhere he didn’t want to go. He was supposed to be attending a fancy black-tie dinner with Ifan. He wasn’t supposed to be carried off anywhere. Ifan was going to be pissed when he caught up with them. Misha giggled against the hand pressed over his mouth. If they thought he was dangerous, wait until they met his big bad mate. Ifan would destroy them. “Markus, he’s laughing,” someone said. “What in the hell do you want me to do about it?” another, deeper voice asked. “Make him stop!” the first voice exclaimed. “You make him stop.” “How?” Misha felt someone shake him. His head lolled back and forth from the force. He giggled louder. “If we give him any more of this serum, it could kill him. We were specifically told only to give him a little.” “Hit him over the head or something,” the deep voice said. “Hugo said we couldn’t hurt him. You heard him as well as I did. If we hurt a hair on Mikhail’s head, Hugo will have ours.” Misha grunted as he was jostled when whoever carried him suddenly came to a stop. He didn’t feel so well. His stomach was starting to roll, and his head felt foggy. “Damn it, Darren, what do you want me to do about it?”

56

Stormy Glenn

Ah, so Darren carried him. Markus must be the man with the deeper voice. Misha blinked as he realized his head was starting to clear. He was beginning to understand things and make sense of them. The most important thing he knew was that he couldn’t let Markus and Darren take him out of the council castle. He would be doomed if they did. Once Hugo found out he had mated Ifan, Misha’s life wouldn’t be worth spit. Misha closed his eyes to concentrate then wished he hadn’t when his head immediately began to spin. He quickly opened them back up and picked a spot to stare at—Darren’s wristwatch. Keeping his eyes glued to the fake gold watch so his stomach wouldn’t rebel, Misha started mentally chanting Ifan’s name over and over again. He had to reach Ifan. The bond between them was the only way. “I say,” a voice Misha recognized suddenly said, “is that young Misha you have there?” Maybe not. “Brodelyn, run!” Misha screamed silently. “Get Ifan! Get help!” Misha whined when Brodelyn didn’t respond. “Who the hell are you?” Markus snapped. “Me?” Brodelyn asked. “I’m the UPAC historian. I live here. Who are you?” “None of your damn business,” Markus snarled. “Now get out of our way, old man.” “That is very rude.” Misha started giggling again. He couldn’t help it. The situation was just too funny. He was fighting for his life, and he couldn’t lift a finger to help himself. Whatever drug they had shot him up with seemed to keep his body from doing what he wanted it to do. Worse yet, it kept him from being able to contact Ifan. His hero, if he could call Brodelyn that, was arguing with his captors and accusing them of being rude. He was going to die before

White Paws and a Dream

57

Hugo ever got a hold of him and all because his savior was worried about someone’s etiquette. Misha grunted again when he was suddenly dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. He rolled onto his back and turned his head to watch whatever was going to happen. It wasn’t like he could join in or anything. He could barely get his fingers to move. Misha blinked when a loud, furious roar filled the hallway. Ifan was here. A blur of white flashed past Misha. He tried to track it with his eyes but that just made his stomach start to roll again. Misha heard screaming. He heard roaring. He heard something crash against the wall. He even felt the floor shake. He saw nothing until a large, furry muzzle appeared in front of his face. Misha smiled. “Ifan,” he whispered through their bond. “I knew you would come for me.” “Always, little one.” “They gave me a shot of some sort.” Misha wanted body-to-body contact. “I can’t move.” Ifan shifted in the blink of an eye. One moment there was a large tiger hovering over him. The next moment, Ifan was there, gathering Misha up in his arms. Misha had enough movement back in his body to nuzzle his head under Ifan’s chin. “Is that better, Misha?” “Yes.” Misha sighed. “Brodelyn,” Ifan said out loud, “you have my thanks.” “If you really want to thank me, puts some damn clothes on.” Misha blinked. “You’re naked?” Ifan chuckled and rubbed his cheek against the top of his head. “My clothes shredded when I shifted, Misha. They don’t magically grow back.” “Then you need to seriously put some damn clothes on.” Misha growled as he leaned his head back and glared at his mate. “No one gets to see you naked but me.” “Misha, I’m a shifter. It’s not like this is something I can help.”

58

Stormy Glenn

“I get that.” Misha frowned. “But it doesn’t mean you have to stand here and let it all hang out. Find something to cover up with, damn it.” Misha clenched his teeth as Ifan’s laughter filled the hallway. He didn’t see what was so funny about the whole situation. Ifan might be a shifter, but he really didn’t need to be standing there naked. Misha felt something brush his cheek and realized that Brodelyn was wrapping a cloak around Ifan’s shoulders. He still wanted to punch Ifan in the shoulder but at least the man was covered. “Now, little one,” Ifan said, “do you want to explain to me why you were being carried out of the castle?” Misha couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do less, but he could feel the weight of Ifan’s glare. He wasn’t going to get away with silence this time. He just wasn’t sure how much to tell Ifan. He was on shaky ground with the man as it was. Knowledge of Hugo could send him crashing. Misha was saved from spilling his guts when guards ran around the corner, followed closely by Elder Lucas. The elder was looking around wildly, wringing his hands together. A blood vessel throbbed in his forehead. “Oh, this isn’t good,” the elder said as he looked at the two mangled and bloody bodies on the floor. “This isn’t good at all.” “Elder?” Ifan asked. “I know these men.” “And?” Elder Lucas’s eyes moved up to Ifan’s. “And we’re in a lot of trouble.” **** Misha sat on at the small cushioned seat by the window and alternated between watching out the window and watching everyone

White Paws and a Dream

59

in the room. The commotion in the room was sporadic, going from nearly nothing to rants and raves. Ifan was in a rage, Elder Lucas wringing his hands together, again. Even Brodelyn was getting in on the tension. The man kept coming in and out of the room, spreading scroll after scroll out on the table for the elder. And no one would tell Misha what was going on, although, he had a suspicion. Hugo was somehow involved, and if Hugo was involved, that meant Misha’s father was involved. Hugo and Misha’s father, Felix Surkov, were glued together at the hip. They did everything together, including terrorize Misha. Misha shuddered just thinking about the two men and the chaos they could create when they put their minds to it. Felix Surkov was a strong mindwalker. Hugo had strength on his side. Together, they could command almost anyone with a mere thought. They just couldn’t command Misha, for which he would be forever grateful to whoever made that bit of magic happen. Misha’s ability to enter dreams was unparalleled according to his father. There hadn’t been a dreamwalker born with his strength in over a thousand years. Not only could Misha walk in people’s dreams, he could speak mentally and change dreams as he wished. That made him special, unique in the walker world. It was a power Felix wanted to control and he was using Hugo to do it. If Misha mated Hugo then Hugo could use their mating bond to control Misha and use the powers he had to fit Hugo’s needs. Misha wasn’t stupid. He had studied the laws. It went against everything walkers believed in to invade someone’s mind or dreams without permission or to try and change them. It was also against UPAC laws. The punishments could be severe depending on the offense—anything from a sanction to banishment to execution. It was not something Misha wanted to contemplate. He did his level best to adhere to the UPAC laws. He didn’t want to be punished. He also felt it was rude to enter someone’s mind or

60

Stormy Glenn

dreams without their permission. It was a just wrong, like assaulting someone mentally instead of physically. The mere thought made Misha’s skin crawl with disgust. Felix and Hugo didn’t seem to care about the rules. They entered the mind or dreams of anyone they chose to. They wanted power and had no issue using whoever they needed to use to gain it. Enter Misha. Felix and Hugo couldn’t control him. They couldn’t control his power. And they tried to use any means necessary to gain his compliance. When that didn’t work, they took to torturing him, trying to force him to mate with Hugo. Misha held out as long as he could, hiding himself in the cotton-cushioned world he created in his head and dreaming of his true mate—Ifan. Ifan had been the only thing to keep Misha alive. He’d dreamed of one day being held in Ifan’s strong, powerful arms, of being loved by the man. Well, half of his dream had come true, anyway. Misha wondered if the second half, the most important half, would ever be realized. He wanted Ifan to love him. “You’re awfully quiet, little one,” Ifan said as he walked over to stand next to Misha. “Is there something on your mind?” “When can we go home?” Misha desperately wanted to go home and be away from this place. The UPAC castle in Scotland was supposed to be secure. It obviously wasn’t. Misha could only hope that Ifan’s cabin in the woods was better protected, or he was in deep trouble. Hugo and Felix would stop at nothing to get to him. “We’ll be headed home soon, Misha.” Ifan waved his hand back to the men huddled around a small table. “We need to figure out what happened first. Someone tried to take you from me and—” “Hugo.” “Hugo?” Ifan’s eyebrow arched. “And just who is Hugo?” “He wants to be my mate.” Misha’s eyes widened when Ifan growled and his skin rippled as if his tiger was trying to get out. He quickly held up his hands. “I

White Paws and a Dream

61

don’t want to be his mate, I swear. I’ve told him this several times but he doesn’t care. He won’t take no for an answer.” “Who is he?” “Hugo is a mindwalker like me and my father. He’s just not a very strong mindwalker, which—” “Which is why he wants you?” Ifan finished for him. Misha nodded. “He can’t have you.” Ifan’s hands clenched then wrapped around his arms. Long, sharp claws extended from the tips of his fingers. A dark scowl crossed his face. Strangely, Misha wasn’t afraid, not even when Ifan reached for him with his clawed hands. “You belong to me now and he can’t have you.” “I’d really like that,” Misha whispered as he nuzzled his head under Ifan’s chin. “He’s not a nice guy.” Misha felt Ifan’s fingers tighten around his arms. “Has he hurt you?” Misha wasn’t sure how to answer that, so he just shrugged. Hugo had hurt him, but he scared him more with the things he said he was going to do. The threats of what would happen were the worst. Misha knew if Hugo did them, he would wish he was dead. “My father was worse,” Misha finally answered. “Your father?” “Hugo and my father work together. They want to control my walker abilities.” “Why?” That was the big question. Misha shrugged again, not wanting to answer. Ifan didn’t remember the dreams they had shared, a thought that made Misha’s heart ache. They were the only thing that held him together when his father had him in that warehouse. “Hugo is not very strong mentally and is easily controlled by my father. My father’s abilities have been muted with time. He wants the power back.” “And he wants to use you to get it?”

62

Stormy Glenn

Misha nodded again. “How does Hugo come into this then?” Ifan asked. “Can’t your father just get you to do what he wants?” “No, I refused.” “You refused?” “It’s wrong to enter someone’s dreams without their permission. It’s invasive and rude. It’s also against UPAC law. I could get into a lot of trouble. My father just doesn’t seem to care.” Ifan frowned. “I still don’t see where this Hugo guy comes into this.” Misha sighed deeply then pushed back from Ifan’s arms. He turned and looked back out the window. His heart felt heavy. “If I mated with Hugo, then he could use my powers through the mate bond to invade people’s dreams and change them, get them to do what he wants.” Misha licked his dry lips and glanced over his shoulder. “My mate can use me to access the dream world.” A deep frown came over Ifan’s face. “I don’t understand.” Misha wasn’t surprised. People that didn’t dreamwalk usually didn’t get it. Misha tried to explain it in terms Ifan would understand. “In your tiger form, you can smell scents up to what, one, two miles?” “Thereabouts, yes.” “For the sake of argument, let’s say you can smell scents up to five miles in every direction.” “Okay.” Ifan crossed his arms over his chest, looking unconvinced by Misha’s words. “Now, hypothetically, what if you mated another tiger that could scent smells for ten miles in every direction.” “Okay.” “Now, because you are mated to this other tiger, you have a bond, and that bond allows you to use your mate’s abilities and add them to your own. You’d be able to scent everything in fifteen miles in every direction, instead of five.”

White Paws and a Dream

63

Misha watched the dawning truth drain the blood from Ifan’s face. He didn’t know how much Ifan knew about dreamwalkers, but he was mated to one now. He’d learn. “I am a powerful dreamwalker, maybe one of the most powerful born in centuries. If Hugo mated me and could tap into my powers, he would be unstoppable.” “Fuck!” “Oh, it gets better.” Misha laughed harshly. “Hugo and my father want me to mate Hugo so that they can tap into my powers.” “You already said that.” “Yes, but what you don’t know is that the second they discover I am mated, I suspect that they will try and come after you. They can’t kill you without killing me. Our souls have bonded. But they can use you against me to get me to do what they want.” Ifan’s face darkened as he growled. “Not going to happen.” “It could,” Misha whispered sadly as he turned back to look out the window, leaning his head against the cool glass. “I’d do anything to keep you safe.”

