DEXTER RECEIVED a few texts from Orion Saturday afternoon and then nothing on Sunday. He didn’t let himself get too concerned or disappointed. He’d half expected them to invite him over Saturday night as well. But it was finals, after all, and Orion taught a class. He also knew Talon had vital experiments to conduct, so Dexter enjoyed his Sunday by sleeping late and then cleaning his place. He should invite them over. Would they like his home? He wanted to celebrate Christmas with them. Would they accept? It was probably too soon in their relationship to suggest it but he’d regret not asking them.
He looked around, wondering if they’d find it nice. His hope was a living thing in his chest, warming the love that continued to grow for Talon and Orion. He owed them everything, and he promised himself he was going to enjoy the ride and not look for the negatives.
Enjoy them. And if it didn’t work out? Well, he’d still survive and be stronger because now he had proof he could be desired.
Dexter blew out a breath and got ready for work. He had to come in slightly early, around six in the evening, and texted both of his boyfriends—the thought still made his heart jump—that he wouldn’t mind meeting up for a break if they could manage it. It was an amazing sensation to be able to do that.
After clocking in he went about his normal routine. Neither Talon nor Orion texted him back after an hour, and he felt the first hint of worry. He struggled to shake it off. He debated sending another text. Would that be too naggy? But Orion was the texting king, and yet why the radio silence? After all their pretty words Saturday morning, he had to believe they were sincere.
What was the point of all this if they weren’t?
“Dexter.”
He turned to see Audrey stepping over to him. He dropped the trash bag in his pail before deftly slipping a new one in the can.
“Hi, Audrey. Got exams this late?”
“No, just visiting a few friends.”
He nodded, wondering why she was talking to him. He thought she’d decided to dislike him at Orion’s birthday party. She stuffed her hands in her coat pockets and looked hesitant, as if worried about something.
“Something I can do for you?” he asked as politely as he could. He really did have other buildings he had to get to. And the temperature continued to drop painfully.
“Well, it’s just… I feel I should warn you.”
He blinked. “About what?”
“Talon and Orion.”
“Wh-what about them?” He fought the urge the run. Very far away. He wanted to run and hide and not hear what she had to say. He wanted the fantasy; he needed it.
“They’re, well, just not good for the long-term. I’ve known them since we were all undergrads, and I’ve seen them with a lot of guys. Some barely last six months before they drop them like a game of hot potato. They’re rather fickle with anyone but themselves. They try all sorts of guys to spice up their sex life, and, well, I guess you’re the flavor of the month.”
Dexter stared at her, suddenly very cold and weak.
“They get itchy around this time of year, too, with the stress of finals and the holidays.” She paused, expression strained. “I’m sorry, Dexter. You seem like a nice guy, and I just wanted to warn you before you got in too deep. I mean, you could stay with them and ride it out, but my advice would be to drop them now and move on. It’s not worth wasting time on two selfish players.”
He turned away and gripped his cart to stay standing. His legs were trembling, and a cold sweat broke out on his body. Tears burned his eyes, and he knew a panic attack wasn’t far away. He staggered over to a bench and sat before pushing his head between his legs. He wouldn’t get sick. He would not get sick.
Her words jumbled with Stacey’s warnings nearly a week before when they had dinner together. How could he really be so blind? So delusional? If Audrey had known them so long, then it would make sense she would know how they operated.
Audrey was gone by the time he lifted his head. He blindly looked around, wondering if he’d find shards of his heart on the floor by his feet. So much for hope.
How he got through the rest of his shift, he couldn’t say. He barely remembered anything, going through the motions like a robot. As soon as he clocked out, he drove home in a daze. It was early morning, and he had two texts from Talon and Orion, all vague and disconcerting. Orion’s lacked emojis and Talon’s his dry wit. They claimed to want to meet up but without any set time or place. Talon’s said they had something important to talk about but didn’t go into details.
With his mood significantly low, Dexter pulled up in front of his house and rested his forehead against the steering wheel, cursing his trembling hands. He didn’t want to be alone. He got out of the car and walked to Beatrice’s house. He stepped inside to the smell of bacon and eggs and a man’s cologne. He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned to leave when Beatrice bustled out in a floral print robe with bunny slippers complete with floppy ears.
She squeaked and slapped a hand to her chest. “Great jumping frogs, Dexter! You scared the shit out of me. You didn’t have a double shift? Well, no matter, why don’t you—oh honey, what’s wrong?” She rushed to him and felt his face with the back of her hand. “You look as pale as a ghost and about to pass out. Come in the living room and sit down.”
He couldn’t speak. He followed meekly as she led him to the couch and shoved him down.
“Let me get rid of my guest, and then we can talk, okay, hon?”
“Sorry,” he croaked.
“No, no, you stop that now. He’d best be on his way anyhow.”
She left him for a long moment, and there was a hushed conversation as he sat silently on the couch, staring at nothing. Beatrice finished in the kitchen before returning to him with a shot of something. She sat on the table in front of him and shoved the glass into his hand.
“It’s whiskey. Take it down quick. It will put some color in your cheeks.”
He didn’t argue. He took the shot and coughed at the burn, some of his brain clicking back on.
“There now.” She took his hands in her slender wrinkled ones and met his gaze. “Tell me what happened.”
Dexter took a deep breath and let it all spill out: Orion’s party, the awesomeness of Friday night, the tenderness of Saturday morning. Then the delay of a text reply, then Audrey’s words. He also mentioned Stacey’s warnings. It gushed out, and he was sobbing by the time he finished.
Beatrice sat next to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rocked him. She didn’t say a word, only offering comfort and a sympathetic ear.
Exhausted, he lay on the couch, and she drew a blanket over him. He vaguely noticed she took his phone. He didn’t care. He pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes, listening to her footsteps pad away.
DEXTER WOKE up slightly when someone knocked on Beatrice’s front door. He grumbled and pulled the blanket over his head. He knew where he was and what happened, and he didn’t care. She could have a party around him, and he wouldn’t give a crap. He wasn’t moving. What was the point? So yeah, maybe he’d tried to convince himself he would survive if they decided to end the relationship, but he’d hoped it would be further down the line, that they would be as committed to the relationship as he was and the breakup would come naturally. Being told he was the flavor of the month was a punch to his ego, what little he had.
Beatrice’s quiet voice murmured to whoever was at the door. Then two other voices joined. He didn’t focus on them and drifted off to sleep again.
He woke once more to the sensation of someone stroking his hair. He sighed.
“Beatrice, please let me sleep. I know it’s your couch, but I really don’t want to go to my house.”
The fingers stilled. “I was hoping we could talk.”
Dexter’s eyes popped open, and he shot up to sit, the blanket fluttering to his lap. Orion sat on the table in front of him, and Talon claimed the couch arm. Both stared at him intently.
“Wh-what the hell are you doing here?”
Orion’s lips trembled, and his eyes misted.
Talon narrowed his eyes and firmed his lips into a thin line.
Beatrice strolled in wearing a flattering yellow dress, her makeup and hairdo pristine. She carried a large purse with her.
Dexter sent her an accusatory glare.
She merely raised an eyebrow. “Talk and listen, Dexter. That’s how relationships survive. Rule Number One.” She glanced at Talon and Orion. “You boys take your time. I’ll be home late.”
Then she grabbed her giant coat, fuzzy gloves, swept out of her house, and was gone.
Dexter stared at them in silence and finally sagged into the couch. He scrubbed his hands over his face. “What do you want?”
“To have the benefit of the doubt,” Talon said stiffly. “And not have you believe every lie that people tell about us.”
Dexter frowned at him. “Did Beatrice tell you everything?”
“Yes, she did. And I can tell you Audrey is no longer a friend of ours.”
“Look—”
“She doesn’t like you, Dex,” Orion said, voice thick with tears. “She said such horrible things about you yesterday, and we think she found you after and decided to take one last jab at all of us. We want you with us so bad, cariño.”
Dexter shook his head and rubbed his eyes, exhaustion slowing his mind.
“What we said Saturday morning still stands,” Talon said. “We want you for the long haul, but only if you’re willing to meet us halfway. So you interested or not? Or are you going to let your lack of self-worth keep holding you back?”
“Talon!” Orion hissed.
“No, he’s right,” Dexter said. He hated to admit it, was embarrassed to admit it. “I did let her words trump yours. I’m more used to hearing what she had to say than what you said. Her words made more sense.”
“No!” Orion hopped on the couch beside Dexter and hugged his arm, rubbing his cheek against Dexter’s shoulder. “We make sense. The three of us make sense. I… I love you.”
Dexter shuddered out a breath and looked at Orion’s face. “Please don’t toss those words around. Not now.”
“I’m not tossing, I’m declaring,” Orion said, his eyes sparking with insult.
Dexter stared at him for a moment before looking at Talon.
Talon raised an eyebrow. “I like you a lot. I can see myself loving you sometime down the road. I want the choice to reach that place. What do you want? What do you feel?”