64

Stormy Glenn

Chapter 6 Several days later, Ifan was still mulling over Misha’s words. Misha had spoken so quietly that Ifan suspected he wasn’t supposed to overhear the words, but he was a tiger. He had excellent hearing. He just wasn’t sure what Misha meant by them. Ifan knew the bond between them was strong, maybe even stronger than the elders suspected. Tigers never did exactly as the elders suspected anyway, and Ifan was living proof of that. He hadn’t done anything the elders really wanted in hundreds of years— until the night of the great gathering. He didn’t like being dictated to, but even he knew he couldn’t avoid the council forever. He figured if he gave in for one night, the council would leave him alone for another five hundred years. He had no idea how much his life would change in one single night...from one single man. Misha was a source of constant amazement to Ifan. He was no bigger than a mite, yet he was the most resilient person Ifan had ever met. He took whatever life handed out to him and just kept on going. Ifan wasn’t even sure he could be so brave. And yet, Ifan could feel that Misha was holding something back from him. He just didn’t know what it was. There was a hesitancy in Misha that hadn’t been there when they first met. It was almost as if Misha had a secret he couldn’t share. It drove Ifan crazy. Misha was caring enough, always staying close and being affectionate in his own way. He even seemed eager when they had sex, which seemed to be almost any time they were alone. Ifan knew Misha was fully with him when they were in bed but there also felt

White Paws and a Dream

65

like something was missing. Ifan just couldn’t put his finger on what exactly it was. Misha had also seemed preoccupied since they left the UPAC castle in Scotland. He spent much of his time staring out the window. At first, Ifan assumed he was watching the scenery, but after several days of traveling, he was starting to think Misha was avoiding him. Ifan’s tiger began to growl and pace. His skin rippled as he tried to keep from shifting. His tiger wanted out, wanted to claim their mate and exert their dominance over Misha. Neither of them liked being ignored. “We should be home soon,” Ifan said to break the silence in the truck. Neither he nor Misha had spoken in a couple of hours. Misha glanced over his shoulder from where he was looking out the passenger window. He just smiled, not saying a word. Ifan tightened his hands around the steering wheel. The silent treatment was getting pretty stale. “Did I piss you off or something?” “No.” Misha’s eyebrows shot up like he was surprised. “What made you think that?” “You haven’t said a word in hours.” Misha shrugged, looking away. “I didn’t think you wanted me to talk.” “And what gave you that idea?” Ifan growled. “You don’t like people.” Ifan growled and tightened his grip on the steering wheel until it crackled beneath his hands. “You’re not people, Misha. I told you that.” “I just didn’t want—” Misha pressed his lips together. His eyebrows drew together. Ifan could see that Misha was struggling to say something, and he knew it was important. He scanned the road ahead until he spotted a spot where he could pull off. It wasn’t exactly a road, but it would hide them from passing traffic well enough.

66

Stormy Glenn

He slowed the truck and turned, following the narrow dirt turnoff behind some brush and trees. He parked the truck and turned it off then turned to Misha. Gesturing with his hand, he called Misha over. “Come here, little one.” Misha hesitated for a moment then unbuckled his seatbelt and slid across the seat to sit next to Ifan. “Now, I’m going to say this one more time, and I want you to listen to me this time, Mikhail. I don’t like people as a general rule, but I do not consider you ‘people.’ You are my mate. That makes you different.” “But you didn’t want a mate,” Misha whispered. “I wasn’t looking for a mate,” Ifan replied. “There’s a big difference between wanting a mate and looking for a mate. I’m old, Misha, way past the age I should have found a mate. I stopped looking a long time ago. That does not mean I didn’t want a mate, only that I thought I would never have one.” “I’m sorry.” Ifan sighed and dropped his head back against the headrest. “Baby, you’re not listening to me. I stopped looking for a mate because I never thought I would have one. But now I do, and I’m keeping you.” Misha frowned and stared down at his hands. When he started twisting them together, Ifan reached over and grabbed them. “Just say it, Misha.” “Did you know that the elders didn’t give you the same potion they gave everyone else? They were concerned that you would harm me if you were in a mating heat.” Misha’s eyes glistened with tears when he looked up. “So, see, you didn’t really have to keep me.” “Misha, I knew I was going to keep you from the minute I laid eyes on you. I don’t care about the elders’ fucked-up potions or the midnight mating requirements. I care about you, but only you. The rest of the world can slide into the ocean for all I care. You are the only one who’s important to me.”

White Paws and a Dream

67

Misha sobbed quietly and dove at Ifan’s chest. Ifan wrapped his arms around Misha and hugged the little man as close as he could without crushing him. He buried his face in Misha’s dark brown hair and just held on. “I don’t care how it happened, Misha—elders, fate, potions, none of that matters to me. What matters to me is that we are together now. Somehow, we found each other, and someone saw fit to make us mates. I’m not going to give up the chance we’ve been given.” Misha sniffled and nodded his head against Ifan’s chest. “And despite what you’ve said about the elders and the potion, I still think we should follow their directions for the post-claiming requirements.” Ifan chuckled. “Just to be on the safe side, mind you.” Misha laughed then sniffled. “Okay.” Ifan nudged Misha’s chin up with his finger. “Now, no more worrying about me not wanting you around, okay? You were given to me and I’m not giving you back. You’re stuck with me.” Ifan didn’t immediately understand why the smile on Misha’s face made him feel so good deep down in the pit of his soul. He just knew it did. Everything about Misha made him feel good, something Ifan had never felt from another person. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about being forced to mate Misha, but he was no longer questioning the fact that Misha was his. And he’d destroy anyone that tried to take Misha from him. He didn’t care if it was the elders, Misha’s father, or Hugo. They would die if they touched a hair on his mate’s head. “Are you ready to go home now, Misha?” “No,” Misha said as he sat up. Ifan’s eyebrows shot up. “No?” “No.” Misha grinned. His eyes dropped to Ifan’s groin. Ifan quickly looked around to make sure they were still hidden from the road then reached down to push the seat back. Once there was enough room, Ifan leaned back in his seat and waved his hand at his pants.

68

Stormy Glenn

“Just what did you have in mind?” Misha reached over and unbuttoned Ifan’s pants. Ifan’s hard cock popped out before Misha got the zipper all the way down. Ifan wasn’t in the least bit surprised he had gone from concerned to horny in the blink of an eye. He was pretty sure he had been more aroused in the last week than he had been in the last hundred years. Misha seemed to have the effect on him. “Oh fuck!” Ifan groaned when Misha leaned over and started licking the tip of his cock. He spread his arms out along the back of the bench seat and gripped the soft leather in his hands. “No one sucks cock like you do, Misha.” Misha’s moan vibrated down Ifan’s cock. Damn, that was just…damn. Misha’s lips were soft and plush and wrapped around his cock with just the right amount of pressure to give Ifan the most pleasure possible. That Misha could swallow him down to the root was just an added bonus—a huge, mind-numbing bonus. When Misha crawled up to kneel on the bench seat, Ifan’s eyes moved along the man’s lithe body until they landed on his tight, rounded ass. Misha really had a fantastic ass. Ifan liked looking at it even when he wasn’t balls deep inside of it. It was just the perfect ass. It also begged to be caressed. Ifan leaned sideways and reached out to run his hand over the softly rounded curves. Misha shuddered. Ifan chuckled when Misha pushed his ass up into the air and spread his legs. He knew an invitation when he saw one. Ifan followed the seam in Misha’s pants down to the crack of his ass. The harder he pressed against the seam, the harder Misha sucked on his cock. When Ifan’s hand moved farther down and gently squeezed the man’s balls through the soft fabric of his pants, Misha started moaning. Ifan felt Misha fumbling around for a moment and then suddenly, the man’s pants loosened and slid down, bunching around his thighs. Ifan chuckled and started stroking the naked flesh revealed to him.

White Paws and a Dream

69

“You have a very nice ass, Misha.” Ifan quickly licked his fingers then stroked them down the crack of Misha’s ass again until he reached a small, quivering circle of muscles. He just circled the small hole with his fingers. “Do you like that, Misha?” Misha started moaning and didn’t stop. The more Ifan touched him, the louder Misha became. Ifan groaned and closed his eyes, letting his head drop back against the seat again. Misha was going wild on his cock—licking and sucking and swallowing. Ifan felt like the top of his head was going to blow off, both of them. He needed a minute to breathe, or the show was going to be over in a matter of seconds. He gently patted Misha’s rounded ass cheek. “Baby, I need the lube out of the glove box.” Ifan almost passed out when Misha shook his head, refusing to let go of the cock in his mouth. The pleasure was exquisite, but he wanted Misha to feel the same pleasure he was. “I can’t put my fingers in your ass without lube.” Misha’s moan of protest almost undid Ifan. Only by biting his lip did he keep from groaning when Misha suddenly sat up and turned toward the glove box. When Misha bent over to get the lube, Ifan got as good look at the man’s sexy ass. Yum. Ifan grabbed Misha by the hips before he could turn around. He held him in place and scooted over. When he couldn’t get any further over, he pushed Misha’s pants down his legs until one was free. Then he moved over until he was between the man’s legs, Misha kneeling on the seat over the top of him. “Lube,” Ifan said, holding his hand out. He chuckled when it was quickly slapped into his hand. Ifan popped the top and slicked up his fingers. He wiped a generous amount on his cock then dribbled more down the crack of Misha’s ass. “Should we be doing this?” Misha whispered.

70

Stormy Glenn

“Oh, hell yes!” Ifan pushed a lubed finger into Misha’s ass. He dropped the lube on the seat and grabbed Misha’s hip with the other hand when the man’s legs began to shake. “Stay on your knees, baby. Lean against the dashboard if you have to.” Misha leaned forward, giving Ifan a better view and more room to work. He could actually see his finger move in and out of Misha’s tight hole. He couldn’t wait to feel his cock slide into the same hole. Ifan carefully inserted a second finger, watching with delight as Misha’s ass just sucked him right in. He curved his fingers, searching. His fingers grazed the small walnut-sized gland he was looking for, and Misha’s hips shot forward as the man cried out. Misha started rocking back and forth. Ifan waited several moments until he felt the man’s tight circle of muscles start to loosen and then he added a third finger. Misha’s cries grew louder, filling the small cab of the truck. Ifan continued to push his fingers in and out of Misha’s ass until he couldn’t take the wait any longer. He needed to be inside of his mate. Ifan pulled his fingers free and grabbed Misha’s hips. He pulled his mate back and slowly lowered him down until the head of his cock popped into Misha’s ass. Ifan squeezed his eyes closed and savored every inch that slid into Misha. There just wasn’t anything in the world that felt so damn good. When Misha’s body rested fully down on him and his cock wouldn’t slide in any more, Ifan opened his eyes. He pulled Misha back until the man’s head rested on his shoulder. He reached around and grabbed Misha’s cock in his hand and started stroking him. “Let me know when you’re going to come, baby,” Ifan whispered against Misha’s ear. Misha just groaned. Ifan rubbed his free hand up over Misha’s abdomen to his chest. Now that his cock was deep inside his mate, he could indulge in a little foreplay. He started by tweaking Misha’s nipples, and gently tugging on them.

White Paws and a Dream

71

All the while, he moved his hand up and down Misha’s hard cock. When he licked a line up the side of Misha’s neck, the man’s body began to shudder. Ifan knew it wouldn’t be long. “Are you going to come for me, Misha?” he asked, so close to Misha’s ear that his lips brushed against them. “I won’t fuck you until you come.” Misha’s arm wrapped around Ifan’s neck and he tilted his head to one side. “Please,” Misha begged. Ifan closed his eyes as he fought for control. Misha’s words were music to his ears, but he needed to make his mate come before he could fuck him like he really wanted to. Ifan didn’t know if it was the dominant tiger in him or the fact that he needed to know his mate was enjoying himself. He just knew what had to happen. “Come for me, Misha.” Misha cried out at Ifan’s growled words. The splash of heat that covered Ifan’s hand was all he needed. Ifan sank his teeth into Misha’s neck at the same time as he grabbed the man’s hips and began fucking him in earnest. With Misha’s body quivering around him, the scent of the man’s seed filling the air, and the sweet taste of Misha’s blood in his mouth, it didn’t take Ifan more than a few moments to reach the peak of ecstasy. He pulled his mouth away from Misha’s neck and roared out his release. Misha rested against him, just laying there as Ifan took pleasure from his body, a pleasure that seemed to go on and on forever. He never wanted to come down from the high he was on. Unfortunately, reality crashed in around him when he heard Misha’s moan of protest as the spines receded and his softening cock slid from the man’s ass. Ifan chuckled and licked the side of Misha’s neck, closing the bite marks and swiping away the last of the blood there. “See, I told you we should do this.” “Okay,” Misha panted.

72

Stormy Glenn

Ifan laughed when he got his first good look at Misha’s face. The man’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes rounded and dazed. Ifan leaned past Misha and reached into the glove box for the wipes there. “Come on, baby, let’s get cleaned up and back on the road. We still have a few hours to go before we reach home.” “Tired.” Misha yawned, holding his hand to his mouth. “You can sleep once you get your pants back on, promise.” Ifan helped Misha get cleaned up then did the same for himself. By the time he had his pants back in place, Misha had his pulled up and zipped. Ifan scooted back over to his side of the truck and put his seatbelt back on. He waited for Misha to get buckled in and settled. “Ready?” Misha grinned and nodded. “Are you sure you don’t mind if I nap?” “No, Misha, that’s fine. I imagine you’ll want to have plenty of energy to explore your new home when we get there.” Misha nodded again and opened his mouth to say something. Ifan frowned when Misha’s face paled. He turned, following Misha’s gaze past his shoulder just in time to see a car driving past their hidden spot on the side of the road. It was just a car, a nondescript, blue, four-door sedan. Ifan turned back to Misha in confusion. “Misha, what’s wrong?” “I thought I saw my father in that car.” Ifan stiffened and glanced out the window again. He didn’t see anything through the trees, so he didn’t think they had been seen. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious. He turned back to Misha and patted his leg. “It’s okay, Misha, they didn’t see us. And I seriously doubt that they know where I live.” Ifan started the truck and slowly backed it out of their hiding spot. “Besides, I know a few different routes back home. Even if they are following us, we’ll lose them.” “What if we don’t?” Misha asked. “What if they follow us home?”

White Paws and a Dream

73

“Then we’ll deal with it, Misha.” “But what if—” Ifan stopped the truck at the entrance to the road and reached over to squeeze Misha’s hand. He realized how scared Misha actually was when he felt the trembling in Misha’s hand. He tried to not look concerned, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t. “I haven’t grown as old as I am without being careful, Misha. Even if they do track us to the house, we have other places to hide.” Misha sucked in his bottom lip and turned to look out the front window. He looked nervous, and something else that Ifan couldn’t define, so he just waited for Misha to say what he needed to say. “I wish…” Misha licked his lips. “I wish I wasn’t the way I was. If I couldn’t dreamwalk, Hugo and my father wouldn’t want me. And you…you wouldn’t be in danger.” “The hell I wouldn’t!” Ifan reached over and gripped Misha’s chin with his hand, turning the man’s face toward his. “If it hadn’t been dreamwalking, it would have been something else, and you know it. Hugo and your father are the type of people to use anyone and anything to get what they want.” “I just hate this.” Misha pulled his chin away and looked down at his hands. “I just want to live a quiet life somewhere where no one will bother me. Is that too much to ask?” Ifan smiled. “No, baby, it’s not too much to ask, and with any luck, that’s exactly what we will have.” He drove the truck out onto the road and started the trip for home once again. “We just have to convince everyone else to leave us alone.”

74

Stormy Glenn

Chapter 7 Misha opened his eyes and looked around, instantly realizing that the eerie silence had woken him. The engine on the truck was off, and the cab was empty except for him. Ifan was nowhere in sight. He couldn’t see a thing. There wasn’t even any moonlight to light the surrounding area. It was pitch dark outside. It didn’t help that Misha didn’t have a clue where he was. His heart started beating faster as he sat up, gripping the jacket that covered him tightly in his hands. “Ifan?” he called out desperately through his bond with his mate as fear began to fill him. “I’m here, Misha,” Ifan responded right back almost immediately. “Just stay in the truck. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” “Where are you?” “I’m just scouting the area, making sure we don’t have any unwanted visitors.” Misha started breathing a little easier. He could still feel his heart pounding rapidly as the darkness seemed to close in around him, but he didn’t feel the all-consuming fear he had when he first woke up. “Are we home?” “We’re not too far from home, but I wanted to check things out before taking you there just in case.” “Have you found anything?” “Nothing looks disturbed, and as you pointed out once, I can scent things that are quite far away. I don’t smell anything that shouldn’t be here. I think we’re good to go.”

White Paws and a Dream

75

“Okay,” Misha replied, although he didn’t feel okay. He doubted he would feel okay until Ifan returned. Even sitting inside the truck, he felt vulnerable. He wanted his big tiger to come keep him safe. “Just hurry please.” “On my way, baby.” Misha continued to look around as he waited. His nervousness grew by the second. It was quiet, but it seemed almost too quiet. Misha didn’t know anything about the area where Ifan’s home was located, though. Maybe it was supposed to be this quiet. Misha pulled the jacket more closely around him as a deep chill began to set in to his bones. He shivered, but he wasn’t sure if it was because he was cold or because he was scared. And he was getting damn tired of being scared. He was getting damn tired of other people dictating the course of his life. If it wasn’t his father or Hugo, it was the UPAC council. He just wanted to live a quiet life somewhere with someone that cared for him, like Ifan. He didn’t want to be scared anymore. He didn’t want to be constantly looking over his shoulder for someone to jump out and grab him. And he certainly didn’t want to be sitting in a truck while his mate checked to make sure that their home was safe. Felling angry and resentful, Misha pulled the large jacket on and climbed out of the truck. He closed the door and started pacing. The faster Ifan came back, the faster they could get to their home and get on with living their lives. “Ifan?” Misha’s steps faltered when Ifan didn’t immediately respond like he did last time. “Ifan, where are you? Ifan?” Misha stopped pacing and glanced around. He twisted his hands together, realizing that he really had no idea which direction Ifan was coming from. He had no idea where he was, none. It felt like being in the middle of a black hole. “Ifan?” he whispered again. “Please answer me. I’m starting to get worried.”

76

Stormy Glenn

An agonizing silence filled the bond between him and Ifan. Misha suddenly wished that he was a tiger like Ifan so that he could smell the man or maybe follow his trail. Being human, even if he could dreamwalk, sucked. What good was the ability to walk into someone’s dreams when he was so freaked, he couldn’t go to sleep? A twig cracked off to one side of the truck. Misha stiffened and froze, listening carefully. He swallowed hard as something rustled in the bushes in the opposite direction. He didn’t think he was alone anymore. He just didn’t know what had joined him. Misha started slowly backing up toward the door of the truck. It seemed like the better place to be rather than out in the open. He pressed his hand over his collarbone when his heart started beating so fast he thought it might jump right out of his chest. “Ifan, please, I’m really scared,” Misha whispered once more, desperately. “Where are you?” Misha heard more rustling in the bushes. He pressed his back against the side of the truck and tried to peer into the darkness. He saw nothing, but he could feel something watching him. His skin crawled, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. There was definitely something watching him from the trees. Misha reached behind him and grabbed the door handle. He bit his lip when he opened the door and it made a squeaking sound. He felt like the noise was so loud, it could have been heard ten miles away. There was no way that whatever was out there watching him couldn’t have heard the sound. The low, guttural growl started the moment Misha started to climb into the truck. He debated staying where he was for about half a second then dove inside and slammed the door closed behind him. He hit the lock then he searched the tree line. “Oh shit,” Misha whispered when eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness. What scared him more than anything wasn’t the fact that the eyes seemed to glow but that they were so high up in the air. Whoever, or whatever, those eyes belonged to had to be huge.

White Paws and a Dream

77

The branches around the eyes moved. Misha’s eyes widened as the largest hawk he had ever seen flew down and landed on the ground. They grew even rounder when the hawk suddenly shifted into a very handsome man. “Brodelyn?” Misha flattened the palms of his hands against the passenger window and stared out at the naked man. He wasn’t sure if he was seeing things or not. The man looked like Brodelyn, only younger— much younger. Right before his eyes, the man’s dark auburn hair lightened and became tinged with white. His face took on more wrinkles, and his body hunched over as if he were old beyond his years. When he stood, he looked like the man Misha knew as the UPAC historian. Misha rolled the window down just a bit. He refused to open the door until he was sure the man standing before him was the one he met back at the castle. “Brodelyn, is that you?” “Yes, young Misha, it is I,” the man’s voice whispered in Misha’s head. “Why do you look the way you do?” Misha asked out loud. “You’re obviously not that old.” The old man chuckled. “Looks are often deceiving, and they frequently need to be.” “Huh?” Brodelyn clasped his hands together and bowed over them slightly. “I am in disguise, my young friend.” “Oh.” Misha frowned for a moment. “So, you’re a hawk, huh?” “Yes, but I beg you to keep that to yourself. Not many know of my shifter ability, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.” “Kind of like your disguise?” Brodelyn flushed. “That, too.” Misha cautiously unlocked the door and pushed it open. He slid off the seat and stood next to the truck, leaning back on the edge of

78

Stormy Glenn

the bench seat. He knew Brodelyn, but without Ifan there Misha felt weird talking to the man. Ifan had been so upset last time. “I can’t contact Ifan.” Brodelyn’s eyebrows shot up. “Not even through your mate bond?” Misha shook his head. Brodelyn wrung his hands together. “My, that is worrisome.” Misha thought that was probably the biggest understatement that Brodelyn had ever made in his presence. He didn’t know much until Brodelyn continued talking and then nothing but pure fear filled Misha. “I was concerned about the two men that tried to kidnap you from the council castle. After discovering that your father was involved, I went to see him. I arrived just in time to follow him and Hugo leaving.” Brodelyn frowned and shook his head. “Misha, I’m sorry to tell you this, but I followed them here.” “Here?” Misha croaked as he hastily looked around. He almost expected Hugo or his father to jump out of the bushes at any moment. “Where here?” “Well.” Brodelyn waved his hand to the woods behind him. “I followed them to Ifan’s house but then I spotted the truck and came to check it out in case they had brought someone with them. I knew you and Ifan were headed here and didn’t want you to walk into an ambush.” Misha shuddered. He just knew somehow that that was exactly what happened to Ifan. He had been ambushed and was now in the merciless hands of his father and Hugo. Misha hadn’t been this scared when he had been hanging from a beam in that deserted warehouse being tortured by Hugo. This was much, much worse. His mate’s life was in jeopardy. “I need you to take me to where you last saw my father and Hugo.”

White Paws and a Dream

79

Brodelyn frowned again. “Why on earth would I do that? That’s the last place you need to be.” “It’s the only place I need to be.” Misha clenched his fists. He was terrified of confronting his father, but he was even more scared of what Hugo would do to Ifan. The man was evil incarnate. “I have to find Ifan before they hurt him.” “Surely it won’t come to that?” “If you think my father won’t hurt Ifan to get his way then you don’t know my father very well. He’ll do anything to get his way, anything.” Misha knew it like he knew his own name. “But what would he want with Ifan?” “Leverage.” **** Misha could see Brodelyn flying over his head as they both moved closer to the spot where Felix and Hugo had last been seen. Misha was terrified. His hands shook as he moved branches out of his way. His worry over Ifan was making it even harder. Misha knew what to expect from his father and Hugo. Ifan and Brodelyn didn’t have a clue. Felix Surkov was very good at hiding his devious side. He’d been doing it for years. It was almost a badge of pride with him. Misha often wondered if that might be why his father hated him so much. Misha knew his father was a cruel man. Felix was unable to hide his true nature from him. And he seemed to resent Misha because of it. He never passed up the opportunity to smack Misha around or belittle him in some fashion. Misha hated his father with every fiber of his being. The man was mean and merciless. He had no code of ethics, bending or breaking any rule he deemed needed. Misha didn’t understand how everyone couldn’t see the ruthless streak running rampant in the man. It was blatantly obvious to him. Felix reeked of cruelty.

80

Stormy Glenn

Hugo was just as bad if not worse. Felix did what he did to gain power and prestige. Hugo did it to win favor with Felix. If Misha didn’t know for a fact that his father hated gays, he would have thought there was something going on between the two men. Hugo hung on Felix’s every word, did anything the man said, and looked at Felix like he was a walking god. Knowing his father’s disgust of gay relationships, Misha couldn’t for the life of him figure out why he wanted to mate him to Hugo, another man. He knew Felix wanted to tap into his abilities as a dreamwalker, but at what cost? Misha paused and forced his morose thoughts from his head when he suddenly reached the edge of a small clearing. He stayed in the shadows of the trees as he scouted the area for movement. Misha glanced up when he heard a chirp and a rustling in the branches above him. Brodelyn was landing on a tree limb several feet above his head. The beautifully feathered bird seemed to be scanning the small clearing much like Misha had. Misha’s eyebrows shot up when the hawk looked down at him. He would swear the bird was nodding at him. Misha couldn’t shift. Essentially, he was human. He didn’t know how sentient shifters were in their animal form. He prayed they were intelligent as he moved out of the shadow of the trees and started crossing the small clearing. The further he went, the more he could see. A large wooden log structure sat on the edge of the clearing. It was hidden back in the tall trees almost as if someone didn’t want it spotted from the air. Misha knew the minute he saw the building that it was Ifan’s home. There was something about the place, some feeling of peace that entered Misha when he looked at it. Every log, every inch of wall, reminded him of his mate. Misha hesitated when he saw a shadow pass in front of the window. His heart hammered in his chest. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants then flexed his fingers to make them stop cramping. He was so tense, but he had reason to be. He was terrified.

White Paws and a Dream

81

“Ifan, can you hear me?” Misha tried again to reach his mate through their bond. He felt something, almost like a small wiggle, but he heard nothing. It was enough to give him hope. Misha moved closer to the building, walking quickly to the shadows provided by the large structure. He pressed his body against the wall and moved along it until he reached a window. Misha took a moment to draw in a deep breath and brace himself, then peeked around the edge of the window into the house. His eyes scanned the room, a dining room, he thought. A large wooden table sat in the middle of the room, empty chairs all around it. On the far side of the table sat a beautiful knotty pine china hutch filled with dishes and vases and porcelain tea sets. Misha almost laughed at what he was seeing. His mate was a very unusual man. There seemed to be only two entrances into the dining room, one on each side of the room. Misha could see countertops through the one on the right. He assumed it led to the kitchen. The other one was larger, about the size of two doorways, and seemed to lead into a living room area. The shadow was moving about in the living room. Misha could tell from the height that the shadow was made by a man’s body, a large man. He knew it wasn’t Ifan. His mate was taller and had wider shoulders. That meant it had to be Felix or Hugo—and that meant trouble. Misha moved to the back of the house, searching for any way to get inside the house. He saw several windows but none of them seemed appropriate, mostly because they were locked from the inside. That left the back door, which led right into the kitchen. Misha cautiously looked through the window on the back door into the kitchen. The room was empty, but that could change at any moment. Misha needed to hurry. He opened the door, thankful that it didn’t squeak like the truck did, then walked into the kitchen. Misha closed the door carefully,

82

Stormy Glenn

making sure he didn’t make a sound. He turned around and scanned the kitchen for a weapon. He was so scared his hands were shaking as he reached for a small paring knife. He stuck it into the back pocket of his pants, blade first, then grabbed a larger knife. The larger one he held firmly in his hand as he crept toward one of the doors leading out of the kitchen—not the one leading into the dining room. Misha slowly walked down a small hallway until he came to a large archway. When he peeked around the corner, he saw that the archway led into the living room. He also saw that his worst nightmare had come to life. Ifan lay on the floor with his hands tied behind his back. He wasn’t moving. Misha wasn’t even sure he was breathing until he saw the man’s chest move up and down. Misha would have breathed a sigh of relief except Ifan wasn’t the only person in the room. Felix sat on the couch. Hugo was pacing by the front window. There was absolutely no way that Misha could get in to free Ifan with the two men in the room. They’d see him the moment he turned the corner. He needed a plan. Misha leaned back against the wall and racked his brain for some sort of plan that would allow him to rescue Ifan. He clenched his fists when nothing came to mind. He was not a planner by any means. He certainly wasn’t a strategist. He’d be lucky to fight his way out of a paper bag. “Hello, Mikhail.” Misha’s eyes snapped up. Dread filled him. “Hello, Hugo.” “We’ve been waiting for you.” Misha sighed as his heart dropped. “I know.” He had no idea how to get out of this situation now. Before, he might have had a chance. Ifan might have had a chance. Now, they were doomed. There was no way that Misha could get himself away from his father and Hugo, let alone Ifan.