“I—” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat to try again. “You both are the best things to ever happen to me. I think that’s why I can’t… I can’t believe it’s real.”
Talon walked over and dropped to a crouch in front of Dexter. His intense hazel eyes were so focused and direct. They seemed to see right through Dexter.
“It is real. Believe that and believe us, and everything will be better.”
Dexter nodded. “I’ll try. I promise.”
“Good. Holding you to that.” He blew out a breath and stood. “Okay, now we need to tell you some things. Some pretty heavy things. Let’s go to your house, okay?”
“Sure.” Dexter led them the short distance to his house and let them in, dazed and still sleepy. Orion stayed plastered to his side as Talon gazed at the small house, nodding in apparent appreciation.
“Nice place. Good flow and structure. Love the books.”
Dexter smiled slightly. “You want anything? Drinks or a snack?”
“We’re fine,” Talon said.
Dexter sat on the couch with Orion still snuggled against him. But when Talon eyed Orion, he sighed and stood, coming to stand next to him.
“What we’re about to tell you is sensitive,” Talon said. “To tell you any of this is to put our trust in your discretion and our lives in your hands.”
Dexter frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“You will.” Talon blew out a breath again, and for the first time since meeting him, Talon appeared nervous. He never thought the stately, blunt man could get nervous.
“Have you ever thought or considered there could be more out in the world than meets the eye? That there is more to the species on this planet, more than humans and other lower-intelligence animals?”
Dexter blinked. “Are you serious?”
“Please answer,” Orion said, twisting his hands in anxiety.
“I guess I, well, always hoped there was more. I love animals, especially birds. I worked at a raptor rescue center as a teen. And there’ve been times I just… wondered if there was more to them than the obvious. Is that what you’re asking?”
“Yes, exactly,” Talon said, looking relieved. “Well, we’re here to tell you that there is. More to certain people and more to certain animals that aren’t readily seen on the surface.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“Have you heard of the shape shifter legends of Native American culture? As well as European and Russian?”
“Uh, yeah. Like werewolves?”
“In a way, yes. So you understand the general idea.”
Dexter was way out of his depth and floundering. What was Talon getting at? He had no clue where this was going. “Sure. A dude transforms into a vicious beast and eats people.”
Talon winced before taking a deep breath and gripped Orion’s hand. “Not all shape shifters are monsters. Many are normal, average folk just trying to live in the world.”
“You said that like… like….”
“I know.”
Their eyes began to glow, and there was no mistaking the slithering muscles under their skin.
“Orion and I are what you would refer to as bird shifters. We’re both owls.”
Dexter haltingly shook his head. Of all the things they could have said to him… that hadn’t even made it on the list. “Come again?”
“Owl shifters, Dex. We change our shape into that of an owl. They are the other spirit that lives within us.”
“Right,” Dex said, drawing out the word. Christ, and they seemed so normal! And he adored them so much. But now what? Who should he call to report this insanity?
“Orion, you should show him.”
Orion nodded and stripped off his clothes. Dexter gulped and gripped his pants, bunching the fabric in his fists. Orion’s slim, brown body was exposed moments before the air shimmered and heated. Dexter flinched and blinked rapidly at the odd phenomenon. Then there was a pulse, and suddenly an elf owl was flying around the room.
He gasped and pushed back into the couch in awe and in terror. Talon watched him closely as he held out his hand, and the little owl perched on his forearm, giving a mewling chuckle. The owl ruffled his feathers and flapped his wings, never still, always hopping or rocking.
Dexter gaped as he hesitantly leaned forward, realizing he knew that owl.
“No freaking way.”
“You saved him,” Talon said. “Cared for him. You brought him back to me. For that I owe you a debt I can never repay. When you took this little owl into your home, you endeared yourself to Orion, and he couldn’t wait to tell me about the kind, cuddly man with chocolate eyes who saved him from the storm. He saw you for who you are, Dex. A kind, wounded soul. I’m asking that you see us for who we are. Don’t be afraid. We will never harm you.”
The elf owl gave a sharp yip before he launched into the air and circled just above Dexter’s head. He flinched again but didn’t run. He didn’t think his legs would hold him even if he tried. The owl perched on the back of the couch at one end. Dexter watched as he sidled over, inch by inch, toward him. It continued to talk to him, squeaking and chuckling. Soon it was right next to his cheek and rubbed its head against him.
Then something brushed his mind. It was the oddest sensation. His vision faltered, and he was—oh my God! He was seeing two sights at once: one was his own, staring at the owl, and the second was as if he were looking at himself through the owl’s eyes. He saw himself looking at himself.