White Paws and a Dream

83

“Why don’t you join us?” Hugo asked, gesturing toward the living room. Misha pushed himself away from the wall and started toward the living room, only stopping when Hugo grabbed his wrist and squeezed until he winced. His eyes shot up to Hugo’s. He didn’t like the malicious grin on the man’s face. “I’ll take that.” Hugo nodded toward the large knife Misha held in his hand. Misha grimaced and dropped it. The corner of his mouth threatened to creep up when Hugo swore and jumped out of the way. He quickly hid it by pressing his lips together. Hugo would smack him if he thought Misha was making fun of him. Misha saw Hugo reach down to grab the knife. Something rebelled inside of him. He kicked out at the knife before Hugo could reach it. The knife shot across the hardwood floor, coming to rest underneath the couch. Hugo growled and raised his hand back into the air. Misha knew he was going to be hit. He narrowed his eyes and looked Hugo straight in the face, something he wouldn’t have done just moments before. “Go ahead,” Misha snapped, “and see what happens.” Hugo’s eyebrows drew together in a confused frown. Misha had never stood up to him before, not like this. The only time he refused to do as Hugo ordered was when the man tried to mate him. Misha knew Ifan was waiting for him, and he wouldn’t betray his mate for anything, not even relief from the pain Hugo inflicted upon him. Misha rolled his eyes when Hugo slowly lowered his hand. Hugo was still looking confused as if he didn’t understand this new and improved Misha. Misha hoped he never did. He wanted to keep Hugo confused. Misha turned toward the other enemy in the room. It was all he could do not to rush across the room at Ifan. He wanted to make sure

84

Stormy Glenn

his mate was okay but knew he needed to keep his wits about him— and his eyes on the enemy. “Hello, Felix,” Misha said as he settled into a chair across from his father. “Felix?” The man’s eyebrows shot up. “Since when did you take to calling me Felix? I’m your father.” Misha smirked and folded his hands together in his lap. “I figure you lost that honor when you allowed Hugo to hit me for the very first time.” Misha waved his hand at the unconscious man on the floor between him and his father. “Harming my mate just solidified it.” “Your mate.” Misha knew from the way Felix stated the words that it wasn’t a question. Felix obviously knew that Ifan was his mate. “Yes, my mate.” “Hugo isn’t going to like that, Mikhail.” “And I care what Hugo likes why?” Felix’s eyes narrowed. “You are being very disrespectful, Mikhail. I won’t have it.” “Give me a reason to respect you, and that won’t be a problem.” Misha knew he was digging himself a hole. He was just as astonished at the words coming out of his mouth as Felix seemed to be. Misha just couldn’t stop saying them. Every time he opened his mouth to reply, something totally different came out. Misha was a little shocked at what was coming out of his mouth, but he also felt proud. He was finally standing up for himself. He just wished that it didn’t come at Ifan’s expense. “Is there a reason you’ve decided to visit us, Felix? You were not invited here by me, and I’m positive that Ifan didn’t invite you.” “You know why I’m here, Mikhail.” “Actually, no I don’t.” Misha folded his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you explain it to me?” “It’s time for you to come home, Mikhail.” “I am home.”

White Paws and a Dream

85

“This is not your home,” Felix snapped. He waved his hand around the room. “This is a shack in the woods.” Misha glanced around the room, seeing what he hadn’t seen when he first walked in. Solid knotty pine bookshelves were built in and ran all along one wall. They were filled with books and knickknacks. A large, round stone fireplace sat central in the middle of another wall. It was unlike any fireplace Misha had ever seen. Half of it was built into the wall. The other half came out in a half circle with a flat stone top, just big enough to set a drink on. It looked rather neat to Misha. He could imagine curling up with Ifan in front of the fireplace and enjoying a quiet evening. But first, he needed to rescue them both. “This place looks pretty good for a shack in the woods.” Misha smiled. “I like it.” Felix snorted. “You would.” “My mate spent many years building this place. I think it’s wonderful.” “And you plan to spend the rest of your life living in this hovel?” Misha grinned. “Sounds like a wonderful idea to me.” Misha jumped when his father suddenly slammed his hands down on the table. “Well, I guess the pleasantries are over.” “Damn it, Mikhail, I’m getting really tired of this. It’s time to come home.” “No.” Misha blinked after those words fell out of his mouth. He couldn’t ever remember saying no to his father. Felix jumped to his feet and waved his hand at Misha. “Hugo, get him on his feet. It’s time my son learned his place in my world.” “Your world!” Misha yelled as he jumped over the back of the couch. He wanted to keep it between him and Hugo. “I’ve decided I don’t want to live in your world, father. I like this one way too much.”

86

Stormy Glenn

Chapter 8 All of Ifan’s senses came back to him in a rush as he heard Misha shout. He realized several things in one sniff of the air. Misha was frightened, and they were not alone. At least two other people were in the room. He just wasn’t quite sure who they were. The last thing Ifan remembered was walking through the woods on his way back to where Misha was sitting in the truck. He’d felt a painful sting in his neck then everything went black. Everything else after that was a complete blank until now. Ifan kept his eyes closed and used the rest of his senses to try and figure out what type of situation he was in. He knew instantly that both he and Misha were in danger. He figured that out from the fear coming off his mate in waves. Misha seemed to be holding it together, though, if the anger in the other man’s voice when he spoke was anything to go by. “I’ve had about enough of this, Mikhail,” the man snapped. “I do not have time for you to play your little games. You will be coming home with me.” Ifan was barely able to suppress his growl at the man’s words. Misha would not be going anywhere if he could help it. Misha belonged to him, and he wasn’t about to let anyone take the man away from him. Ifan opened his eyes just a crack and looked right at Misha. The man wasn’t paying him any mind. His eyes were locked on someone behind Ifan. But his hands gripped the couch so tightly, his fingers were white.

White Paws and a Dream

87

Misha kept dodging left and right behind the couch as if he were avoiding someone. Ifan could feel that someone standing right behind him. Unfortunately, his hands were tied behind his back. If he shifted, he was liable to dislocate something. If he didn’t, whoever was after Misha might get to him. Ifan didn’t think he had a lot of options. “I feel like a fucking broken record,” Misha said. “This is my home now, Felix.” “Hugo, can’t you grab him?” the other man shouted. “We need to head home. I have things to do.” “So sorry I’m messing with your schedule, father. Maybe you should just leave.” “Not without you, Misha.” “I won’t do what you want.” “Yes, you will.” Ifan couldn’t prevent his small grunt when someone grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. His eyes popped open. He winced when he saw the fear making Misha’s face white. His pale blue eyes looked huge. “It’s okay, Misha,” Ifan whispered through their bond. “We’ll find a way out of this.” “How?” Misha asked back silently. Ifan grunted again when Felix yanked on his hair. “Are you two talking to each other?” Felix shouted. “I can feel it. I know you two are talking to each other. Your bond must be very strong. I just wonder how strong it is.” Misha shuddered. Ifan growled. “Let’s find out, shall we?” Ifan saw Misha’s eyes widen but didn’t know why until he felt a knife blade across his throat. It dug in just enough to give him a little cut. Ifan swallowed nervously as blood trickled down his throat. Ifan thought Misha was going to say something when he started to open his mouth. Ifan gave the barest shake of his head. Unless they

88

Stormy Glenn

went after Misha, there was nothing Felix or his goon could do to him. And he didn’t think Felix would be stupid enough to harm Misha physically. Torturing Misha mentally was much more Felix’s style. He could see it happening right before him when the horror on Misha’s face matched the fear rolling off of him. “I’m fine, Misha.” Ifan growled when Felix yanked on his hair again. He’d shred the man from end to end the first chance he got. “No talking to each other,” Felix snapped. “I will know if you do.” “Fuck you!” Ifan said. “You’re not my type.” Felix laughed harshly. “But, apparently, you’re Misha’s type. And that’s really too bad because Mikhail is Hugo’s type. I’ve been promising Mikhail to Hugo for a long time now. I would so hate to disappoint him.” “Touch a hair on Mikhail’s head, and I will enjoy killing you slowly.” “Let’s see what Hugo has to say about that, shall we?” Ifan crashed back to the floor as Felix shoved away from him. He rolled onto his back just in time to see Hugo coming at him. Ifan knew he didn’t have much chance of fighting Hugo with his hands tied behind his back. He’d have to shift. Ifan gritted his teeth and readied himself for the pain he knew was coming. With all of his strength, he tugged on the ropes. He was suddenly yanked to his feet. Ifan growled when he got a good look at the man holding him by the arms. Hugo was an average-looking man except for the huge size of his body and the demented look in his eyes. Ifan wasn’t even sure if the man was sane. The maniacal laughter coming from Hugo suggested otherwise. The moment they were face-to-face, Ifan went into action. He wasn’t about to let Hugo get a lead on him. Ifan brought his head back then slammed his forehead into Hugo’s face as hard as he could.

White Paws and a Dream

89

His head throbbed with pain, but he had the satisfaction of hearing a loud crunch. Hugo cried out, and the arms holding him fell away. Ifan braced himself and shifted. He roared when pain lanced through his shoulders. The more he shifted, the more pressure he felt on his wrists until he thought they were breaking in two. Ifan heard a loud pop and knew one of his shoulders was dislocated. A moment later, the other shoulder popped and he roared even louder. His eyes darkened, and his canines dropped down. His skin rippled as fur began to sprout up and he started to move into his tiger form. Suddenly, the rope holding his wrists together snapped and Ifan’s arms fell free. He cried out in pain as they fell forward and dangled uselessly at his sides. Ifan stopped his shift long enough to find the nearest doorframe. He gritted his teeth and rammed his shoulder into the solid wood frame. Stars exploded behind his eyelids as pain radiated out from his shoulder and hit every nerve in his body. He had to take several deep breaths before moving on to the other shoulder, doing the same thing. This time, Ifan almost dropped to the floor from the pain. He couldn’t remember feeling that much pain before, and he had lived a lot of years. When Ifan could finally breathe again without agony shooting through his body, he turned to glare across the room at Hugo. The man had a cloth held to his nose as he tipped his head back, trying to stem the flow of blood from his broken nose. Ifan quickly scanned the room but found it empty except for him and Hugo. Misha and his father were nowhere in sight. Ifan didn’t start to worry until he saw the front door standing wide open. “Where’s my mate?” he asked as he looked back at Hugo. Hugo lowered his head to look at Ifan. He looked ridiculous with blood splattered down his white shirt and a handkerchief held to his face. Ifan wasn’t interested in laughing, though. He was interested in finding his mate.

90

Stormy Glenn

“Tell me where Misha is, and I won’t kill you.” “Misha?” “Mikhail, you dummy. Now tell me where he is.” The snort that came from Hugo was muffled and painful sounding. “Does that mean I have to beat it out of you?” Ifan asked. Ifan grinned. Hugo paled. “Do you actually know who I am?” Ifan had to know. Hugo was a human. Granted, he was a large human, but he was still a human. “Like I give a shit who the hell you are,” Hugo said. “You can’t make me tell you anything.” Ifan cracked his knuckles as he clenched them. “I’m going to enjoy this.” The second he took a step toward Hugo, the man backed up, holding his hand in front of him as if to ward Ifan off. It was pretty laughable considering Hugo liked to portray himself as such a bad guy. “Wait, wait,” Hugo said. Ifan paused. “Felix took Mikhail back to his house.” “And I should believe you why?” This just seemed way too easy to him. “You broke my fucking nose, man.” “And I’m going to break a lot more if I find out you’re lying to me.” “I’m not, I swear,” Hugo said quickly. “Felix took Mikhail back to his house. He wants to use Mikhail to access the dreams of some of the elders. He wants a seat on the council.” “So, why doesn’t he just petition for one?” “He has. No one will even consider him for a seat on the council. He’s been blackballed because he’s been sanctioned in the past for entering people’s dreams without their permission. If he does it one

White Paws and a Dream

91

more time, the council threatened to have his dreamwalker abilities restricted.” Ifan blinked in surprise. “They can do that?” Hugo nodded. Ifan frowned at Hugo’s eagerness to hand over information. It didn’t sit right with Ifan. “Why are you telling me this? And don’t give me some crap about me breaking your nose or I’ll break your neck.” Hugo sighed deeply and stepped over to sit down on the couch. “I don’t want to be mated to Mikhail. He’s a man, and I definitely do not swing that way. I could give a shit about all this other stuff. I just don’t want to be mated to a man.” “You can’t be mated to Misha, so stop worrying about that. He’s mated to me.” Hugo snorted. “Do you really think that will stop Felix? The man is insane.” “Then why work with him?” “Like I had a choice in the matter.” Hugo waved his hand at Ifan. “Unlike you, I don’t have shields against Felix. All he has to do is enter my dreams and I become his little puppet. I do anything he wants me to do.” Ifan sat down on the chair opposite Hugo. He wanted to run out the door and track down his mate, but he knew he needed more information before he did that. The more he knew, the better off he would be in rescuing Misha. “Why haven’t you gone to the council?” Ifan asked. “They would have helped you.” “No, they wouldn’t. They’d never believe me.” “Why not?” Ifan grew uncomfortable when Hugo’s face flushed and he quickly glanced away. “I can still kill you,” he reminded Hugo. “Then maybe you should!” Hugo snapped. “I’d be better off.” “Hugo.”

92

Stormy Glenn

Hugo huffed and sat back further into the cushions on the couch. “I was young when Felix first approached me, young and stupid.” Ifan was beginning to wonder if the stupid ever wore off. “It was exciting being so strong. I felt powerful, like a king. Felix taught me how to use my abilities to get anything I wanted. If I wasn’t strong enough, he boosted my abilities with his own. I thought I was going to run the world.” “And how long ago did that bubble burst?” “About a year ago.” Hugo snickered. “Felix came to me and told me that I was going to mate Mikhail. I argued with him about it, but, as you can see, that didn’t work very well. I’m still under his thumb.” “Why was Felix so insistent that you mate Misha?” Ifan had heard Misha’s explanation. He just wondered if Hugo knew. “Felix is a mid-level dreamwalker. Mikhail is stronger than any dreamwalker born in a thousand years. He doesn’t even have to meditate to enter someone’s dreams. He can do it just by thinking about it.” “And?” Ifan asked when Hugo stopped speaking. “And Felix wants that power. He wants me to mate with Mikhail so that I can control Mikhail.” Hugo shrugged. “Felix controls me, I control Mikhail. Felix gets enough power to overthrow the council members so he can get a seat on the council.” “Not if I have anything to say about it.” Ifan jumped up and swung around when he heard a voice from the front door. He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Brodelyn standing in the doorway. “Damn, Brodelyn, give me a heart attack why don’t you.” “I do apologize,” Brodelyn said. “I suppose I should have announced myself, but you were having such an interesting conversation. I hated to interrupt.” “Apparently not enough to keep from eavesdropping,” Ifan smirked.

White Paws and a Dream

93

“Yes, well, I felt an overwhelming urge to add in my two cents.” Brodelyn walked into the room and stopped before Hugo, frowning. “Hugo.” “Do I know you?” Hugo asked. “No, but I know you.” Brodelyn clasped his hands behind his back and walked over to stand in the doorway leading to the hallway. “I’ve been recording your deeds, or misdeeds as the case may be, for several years now. I’m sure I know more about you than you know about yourself.” “Who are you?” “My name is Brodelyn.” Brodelyn grinned. “Brodelyn Cadhla.” Ifan arched an eyebrow when Hugo inhaled sharply. He glanced over at Brodelyn in surprise when the man started chuckling. “I see you’ve heard of me,” Brodelyn said. “You…you…” Hugo’s face drained of color. “You’re supposed to be a myth.” “A myth?” Ifan asked. “Brodelyn, have you been keeping things from me?” Brodelyn grinned and shrugged. “Maybe just one or two things.” Ifan chuckled. He had known Brodelyn for more than half his lifetime. As much as Brodelyn tried to stay behind the scenes as the council historian, he had seen more action than even Ifan. Brodelyn was one of the men that had set up the council of elders a thousand years ago. He had also helped broker the peace deal with the humans after the Great War between the Paranormals. The man was a legend. “Now, Hugo, I believe you were explaining to Ifan here how you and Felix Surkov planned to take over the council of elders by way of dreamwalking, and how you planned to use Misha to do it.” “No, no, I swear,” Hugo said quickly, “it was all Felix’s idea. I wanted none of it.” “And yet, here you are,” Brodelyn said.

94

Stormy Glenn

“He made me come here.” Hugo’s face scrunched up. He looked…constipated. “Don’t you guys get it? Felix can control people with his mind. He might use dreams to do it, but he can get people to do whatever he wants. That’s what he does.” “I heard about what you did to Misha in that warehouse, Hugo,” Brodelyn said. “Do you honestly expect me to believe that you did that against your will? That Felix somehow forced you to beat Misha within an inch of his life?” Ifan growled as he stiffened. He never knew exactly what had happened to Misha before he found the man. Misha never said and the elders weren’t sure. But he was beginning to get an idea, and it made his tiger start pacing, wanting out so it could exact revenge for the harm brought to their mate. “You beat my mate?” Hugo suddenly jumped to his feet. His face turned red with anger. “Yes, I beat him. I hung him from a ceiling beam, and I whipped him until he passed out. And I hated myself every second of it, but I couldn’t stop it.” “Why would you hurt him like that?” Ifan asked, his fists clenching with the need to strike out at the man. “Misha is a sweet soul. He didn’t deserve to be beaten.” “Because he wouldn’t agree to be my mate!” “But I thought you said you didn’t want to be mated to a man?” “I don’t. I want to be mated to Cindy, but Felix wouldn’t allow it. He said he had greater plans for me. He only let me keep Cindy around to keep me quiet. He said I could keep Cindy even after I mated Mikhail, that I wouldn’t have to sleep with Mikhail. But I really just want to be with Cindy.” “Who’s Cindy?” Ifan asked. “My girlfriend.” Ifan blinked. “You have a girlfriend?” He glanced over at Brodelyn. “Did you know about this?”

White Paws and a Dream

95

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. Cindy is a sprite, a very nice young girl. You’d like her.” Ifan’s eyes snapped back around when Hugo growled. “She’s mine and you can’t have her.” “I don’t want her,” Ifan said. “As you said before, I don’t swing that way. I want my mate, Misha, but someone seems to have taken him.” Hugo dropped back down onto the couch and cradled his head in his hands. “This is such a fucking mess.” “Then fix it!” Brodelyn shouted. “Tell us how to get Misha back.” “I told you, Felix took Misha back to his house.” “Wouldn’t he know that would be the first place we would look?” Hugo lifted his head back and rolled his eyes. “Well sure, but are you going to look under his house?” “Under his house?” Ifan asked. Hugo nodded. “Felix has a secret set of rooms under his house. It’s where he likes to torture whatever current sucker has his attention.” “Well, fuck a duck!” Brodelyn howled with laughter at Ifan’s words. “I’m a hawk, not a duck, so we need to find us another way to get your mate back.” “Will you help me keep Cindy if I help you get Mikhail back?” Ifan narrowed his eyes at Hugo. “I might let you live if you help me get Misha back.” “Please?” “I’ll think about it.” Hugo grinned. “Then I have a plan.”

96

Stormy Glenn

Chapter 9 Misha was a prisoner. Granted, he was in a very gilded cage, but it was still a cage. He had everything he could have ever wanted except for the one thing he really wanted—Ifan. After being knocked out, he had woken up in his own bedroom at his father’s house. The door was locked from the outside. That wouldn’t have necessarily have stopped Misha from escaping, but the two big goons guarding his door certainly did. They were huge, mean, and answered only to Felix. Misha didn’t have a chance in hell of escaping unless he could magically walk through walls. Misha closed his eyes and wished himself away. He sought the dream he had been seeking every night for over a year, the one that Ifan starred in. It was the only thing that gave him solace when his father was pressuring him. Misha pushed his way through the dark fog that separated him from what he desired most until he saw the bright shining light that was Ifan. He briefly remembered the first time he had come across Ifan’s soul light. He had been astonished at how bright Ifan shined. When he stumbled into the light, Misha had almost been blinded by the aura surrounding Ifan. He glowed with a multitude of colors— every one of them drawing Misha closer to the man he knew would be his mate. Misha just wished that Ifan remembered their shared dreams. It nearly broke Misha’s heart when he saw Ifan in person for the first time and the man didn’t even recognize him. Misha had grown to love Ifan during those times.

White Paws and a Dream

97

Misha moved closer to the light. The warmth that filled him with every step told him that Ifan was dreaming, waiting for him. The fog suddenly cleared and there lay Ifan on a bed of pure white silk. It surrounded him, blending in with the light until it faded away into nothing. “Ifan,” Misha whispered. He crawled onto the end of the bed and stopped between Ifan’s legs. Misha reached down and slowly pulled the silk covers down off of Ifan’s naked body. Each inch of tanned skin that was revealed was like a feast for his hungry eyes. “Ifan,” Misha whispered again. “I’m here, my love.” Misha dropped the silky blanket onto the floor. He wished his clothes away as he leaned down closer to Ifan’s glorious body. Misha was always amazed at how real dreams seemed. Ifan’s skin was warm to the touch, his skin as silky as the sheets he lay on. Misha leaned down further and stroked his tongue across the tip of Ifan’s erect cock. The sweet, fragrant taste unique to Ifan blasted across his tongue. Ifan groaned and spread his legs wider. Misha stifled his chuckle at the movement. Ifan obviously wasn’t fully into the dream world yet. Misha would just have to help him along. He licked his lips then swallowed Ifan’s cock down to the root. Ifan’s hips snapped up into the air, and his hands curled into Misha’s hair. With each lick, they tightened as Misha drew him in. Misha sucked his cheeks in and tightened his lips as he pulled up to the top of the hard organ. He switched gears and licked his way down the length of Ifan’s cock ending at his balls. Ifan’s hands tightened in Misha’s hair when he started licking his ball sac. Misha could hear small groans coming from Ifan, each one getting louder and louder until they filled the space around them. They were music to Misha’s ears. He licked his way back up Ifan’s cock and sucked the man back into his mouth. Ifan thrust his hips up, driving his cock deeper into Misha’s mouth. Misha gagged for a moment then quickly pulled his

98

Stormy Glenn

mouth back when he felt the head of Ifan’s cock swell against his tongue. Ifan cried out. Hot cum shot into Misha’s mouth. Misha swallowed down as much as he could then licked the rest off the sides of Ifan’s cock. The hands in his hair tugged gently. Misha glanced up to find deep blue eyes staring down at him. “Come, Misha.” “I intend to.” Misha grinned and started to climb up Ifan’s body. He settled himself over the top of Ifan, straddling his hips. Misha groaned and bit his lip when Ifan’s semihard cock brushed up against his. He took just a moment to savor the intensely pleasurable feeling then glanced down at his mate. “Hi.” “Hi.” Misha leaned into the hand Ifan stroked down the side of his face. He almost cried at how much he missed Ifan. It was like a deep ache inside of his body, growing bigger with each passing moment. “I miss you.” “I’m right here, baby.” Misha smiled sadly. “No, you’re not. This is just a dream, Ifan.” “Only if you want it to be, Misha.” Ifan’s hand wrapped around the nape of Misha’s neck and then he tugged him closer. “You’re here and I’m here. That’s all we need.” “You won’t remember it when you wake up.” “Then you’ll just have to remind me,” Ifan said as he drew Misha down. Misha groaned as Ifan’s lips claimed his. Damn, he liked kissing his mate. No one kissed like Ifan did. It was like being consumed in fire. Misha pushed closer until he felt his chest press against Ifan’s. Ifan’s hands stroked down Misha’s back, stopping at his ass. Misha squeaked when Ifan squeezed his ass cheeks. He was in heaven. He could feel every inch of Ifan’s body pressed against his. The cock hardening between his legs was just a bonus—a huge bonus.

White Paws and a Dream

99

Misha tore his lips away from Ifan’s and looked deep into his eyes. “Are you going to fuck me now, Ifan?” “I’m going to do something with you.” Ifan grinned as he glanced around, but it slowly slid into a frown. “What’s wrong?” Misha asked. “We need lube.” Misha chuckled. “No, we don’t. This is the dream world, Ifan. We can do anything we want to do.” “I won’t do anything that might harm you,” Ifan insisted. “You won’t.” Misha reached under his body and grabbed Ifan’s cock. He positioned it at the opening to his body then wished he was stretched and lubed. As he slowly began to lower himself down, he could feel his body stretching as Ifan’s lubed cock speared him. “Damn, that is fucking fantastic,” Ifan groaned. His hands gripped Misha’s hips. Misha couldn’t agree more. There was nothing on earth like the feeling of having Ifan’s cock deep inside of him. The man filled every inch of his ass. When Ifan started moving Misha thought his eyes were going to roll into the back of his head. The pleasure was so intense, so strong, that he felt it throughout his entire body. Misha didn’t care if this was just a dream. Being in Ifan’s arms was the only thing he wanted. If he had to spend the rest of his life in a dream state to be with Ifan, that’s exactly what he’d do. “Need harder,” Misha pleaded. He needed Ifan to take him, claim him. He wanted to feel the man for the next week, month, year. He never wanted to forget what it felt like to have Ifan’s hands caress his body or the feeling of the man’s cock thrusting up into him or even the feel of Ifan’s lips against his. He didn’t want to forget a moment of his time with Ifan. Misha had a strong fear that it was all going to come to an end. If Felix had his way, Misha might never see Ifan again. Misha didn’t

100

Stormy Glenn

know if he could live with that. He was positive that he would die without Ifan. Misha cried out as Ifan tightened his hands on Misha’s hips and started thrusting harder. Every movement rubbed Ifan’s cock against his prostate, sending jolts of exquisite pleasure shooting throughout his body. “Stroke yourself off for me, baby.” Misha’s eyes crossed as he grabbed his cock and rapidly stroked his hand up and down. He grinned when he heard a little hitch in Ifan’s breathing and glanced down to see the man’s eyes glued on his movements. “Do you like that, Ifan?” Misha asked. “Do you like watching me play with myself?” “Yeah.” Ifan panted heavily. “It’s very sexy.” “Then I’ll have to make sure I do it more often.” Misha sped up his strokes. He could feel himself coming closer to the edge of bliss. He knew from Ifan’s frantic movements that he wasn’t far behind. Misha wanted them to come together. “Soon, yeah?” Ifan nodded rapidly. The hungry look on Ifan’s face inflamed Misha. Ifan seemed to eat up every soft caress, every bit of hard skin stroked. Misha reached down with his other hand and grabbed his ball sac, massaging the twin globes gently between his fingers. “No, don’t come yet.” Misha blinked. “What?” “Don’t come yet.” “Bu—” Misha’s words were lost when Ifan suddenly rolled them over until he was sandwiched between Ifan’s larger body and the bed. Ifan grabbed Misha’s legs and pushed them up onto his shoulders then bent down over him.