Dexter screamed and stumbled away, falling down in his instinct to escape.
“Orion!” Talon snapped.
Orion flittered away, letting out such a sad, mournful cry.
Dexter scrambled backward on his butt until he hit the wall. Talon moved to him, and Dexter tried to shove him away when Talon grabbed his hands.
“Stop! Stop and breathe, Dex. Please. Calm down!” The authority in Talon’s voice had him stilling and breathing raggedly. “There you go. In and out. Right. Good. Let me ask you a question. Have we ever harmed you?”
Dexter stared into his glowing eyes and swore he saw a bird in them as well. Fucking hell, what was happening to his life?
“Dexter.” Talon shook his hands to get his attention. “Have we ever harmed you?”
“No,” he croaked.
“Exactly. Give us the benefit of the doubt here. We’re trusting you with a lot. We never have with any of our other thirds. Some have been shifters themselves, but not all of them. Do you understand that? You are the only human we have exposed ourselves to.”
Dexter shuddered and tried to hold back his tears. “I am?”
“Yes.” Talon smoothed Dexter’s hair out of his face. “Baby, we want you with us that badly. We have that much confidence that we can make this work.”
Dexter stared silently at Talon, absorbing his words. Then he looked at the elf owl—no, at Orion. The owl had the same eyes as Orion.
“What did he do to me?”
Talon hissed a breath through his teeth. “Something he shouldn’t have done yet.” Talon flicked a glare at Orion, who clacked his beak. “It’s something only bird shifters can do. We have telepathic abilities, and I guess he was testing if you were his true mate.”
“A what?”
“A true mate is, supposedly, someone perfectly meant for a bird shifter. Orion claimed it was you from the start. He and I aren’t true mates, but he believed you are his. A way to test that theory is for the bird shifter to merge their mind with their mate. Since you have no experience with telepathy, the ease of his entry lends credence to his theory.”
Dexter felt like his head was going to explode with all this new, amazing, terrifying information.
“Are you in pain?”
Dexter thought about it and shook his head.
“Then you just might be his true mate. Interesting. That explains why he can’t let you go.”
“What about you?” Dexter asked before checking with his brain.
Talon raised an eyebrow. “This entire conversation should be answer enough for you. I’ve already told you my feelings and intentions.”
Dexter nodded. He looked back and forth between them several times before speaking.
“You’re the great horned owl, aren’t you? From the other night?”
Talon smiled rather smugly and straightened, gentling his grip on Dexter’s hands. “Yes, I am.”
“Can…. Oh God, can I see you too?”
Talon’s eyes flared, and his muscles shuddered, rippling his skin. Without realizing what he was doing, Dexter raised his hand and touched Talon’s cheek, feeling the movement. Talon stilled but didn’t push away.
“Weird,” Dexter whispered.
Talon chuckled. “I suppose it would be for you. It happens when our emotions are high, usually in lust or anger.”
Talon stood and backed away a few steps before stripping. Dexter sat up as the air shimmered and heated again. It wasn’t a second before a large, majestic great horned owl was standing on the floor in front of him. He hooted once before launching into the air, flapping his majestic wings.
Talon the owl flew around the room once before perching on the back of the couch next to Orion. Orion sidled over and rubbed his head against Talon’s side. Talon nibbled Orion’s feathery head in affection before drawing a wing protectively over his body. Then he looked at Dexter and hooted again.
Dexter realized, with a pounding heart, the hoot was a call for his mate. He’d been around owls long enough at the raptor center to recognize the pattern, one long drawn-out one followed by two shorter hoots, and the look in Talon’s large eyes confirmed it. Talon hooted again, and Orion added a mewling chuckle, his own call to his mate.
They were calling him, trusting him.
Dexter’s tears spilled over his cheeks as he slowly made his way back to them. After the initial shock, he was fascinated and stared in wonder at the miracle before him. He sat sideways at the end of the couch, watching them watch him. Orion hopped over timidly, chittering and ruffling his feathers. Dexter sat up and gently skimmed a finger down Orion’s chest. The owl closed his eyes, enjoying the touch. He stroked a few more times, smiling as his heart calmed.
Talon moved over as well and bent down to nip playfully at his finger. Dexter laughed softly and used his other hand to pet Talon’s chest. Talon closed his eyes and flapped his wings slightly before leaning into the touch. There was such a size difference between them, it was almost comical. Yet it was also beautiful. Now Dexter knew why Talon called Orion his little elf.
“Thank you,” Dexter whispered.
Talon hooted and Orion mewled.