White Paws and a Dream

101

Misha cried out and arched his head back into the pillow as Ifan began pounding into him at a wild tempo. Misha gripped the sheets in his hands for a moment then reached up to grab Ifan’s face and pull it down to his neck. “Claim me,” Misha whispered as he bared his neck to his mate. Ifan struck hard and fast. Misha winced when Ifan’s teeth sank into his neck. The instant pain was gone in the pulse of a heartbeat to be replaced with a pleasure so intense that Misha cried out and filled the space between them with his abrupt release. “Ifan!” Ifan suddenly reared back. His roar filled Misha’s ears. Ifan tightened his grip on Misha’s hips. He thrust hard then stiffened. Misha inhaled softly when the corded muscles on Ifan’s neck stood out. Shots of hot cum filled his ass, Ifan shuddering with each spurt. Ifan let go of Misha’s legs, and they fell back to the bed. Ifan’s face was flushed as he looked back down at Misha, smiling. Misha grabbed Ifan’s shoulder and pulled the man down to him until they were nose to nose. He could still feel Ifan pulsing inside of him. Every few seconds, Ifan would shudder. Misha spread his legs further then wrapped them around Ifan’s waist. “Not letting you go,” Misha whispered. “Want to stay here forever.” Ifan smiled ruefully. He cupped the side of Misha’s face. “I wish we could, my love, but the world awaits us.” “No.” “Misha, love, we can’t stay here forever, no matter how much we wish we could.” Ifan leaned in and gave Misha a small kiss. He smiled as he leaned back. “Besides, real life is even better, don’t you think?” “You don’t love me in real life.” “Yes, I do.” “No, you don—”

102

Stormy Glenn

Ifan gripped Misha’s chin. “Misha, I do love you.” Tears sprang to Misha’s eyes. “Then why haven’t you said so? You only ever tell me you love me here, never in the real world.” “You haven’t said anything either, Misha. Don’t you love me?” Misha’s mouth dropped open. “I do love you. I’ve told you a hundred times.” “But only here, never in the real world.” “But—” Misha frowned, realizing that Ifan was right. He had never told Ifan that he loved him in the real world. Only here in the dream world. How could he be angry with Ifan when he had done the very same thing? “I’m sorry.” Ifan smiled. “Don’t be. We’re both scared, Misha. It’s hard to put your heart on the line when you don’t know if it will be accepted by the one you love.” “I’d do anything for you.” “And I’d do anything for you, my love. Unfortunately, it is time to go back to the real world. I’m coming for you.” Misha’s eyes widened. His heart started pounding frantically in his chest when he realized what sort of danger Ifan was walking into. “Please, you have to be careful. Felix is expecting you to try and rescue me.” “There is no ‘try’ about it, Misha.” Ifan’s eyebrows scrunched together as he frowned. “I will be rescuing you.” “Just be careful. If…if anything happened to you, I don’t…” Misha swallowed hard. His throat suddenly felt parched. “If anything happened to you, Ifan, I don’t think I could live through it. I need you.” “Not as much as I need you, little one.” Misha opened his mouth and closed his eyes when Ifan leaned in to kiss him. The kiss was hungry, desperate, at least on Misha’s part. He felt like he was going to lose Ifan once he went back to the real world, and he didn’t want to go.

White Paws and a Dream

103

Ifan suddenly shifted. Misha’s eyes opened. He cried out in desolation when he saw that Ifan was starting to fade. He tried to clutch at the man’s shoulders, to hold Ifan to him, but his hand just went right through him as if Ifan were a ghost. “No, please, stay with me,” Misha begged. He could feel tears start trailing down his cheeks as Ifan’s ethereal form smiled. “I’ll be with you soon, love.” Misha sobbed as Ifan faded away into nothing. He closed his eyes and curled into a fetal position on the bed. His heart felt like it was being ripped out of his chest. Despite Ifan’s words, Misha didn’t know if he would ever see his mate again. Misha started to grow angry at his father for bringing this misery down on him. If Felix had just left him alone, Misha would feel like his life was ending. This was all his father’s fault. The man deserved to pay for what he was doing. It was wrong. Misha opened his eyes and wiped his hand across them to rid himself of his tears. He didn’t need tears where he was going. He scooted to the edge of the bed and thought of clothes. A moment later, he was fully dressed. Misha cast one last, longing look at the white silky bed then turned and walked away from the light and into the dark fog. He thought of his father, of the man’s dark heart and cruel personality. The fog grew darker, more menacing. Misha expected nothing else where his father was concerned. The fog started to part, revealing a dark red light that was so ominous that Misha almost hesitated to go any further. But he knew if he didn’t end things with his father, he’d lose Ifan forever, and Misha couldn’t allow that. Misha tried to remember everything he had learned about the dream world as he walked to the edge of the red light. He knew he could control dreams and that he could make things happen in them just by wishing it. He also knew that he was much stronger than his

104

Stormy Glenn

father. He just didn’t have Felix’s experience, and that was what might bring him down. Misha stepped into the light and almost dropped to his knees in shock. Cushions in various shades of red littered the floor. Several naked men lay about the cushions. All of them were engaged in different sexual acts—touching, kissing, sucking, and even fucking. And right in the middle of them all was Felix. Dreams were strange. What someone refused to acknowledge in the light of day could be lived out in their dreams. Apparently, the man that professed to hate gay men was one himself. “Hello, Felix.” Felix yelped and sat up, pushing the men around him away. He looked frantic, horrified to be caught in such a compromising position. Misha chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest. “Mikhail.” “Right the first time.” “What are you doing here?” “Where else do I have to go?” Misha asked. “You won’t let me be the one place I want to be. You certainly won’t let me go. I figured we could visit.” Misha chuckled again and waved his hands at the naked men staring at Felix like he was next best thing since sliced bread. “I didn’t know you were entertaining company.” “This isn’t what it looks like.” “Oh really? Cause it looks a lot like that guy has your dick in his mouth.” Felix growled and pushed the guy between his legs away. He jumped to his feet. A moment later, Felix was dressed in a robe of deep, rich reds and gold. He waved his hand through the air and the men and pillows disappeared, leaving them in a room filled with nothing—a blank space with dark red hues. “You didn’t have to make them leave, Felix. I would have been so interested in talking with them. It’s not often I see my father

White Paws and a Dream

105

surrounded by naked men willing to do his bidding.” Misha tapped his finger against his lips. “Oh wait, you have men surrounding you all the time, men willing to do whatever you want. Are you fucking them, too?” “I’m not fucking them!” Misha’s eyebrows shot up. “They’re fucking you? Why, Felix, I never would have guessed. You’re a bottom.” “No one is fucking me!” “Gee, that’s too bad.” Misha smirked when Felix’s face turned beet red. “I know I certainly enjoy it.” “You’re disgusting.” “Am I?” Misha started to pace around the room. “And why is that, Felix? Because I acknowledge the fact that I like being fucked or because I’ve discovered your little secret?” “There is no secret,” Felix shouted. “This is the dream world. None of this is real.” “True, but our deepest fantasies come alive in the dream world. I dream of being with Ifan. You apparently dream of being in the middle of an all-male orgy. My, won’t everyone be surprised.” Misha quickly ducked when a ball of fire shot toward him. When he raised his head a moment later he could smell singed hair and knew he hadn’t escaped all of the fire. He shook his finger at his father. “Bad daddy.” Realistically, Misha knew nothing in the dream world could hurt him. It was a dream world after all. But it was a very human reaction to duck when a fireball was thrown at your head. However, when it came to his abilities against Felix’s, Misha could make things happen in the dream world. He curled his hand up and imagined a fireball just like the one his father had thrown at him. He pulled his arm back and threw it toward Felix with all of his might. “Two can play this game, Felix, but I’m going to win.”

106

Stormy Glenn

Just before the fireball hit Felix, the man ducked down. Misha was expecting it and imagined that the fireball morphed into a wall of brick flying at Felix. Misha realized that Felix didn’t fully understand the rules of the dream world when the man went down under the hard brick. Almost all dreamwalkers could manipulate dreams. They had the ability to influence people and get them to do what they wanted. Misha was a little different. What he imagined actually came to life inside the dream world. When Felix sat up, he looked like a man that had a pile of bricks dropped on him. A trickle of blood trailed down his chin from his lower lip. His hair was in disarray, and his clothes looked dusty and torn. “How—” Felix seemed confused. Misha didn’t have that same confusion. He’d been coming to the dream world since he knew what it was. This special space was the one place he could go to get away from his father. Misha walked over to stand in front of his father. “You always said that I was the strongest dreamwalker born in over a thousand years.” Misha shrugged. “Guess it’s true.” “Do you understand what this means, Mikhail?” Felix said as he stood to his feet and brushed himself off. He sounded a little awed. “With your power and my guidance, we can rule the paranormal world. The council of elders won’t have a chance against us.” Misha frowned and shook his head. “What makes you think I would do anything for you? You’ve taken me away from the one thing I want in this world.” “What?” Felix asked. “Whatever it is, we’ll get it.” Misha stared in astonishment. He couldn’t believe his father even had to ask. “You took me away from Ifan.” “Ifan?” Felix frowned. “What do you need him for?” “He’s my mate.”

White Paws and a Dream

107

Felix stared at Misha with a puzzled expression that said he had no idea what Misha was talking about. Misha didn’t remember much about his mother, but he suddenly didn’t think she was Felix’s mate. Felix wouldn’t be so confused if he had experienced claiming his own mate. “I need Ifan. He is the only reason I continue to breathe in this world. Without him, I am nothing.” Misha narrowed his eyes and pointed his finger at his father as rage started to build inside of him. “And you took him away from me.” Felix started to back up, shaking his hands wildly in front of him. “Now, Mikhail, don’t do anything rash.” “Rash?” Misha shouted. “You took me away from my mate. You haven’t seen rash yet, but you will. It’s time for you to pay for your crimes, father.” Misha cupped his hand again and imagined another fireball. Felix’s face paled as he quickly backed away. Misha could see him thinking. He could almost smell the smoke as the wheels in Felix’s head turned. He was trying to figure out how to survive. Misha threw the first fireball, purposely tossing it just to the side of Felix. He quickly created another one and threw it to the other side when Felix jumped in that direction. Misha wanted Felix to realize that he had no means of escape. And then the real fun would begin. “You’ve been a very bad boy for a very long time.” “I’m sorry!” “Not good enough.” Misha threw another fireball, this one aimed to land on the floor right between Felix’s legs. Felix yelped and jumped back. He tripped over a couple of the bricks Misha had thrown before and crashed to the floor, landing on his back. Misha stormed over and leaned down to grab Felix’s face between his hands. He used every ounce of power in his body to get through to

108

Stormy Glenn

his father. The man needed to be stopped before he hurt anyone else. He’d already done enough damage. “You will not harm another living soul, Felix. Your days of using people to get what you want are over.” Misha could feel Felix fighting him. His head started to throb. Misha pressed harder with his mental will, demanding Felix’s submission. “You will not use your abilities to harm someone else, ever. If you do, I will come for you, Felix, and I won’t stop until you are dead.” Misha dug into Felix’s mind until he found the one secret that he didn’t want anyone to know. His eyes watered as he tore at the memory, ripping it apart until he knew every last detail of his mother’s death. “You killed my mother?” Rage drew a haze over Misha’s good sense and pulled away his control. He didn’t remember much about his mother, but he did remember that she was sweet and loving and protected Misha from his father. Knowing that Felix had killed her was more than he could take. Misha roared as he pushed his mind into Felix’s, determined to strip the man of every sense he had. By the time he was done with Felix, he’d be a blithering idiot—well, at least more than he was already. Misha screamed in outrage when he suddenly felt himself being pulled away and thrust back into the real world. He wasn’t done with Felix yet. The man needed to pay for the things he did. Misha slammed back into his body so hard that he couldn’t breathe for a moment. By the time he could drag air into his lungs, he knew that Ifan sat on the bed next to him. Misha opened his eyes, ready to yell at Ifan for tearing him away too early. Instead, he found himself crushed against Ifan’s chest. “Damn, baby, don’t ever do that to me again.”

White Paws and a Dream

109

Misha’s mind instantly went to their shared dream, and his heart dropped. He knew entering someone’s dream without his permission was against the rules. His only excuse was that he missed Ifan so much even after just a few hours. He had to connect with him. “I was so scared when you disappeared,” Ifan whispered against the top of Misha’s head. “I don’t like being scared, Misha. I’ll lock you in our bedroom if I have to to keep you safe.” Misha laughed. “I wasn’t exactly planning on being kidnapped, Ifan.” Ifan leaned back to stare down at Misha. “How can you laugh about this? It’s not a laughing matter. You were kidnapped, Misha. Someone took you from me. Don’t you understand what type of danger you were in?” Misha reached up and stroked the side of Ifan’s face with his fingers as he smiled. “I can laugh because I’m back where I’m supposed to be, with you. Nothing else matters except that.” Ifan opened his mouth then snapped it closed as he frowned. “Good point,” he finally said. “But I still might lock you up in the bedroom.” Misha grinned. “Just as long as you lock the door from the inside.”

110

Stormy Glenn

Chapter 10 Ifan couldn’t help but laugh at the delighted grin on Misha’s face. He pulled his mate back to his chest and hugged Misha for all he was worth. After his talk with Hugo and a hastily organized rescue plan, he couldn’t believe he had found Misha sleeping in his bed, unharmed. He had totally expected to find Misha hanging from the rafters or something equally as bad. Nightmare scenarios had played out over and over again in his head while he traveled to Felix Surkov’s home. Surprisingly, it had taken just a few short hours to reach the place. They had arrived just before dawn broke. Ifan had wasted no time in breaking into the large estate and taking down anything that came between him and his mate. Following Misha’s scent had been easy once he was inside. Getting past the two muscle-bound guards outside Misha’s room had taken a little work. Ifan had nothing personal against the men patrolling the Surkov estate. Hugo had explained that most, if not all of them, were under Felix’s influence in some manner. Ifan didn’t want to kill them in case Hugo was right. But he did want them out of commission. The fight had been short but fierce. Once Ifan had incapacitated the two guards, he ran into Misha’s room to find his mate sleeping peacefully on the bed. Stunned at the peaceful look on Misha’s face, Ifan stood at the bottom of Misha’s bed and just looked at him. Only when Misha started to thrash around had Ifan intervened. He didn’t know what was going on, but he couldn’t allow Misha to be harmed, not even by a nightmare. Ifan had jumped up onto the bed,

White Paws and a Dream

111

grabbed Misha by his arms, then started shaking him until the man opened his eyes. And now he had Misha back in his arms where he was supposed to be. Ifan’s relief was so great that he felt overwhelmed for a moment. Tears sprang to his eyes. Who knew that such a small slip of a man could come to mean so much to him? Ifan certainly hadn’t. “I love you, Misha,” Ifan whispered quietly, almost against his will. He had never said those words to another living soul and didn’t like how vulnerable they made him feel. His entire existence rested in the hands of a man whose head barely reached Ifan’s chest. “I love you, too, Ifan.” A cry of relief broke from Ifan’s lips at Misha’s words. His heart sang with happiness. He didn’t know when it became so crucial to him to hear those words, but he suddenly realized that they were the most important words anyone ever spoke to him. “I’m never letting you go, Misha,” Ifan said in between planting kisses on Misha’s head. “I mean it. I’m locking you up and never letting you go.” Misha chuckled. “Can we work on getting out of here before we start planning the future? My father is still out there somewhere, and unfortunately, I think he now knows just how powerful I really am. He’s not going to give me up without a fight.” “I’ll kill him.” “As much as that idea thrills me, I think we would be better served to turn him over to the council of elders. UPAC doesn’t take kindly to one of its members trying to overthrow them by means of mental manipulation.” Ifan frowned, his eyebrows drawing together as he leaned back to look down into Misha’s face once again. “You know what your father is doing?” “Well, I do now,” Misha said. “We had a little visit in the dream world. Once he figured out how powerful I was in that state, he was

112

Stormy Glenn

all sorts of ready to team up with me and take over the world. He was even willing to let me keep you if it made me happy and compliant.” “He was, was he?” “Yeah.” Misha smirked. “That was about the time the fireballs started flying.” “Fireballs?” Ifan snapped. “What fireballs?” Misha sighed deeply. “The fireballs we were tossing at each other.” “You can do that?” “I can do a lot of things.” Misha’s eyes suddenly dropped away. “You’d know that if you remembered our dreams.” “Our dreams?” Ifan felt like a parrot, repeating everything Misha said. “What dreams?” “It doesn’t matter.” Ifan knew it did. He could see it in the sad little smile that came over Misha’s lips. Whatever Misha was talking about was very important to him. Therefore, it became important to Ifan. “What dreams, Misha?” Ifan asked as he lifted Misha’s chin. “Tell me.” Misha seemed hesitant. “Please?” “I knew you when we first met in person. I thought you knew me at first, too, but you didn’t even recognize me.” Misha glanced down and started fiddling with the buttons on Ifan’s shirt. “We dreamed together. We’ve been dreaming together for over a year.” “Those were real?” Misha’s eyes snapped up. His mouth made a little circle of awe. “You remember our dreams?” “I remember dreaming, but I thought that was all they were, dreams.” Misha shook his head quickly. “No, no, they were dreams, but they were very real. I meant everything I said in those dreams, everything I did. That’s where I fell in love with you.”

White Paws and a Dream

113

“Everything, baby?” Ifan chuckled. “Cause I remember a few—” Ifan roared with laughter as Misha slapped a hand over his mouth. Apparently, Misha remembered a few of the kinkier things they had done together in those dreams as well. His face was flushed and beet red. Ifan grinned and pulled Misha’s hand away from his face. “I fell in love with you when you made me realize that I didn’t have to spend my life alone.” “Yeah?” “Yeah.” Misha smiled. Ifan gave him a quick kiss on the lips then rolled to the side of the bed. “Come on, love, let’s get out of here. I don’t know where your father is, but I’d rather not wait around for him. The quicker we get out of here, the better.” Misha swung his legs over the side of the bed. Ifan stood and held out his hand to the man. Misha shook his head. “Ifan, we can’t leave until we take care of my father. He’ll never leave us alone if we don’t do something to stop him. He’s crazy, obsessed. He’ll follow us right back to your house the minute we leave.” “Then we go somewhere else.” “I don’t fucking think so,” Misha snapped. Ifan’s eyebrows shot up at the vehemence in Misha’s voice. “I didn’t get to see much of your house, but what I did see of it I liked. We’re not moving.” Ifan blinked. Misha seemed so fierce, so determined that they stay in their home. Ifan was entranced with this new facet of Misha’s personality. “Uh, okay, then what would you suggest?” “Let’s go find the bastard, hogtie him, and deliver him to the council of elders. Let them deal with his crazy ass.” Ifan grinned. “I like it.”

114

Stormy Glenn

Misha snorted. “I’d rather see him dead. It’s the only way I can be sure he never comes after me again. I just refuse to let him drag me down to his level of depravity. I’ll kill him first.” “Um, baby?” “What?” Ifan tilted his head slightly, feeling incredibly confused. “Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t kill your father because you didn’t want to sink to his level?” “Yes.” Ifan rubbed his forehead. It was starting to ache. “You don’t want to kill your father because it would drag you down to his level, and if he drags you down to his level, you’ll kill him.” “Yep.” Ifan tossed his hands up in the air. “I’m lost.” “I will not allow Felix to turn me into what he has become. He uses people to get what he wants, no matter what the cost. I will not kill him to get what I want, no matter how much I want it. It would make me just as bad as him.” “I’m with you so far.” “I’ll kill him before I allow that to happen.” “And that’s where you lost me.” Misha chuckled. “I will do everything in my power to make sure Felix pays for his crimes, but I do not want to be like him. But if it comes right down to it and he forces my hand, I will kill him, and not shed a tear over it.” “Ah.” “Understand now?” “Not really but whatever makes you happy, baby.” “Works for me.” Ifan chuckled as he followed Misha out of the bedroom into the hallway. The two guards he took out earlier still lay unconscious on the floor. Misha stared at them for a moment then stepped over them like he was stepping over a log.

White Paws and a Dream

115

“Now I see why you live in the woods all by yourself,” Misha said over his shoulder. “You have the social skills of a box of rocks.” Ifan shrugged. “I don’t like people.” Misha chuckled and shook his head, but he didn’t say anything. Ifan knew that his statement no longer bothered Misha from the easy way he walked. “Any idea where your father is?” “I think he is most likely in his bedroom. We were in the dream world together when you pulled me out. I suspect he’s still sleeping as the alarm hasn’t been sounded. If he had come to, the guards would have been all over me.” “Assuming there were any guards still conscious.” “True.” “Have you considered the rooms he has under the house?” Ifan ran into Misha when he skidded to a stop and swung around. He quickly grabbed Misha’s arms to keep the man from falling over. “Whoa, baby, be careful.” “What rooms under the house?” Misha asked. Ifan’s eyebrows shot up as surprise filled him. “You don’t know?” “What rooms?” “Your father has rooms under the house. Hugo said that’s where your father does whatever it is he does. It’s like his lair or something.” “Hugo!” Ifan could see where this line of questioning was going instantly. Misha had reason to hate Hugo, but they needed to stay on task, not argue the merits of taking Hugo out of the picture. He had to put a stop to the argument he could see coming and get Misha back on track. “Do you know someone named Cindy?” Misha frowned. “Yeah, she works in the kitchen. What about her?” “That’s Hugo’s mate.” “What?” Misha’s eyes were huge. “Hugo has a mate?” Ifan nodded.

116

Stormy Glenn

“Then why in the hell did he try and mate me?” “Because Hugo has no resistance to your father. He’s not strong enough to fight him.” Misha stood there for a moment, a strange expression on his face that Ifan couldn’t decipher, and then he suddenly turned and started walking away. “It doesn’t matter,” Misha said. “He did what he did, and there’s a price to pay for it. Being forced doesn’t excuse him.” Misha had a right to be angry if his conclusions were correct. Still, Ifan wouldn’t let what happened to him eat away at the sweet man. He didn’t care if he had to love on Misha every day for the rest of their lives. Misha wouldn’t turn into his father. “I’m sure that Hugo would be willing to submit to whatever punishment you deem appropriate, Misha, but for now, we need to concentrate on your father. He’s the real threat to us, not Hugo. Hugo just wants to be left alone to live peacefully with his mate. Sound familiar?” Misha growled. Ifan saw him clench his hands into fists. He knew Misha had issues with Hugo, and he had a right to them. Still, while Hugo wasn’t innocent in all of this, he did it against his will. That had to stand for something. Ifan didn’t think Misha and Hugo needed to be best friends or anything, but it would help if Misha let go of his hate and anger. They had better things to do with their lives, like love on each other every day. Ifan stopped when Misha did, in front of a door similar to the one that led into Misha’s room. Misha was biting his lip when he turned to look at Ifan. “This…this is it.” “Your father’s room?” Misha nodded but looked hesitant to go in. “Do you want me to look?” Misha looked so relieved that Ifan couldn’t help but laugh. He stepped over and grabbed the door handle.

White Paws and a Dream

117

“Just stand back, love. If there’s anyone in here, I don’t want you in the line of fire.” Misha nodded and quickly flattened himself against the wall beside the door. Ifan sent him a smile then opened the door. He moved quickly, wanting to take anyone that might be inside by surprise. But the surprise was on Ifan. The bedroom was empty. It didn’t even look like it had been used in ages. Ifan frowned and turned back to look at Misha. “Are you sure this is your father’s bedroom?” “Yeah.” “Does he have an office or something? Another place that he sleeps?” “What about those rooms you said were under the house?” Ifan snapped his fingers. “I should have thought of that.” “That’s what you have me for.” Misha winked. “Come on, Misha,” Ifan said as he grabbed Misha’s hand and started dragging him down the hallway. “Hugo said there is an entrance in the dining room.” “The dining room?” Misha frowned. “Really?” “Yeah.” Ifan shrugged. He understood Misha’s confusion. He could think of a hundred better places to have a secret entrance than a dining room. “Go figure, huh?” Ifan grew concerned when they reached the dining room and a section of the wall was pulled out, revealing a small stone passageway with stairs leading down. He wrapped an arm around Misha to hold him back then sniffed the air. “Do you smell anything?” Misha whispered. “It’s dank like the air is stale, but other than that I can’t smell anyone else.” “Well, someone obviously went through there,” Misha said as he waved his hand at the secret entrance. “And I don’t think it was Felix. If he’s been hiding this secret passage this long, he wouldn’t be so careless to leave it open now.”

118

Stormy Glenn

“Which means someone else is down there.” “Hugo?” Ifan shrugged. “Who knows, love?” “Well, we’re never going to find out unless we go down there.” Ifan knew Misha was right, but he was more concerned with Misha going into danger than he was with finding out who went into the passage before them. He’d rather just take Misha home where he’d be safe, but as Misha said previously, if Felix continued to run free, no place would be safe. “All right, come on,” Ifan said as he started for the entrance. “Stay close behind me, though. I don’t want anything to happen to you. If there’s trouble, you run.” “Run, right.” Ifan rolled his eyes. He didn’t know where this newfound courage Misha had was coming from, but he wished it was accompanied by a little caution. Misha seemed ready to run right into battle heedless of the danger. Misha was going to give him gray hair before his time. “Just stay behind me, Misha.” Ifan started down the stone steps, pausing every few steps to sniff the air. The long stone hallway that led directly from the bottom of the steps concerned Ifan. It seemed like there was only one way in and one way out. At the bottom of the stairs, the scent of something else started filling Ifan’s senses. It still smelled dank, but there was something else, something that set the hairs on Ifan’s arm to standing on end. “Misha, stay here.” “Hell no, you said to stay with you, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. Have you ever seen those movies where the actors separate and they both end up dying? I’m not that stupid.” A low growl emanated from Ifan. His mate just had to pick this particular moment to grow a set of balls? Couldn’t he have waited twenty minutes?

White Paws and a Dream

119

“Fine, but you better glue yourself to my ass, do you hear me?” Ifan grunted when Misha did exactly what he said and the man’s smaller body slammed into his backside. Misha’s fingers wrapped through the loops on Ifan’s jeans. “Misha!” “What?” Ifan just shook his head then started down the hallway, Misha hot on his heels. They walked several feet before they came to the first door. Ifan gestured for Misha to stand against the wall then slowly opened the door and looked inside. It seemed to be nothing more than a storage room. Wooden crates were stacked from floor to ceiling on both sides of the room, a small walkway between them. Ifan sniffed the air but didn’t find anything out of place, so he shut the door and moved further on down the hallway. The next door led to a room filled with large metal cages. The hairs on Ifan’s arms stood up even further, and a cold chill went down his spine. The cages were large enough to fit a full-grown man. Ifan had a pretty good idea what Felix used this room for, and it gave him the creeps. Ifan quickly shut the door before Misha could look in. He didn’t want his mate any more traumatized than he already was. “Let’s try the next room.” Ifan started down the hallway again. He could hear Misha walking behind him and feel the pull of Misha’s fingers where they were wrapped around the loops in his jeans. For every door they came to, Misha would let go and plaster himself against the wall. The second they started walking again, Misha’s fingers were right back in place. Ifan grew more concerned with each door they came to. He could still smell something wrong in the air, but he couldn’t pinpoint where it was coming from. They had already looked into several rooms, all filled with varying degrees of items meant to torture people or keep them imprisoned. Ifan couldn’t help but wonder how long this had been going on. Misha had stated that his father was a sadistic bastard, but Ifan didn’t

120

Stormy Glenn

think even Misha knew how right he was or to what degree. Felix Surkov was inhuman. The last door at the end of the hallway was painted red. Ifan paused several feet from it and just stared. Something ominous filled him as he looked at the door. He just knew deep down inside that whatever they were hunting was behind that door. “Misha, let me go in first and look around,” Ifan said through their bond. He didn’t want anyone who might be listening to hear them talking or know they were coming. He just prayed that Misha didn’t argue with him this time. “Okay.” Ifan sent Misha a small smile over his shoulder then opened the door and stepped in. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but it wasn’t Brodelyn. The man stood at the end of a round bed, staring down at something hidden in the multitude of pillows. The room itself was eerie. The walls were painted a deep dark red. The only item of furniture in the entire room was the bed in the middle of it. It was just as round as the room. Ifan groaned when he felt Misha brush against his side. Why couldn’t Misha stay where he was supposed to stay? “Brodelyn?” Brodelyn turned to look at Misha. His eyebrow was cocked as if he was confused. He waved his hand at the lump on the bed. “We might have a small problem bringing Felix to justice.” Ifan frowned and stepped closer to the bed. He could feel Misha walk next to him. When he looked down at the bed, Ifan’s eyebrows shot up. Curled up on the bed in a fetal position, his eyes glazed over as he stared into nothing, was Felix Surkov. “What happened to him?” Ifan asked. “My guess?” Brodelyn replied. “He’s been mind wiped.” “Mind what?”

White Paws and a Dream

121

“Mind wiped. He’s dumber than my first boyfriend, who thought lube was used as sunscreen.” Brodelyn snorted. “Man, you should have seen him. He was—” “Brodelyn!” Ifan snapped, trying to get the man’s mind back on track. “Stay with me here. What exactly happened to Felix, and is it permanent?” “Felix’s mind has been wiped or attacked in such a manner that he is no longer a sentient being,” Brodelyn said. “Basically, his brain is sludge. And yes, I believe it’s permanent.” “Damn!” Misha whispered. “I was hoping he would have to pay for his crimes.” “He will be this way for the rest of his life, Misha. Isn’t that payment enough?” Misha shook his head as he looked over at Brodelyn. “This will never be enough for what he did. He got off easy.” “Did you do this, Misha?” Ifan asked. Misha shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean, we did fight in the dream world, and I did get upset when I found the memory of Felix killing my mother, but you pulled me back before I could do any real damage.” Misha glanced at the man huddled on the bed. “At least, I think you did.” “No, Misha, you didn’t do this,” Brodelyn said. “I found traces of your aura in his brain pattern, but I think Felix did it to himself. Dreamwalking, if used wrong, can eventually backfire on a walker. I believe Felix overloaded and fried his own brain.” Misha started to snicker then slapped his hand over his mouth when the sound became hysterical. Ifan quickly stepped over and wrapped his arms around his mate. He could feel the waves of relief coming off of Misha and knew the man had been worried that he had harmed his father. As much as Misha might have hated Felix, he didn’t want to be responsible for destroying him. It wasn’t in Misha’s nature to be cruel.

122

Stormy Glenn

“What’s going to happen to Felix now?” Ifan asked, knowing that Misha would want to know. “I’ll have him transferred to UPAC headquarters. Once I give a full report to the council, Felix will most likely be placed somewhere he can be cared for but not escape from.” That sounded like a good idea to Ifan. “And Hugo?” “Hugo has to pay for his crimes, but I believe once the council learns of his plight, he will receive a light sentence.” Ifan nodded. “Make sure he can see Cindy wherever he is,” Misha whispered against Ifan’s shirt. “She’s his mate.” Ifan smiled. That was the man he had fallen in love with. “Are you ready to go home now, love?” “God, yes!”

White Paws and a Dream

123

Chapter 11 Misha knelt on the floor then leaned in to light the kindling in the fireplace. He watched for a moment as small flames flickered to life then started burning the stack of wood he had piled inside the stone hearth. He had everything set up for a quiet night in front of the fire with his mate. The fire was now roaring to life. A bottle of wine was chilling, dinner had been cooked and was even now warming in the oven, and Misha was wearing nothing except a short silk robe—a welcome home present from Ifan. Ifan had done everything he could to make Misha feel welcome when he came home. Between taking him to work and teaching him how to work leather and letting Misha change anything in the house he wanted, which wasn’t much, Ifan had made the log building feel like home. He loved everything about his new home, but the little spot in front of the stone fireplace was his favorite. Ifan had given Misha a fluffy blanket to lay on the floor when he wanted to cuddle. Normally, the rug hung over a chair by the window. Misha thought it was thoughtful that Ifan hadn’t given him a fur rug because that would have been a little too weird. In the weeks since being kidnapped by his father, Misha had come to see his new home as a refuge from everything bad in the world. If he had his way, he’d never leave. He loved it here. Unfortunately, Brodelyn had asked them to come back to UPAC headquarters. He hadn’t said why other than it was a surprise. Brodelyn had been quick to assure Misha that it had nothing to do

124

Stormy Glenn

with his father or Hugo. Felix Surkov had been taken to the UPAC detention center where he would live out the rest of his life under the watchful eyes of UPAC guards. Hugo was to serve a term of three years for his part in Felix’s schemes. Due to Misha’s testimony, he was allowed to serve them under house arrest with Cindy by his side. Misha had signed his father’s estate over to Hugo. He didn’t want it. He never wanted to see it again. He wanted to stay exactly where he was. Home. Misha smiled when the front door opened and Ifan walked in. “Have a nice day at the office, dear?” Ifan laughed. “You could say that.” Misha jumped to his feet and raced over to Ifan. He lifted his face for a kiss even as he plastered his body against Ifan’s. The kiss was just what he needed, just what he wanted. It was hot and passionate and curled Misha’s toes. “Missed you,” Misha whispered once he could breathe again. “I was only gone for a few hours, Misha.” “Way too long.” Ifan tapped the end of Misha’s nose with his finger. “Then maybe you should go with me next time. I know you don’t like seeing Hugo, but you need to at some point, even if it’s just to scream and yell at him. Holding all of this inside of you won’t do you any good.” Misha knew the time was coming when he would have to confront Hugo. The man called on a weekly basis and asked to see him. Ifan had started to go see Hugo once a week, even if it was on the pretext of documenting everything that Felix was responsible for doing. Ifan said there needed to be a record and Hugo refused to speak with anyone else. Misha personally thought Ifan was coming to like the guy, but he just wasn’t to that point yet. “Maybe next time,” Misha said. “I’m just not quite ready yet.” “And if you’re never ready, that’s okay. Hugo did some horrible things, even he admits that. But I truly believe once you confront him

White Paws and a Dream

125

there won’t be so many demons riding your back. You will never get that chance with Felix. His mind is too far gone. But you can settle things with Hugo.” “Maybe.” “Just think about it, love, please?” Ifan stuck out his bottom lip as if pouting. “For me?” Misha laughed. His big bad mate didn’t have a chance in hell of pulling off a good pout, but he was sure damn cute when he tried. “I’ll think about it. How’s that?” “Good enough.” “Have you had a chance to figure out what Brodelyn wants yet?” Misha asked as he led Ifan back over to stand in front of the fireplace. He dropped the hand he had grabbed and turned, starting to take his robe off. Ifan licked his lips as he stared at Misha. “Who?” “Brodelyn.” “Oh, no, he said it was some sort of surprise but he won’t tell me more than that.” Misha waved his finger back and forth when Ifan reached for him. “Uh-uh, you know the rule. No clothes on the blanket.” Ifan grinned. “Love that fucking rule.” Misha chuckled as he watched Ifan strip his clothes off. “It came to me in a dream.”

THE END WWW.STORMYGLENN.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stormy believes the only thing sexier than a man in cowboy boots is two or three men in cowboy boots. She also believes in love at first sight, soul Mates, true love, and happy endings. Stormy lives in the great Northwest region of the USA, with her gorgeous husband and soul Mate, six very active teenagers, two boxer/collie puppies, one old biddy cat, and one fish. You can usually find her cuddled in bed with a book in her hand and a puppy in her lap, or on her laptop, creating the next sexy man for one of her stories. Stormy welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website at www.stormyglenn.com

Also by Stormy Glenn Siren Classic ManLove: Blaecleah Brothers 1: Cowboy Easy Siren Classic ManLove: Blaecleah Brothers 2: Cowboy Keeper Siren Classic ManLove: Blaecleah Brothers 3: Cowboy Way Siren Classic ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 1: Full Moon Mating Siren Classic ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 2: Just a Taste of Me Siren Classic ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 3: Tasty Treats, Volume 3: Man to Man Siren Classic ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 4: Blood Prince Siren Classic ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 5: Love, Always, Promise Ménage Amour ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 6: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Siren Classic ManLove: Wolf Creek Pack 7: Pretty Baby Ménage Amour ManLove: Tri-Omega Mates 1: Secret Desires Ménage Amour ManLove: Tri-Omega Mates 2: Forbidden Desires Ménage Amour ManLove: Tri-Omega Mates 3: Hidden Desires Ménage Amour ManLove: Tri-Omega Mates 4: Stolen Desires Ménage Amour ManLove: Tri-Omega Mates 5: Unspoken Desires Ménage Amour ManLove: Tri-Omega Mates 6: A Hunter’s Desires Ménage Amour: Lovers of Alpha Squad 1: Mari’s Men Siren Classic ManLove: Lovers of Alpha Squad 2: The Doctor’s Patience Siren Classic: Lovers of Alpha Squad 3: Julia’s Knight Ménage Amour ManLove: Lovers of Alpha Squad 4: Three of a Kind Siren Classic ManLove: Sweet Perfection 1: Sweet Treats Siren Classic ManLove: Sweet Perfection 2: Mr. Wonderful Siren Classic ManLove: True Blood Mate 1: Heart Song Ménage Amour ManLove: True Blood Mate 2: Alpha Born Siren Classic ManLove: True Blood Mate 3: Love Sexy Siren Classic ManLove: True Blood Mate 4: Redemption Siren Classic ManLove: Katzman 1: The Katzman’s Mate Siren Classic ManLove: Katzman 2: Dream Mate Siren Classic ManLove: Katzman 3: Pride Mate Ménage Amour: Love’s Legacy 1: Cowboy Legacy Siren Classic ManLove: Viking Lore 1: Honor Bound

Siren Classic ManLove: Midnight Matings: Scales and a Tail Siren Classic ManLove: Midnight Matings: Fang and Fur Ménage Amour ManLove: Tasty Treats 5: Cowboy Dreams Siren Classic ManLove: My Lupine Lover Siren Classic ManLove: The Master’s Pet Siren Classic ManLove: Fire Demon Siren Classic: Wolf Queen Siren Classic ManLove: His Gentle Touch Ménage Amour: Mating Heat Siren Classic ManLove: Shake, Rattle, and Roll

Also by Stormy Glenn and Joyee Flynn Ménage Amour ManLove: Delta Wolf 1: Chameleon Wolf Ménage Amour ManLove: Delta Wolf 2: Mating Games Ménage Amour ManLove: Delta Wolf 3: Blood Lust

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com