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Ryder continued to use the dreams of his mate to fuel his new series while Fane used his contacts to again search for his Mate. He bit back a snarl at the need to do the job himself. The book tour was taking too long to plan. Unable to act, Ryder stayed up late writing and it wasn’t the first time he’d worked through the night. He’d only left his apartment once and that was because his brother required him to attend one family dinner and sign more books. With a gym in his apartment and food delivery, leaving wasn’t necessary in his opinion. Fane’s name flashed on his phone when it played some obnoxious song his brother had programmed.
“Did you find him?”
The loaded sigh wasn’t a good sign. Slumping back in his office chair, Ryder scrubbed a hand over his face and reached for the tumbler of whiskey on his desk.
“I’m sorry, but no. The baby has come in contact with a lot of people so we’re trying to trace everyone. It will take some more time. But listen, there’s something else I’m guessing you’ve missed.”
He held the drink close and inhaled deeply then pushed it aside. “You know I don’t keep up with the news. Wait, is something going on with you? Are you and Tamra okay? The cubs?”
“We’re fine. Have you seen the news about Pagosah General?”
“No, I haven’t. I’ve been writing.” Ryder rubbed a hand over his chest.
“I can imagine your boy has inspired many late-night sessions.” Fane chuckled then the sounds of paper shuffling sounded over the line. “Governor Norther wants to separate humans from Gulls – sorry, from all witches and shifters. He’s bypassing legislation by working directly with the Hospital and spinning it as a medical issue. He has financial backers to do it. Pagosah General Hospital is requiring all employees to pick a side and then they can only work on their ‘own kind’ going forward. They’ll also require patients to make the same choice and a medical exam will make the determination for any who aren’t able.”
Ryder sat up straight. “It’s the first step to a registry.”
“That’s what we think too. Norther has big plans for himself. If this works and gains support, legislation won’t be far behind. We think more of us might need to come out and...”
“And an author might be a good choice.” Ryder again picked up the glass. “If I come out, that means your family could have a target on their back if this doesn’t go our way.”
Fane’s silence was telling. “I know, but if we don’t do something, it certainly won’t go our way. We all understand it’s fear. Shifter strength, senses, and healing aren’t as useful in times of peace and prosperity. Witches’ potion can still help with illness but suspicion returns when there’s less urgency. Let’s not even talk about what happens whenever a witch fails to save someone. Even living next to them for years won’t protect us. We need to show we have deep roots and are contributing members of society. We have shifters in the hospital, but we are holding off exposing them. We need to prove we are all in this together before it gets too far.”
“I’ll do it,” Ryder agreed. “It might provide some protection for your family if they focus on me.”
“We’re working on a plan. You’re not just regional but national and even international. We need to use that. Keep writing, but I wanted you to know what’s happening. I’ll talk to you later.”
Ryder stood and moved to a window. Somehow, the glass of whiskey was back in his hand. The scent was comforting as he considered his brother’s words. He hadn’t originally wanted to write under his name – coming out as shifter sounded like an even worse idea. Lifting the whiskey to his lips, the taste made him crave his mate. His Omega would come under even more intense scrutiny and danger.
Moving to a bookshelf, he pulled a book he’d found when researching Omegas. History brought a mixed bag for all Omegas but especially males. Some shifter societies worshipped them; others denied them even basic rights and acted as if they were property. It was unlikely humans would embrace men being able to conceive and give birth to more shifters. The idea of a child of his own... “I need to protect my family.”
He placed the tumbler on the desk and dialed his brother. The speakerphone allowed the ringing to fill the room before his brother picked up.
“Ryder, what—”
“Would it help your plan if we revealed my pen name too?”
“I thought you didn’t even want the family to know.”
“I didn’t. I don’t. This is bigger than me.” Ryder paced back to the window. “Would it help to reveal I write under another name?”
Laughter was Fane’s first response. Once he quieted, he cleared his throat. “Yeah, it will definitely help. That new series gives a romantic fantasy view of shifters.”
“Then factor it into your plan.” Ryder clicked the phone off and paced to another window. The early morning darkness allowed his reflection to stare back at him. His normally hazel eyes shifted to bright orange as his Alpha surfaced. The desire for his Omega continued to grow. Grasping at his only option, he sat at his desk and started writing again.
###
SAMSON MOVED DIRECTLY to the table but all of the Ryder Zemar books were gone. His lips pulled back in a snarl and he clutched his hands into fists to avoid breaking the table. He drew in a deep breath and caught just a hint of the summer storms he’d been craving. The need had only grown since he’d discovered the incredible scent – his skin was tight and itchy, his mind almost foggy with need. Without the splash of summery citrus, his den was no longer a sanctuary.
“I thought you might visit again. See anything you like?” The same man who’d helped him before chuckled.
Ignoring him, Samson lifted his head and closed his eyes. He started moving blindly through the store trying to catch the scent. Turning left brought only foreign odors so he passed the original table to search further. He found the enticing scent several rows over and high on the shelf. Samson smiled as his hands closed over two books.
He didn’t even glance at the paperbacks before placing them on the counter. Technically, he only placed one on the counter. The other book remained in his hand and directly under his nose.
“You aren’t the only one.”
“What?”
“You aren’t the only one.” The clerk waited then sighed. “Many readers like both authors. I do think there’s a similar style, but she’s more about romance and true love. That’s its own kind of magic. Don’t you think? The author signed those too.”
Zari Arielle.
The scent came from both a man and a woman. He’d had one fun weekend with a married couple and those memories played in his mind and toyed with his body. Samson shook his head and heard the man laughing again. His thoughts were still hazy when he met the man’s gaze.
“Those books are about True Mates. Are you hoping to find yours?”
“True Mates aren’t real. It must be a family scent.” He flipped the book over but there was no picture. It was easy enough to picture Ryder Zemar as he still dreamed of the author each night. Samson knew his eyes were glowing gold but he stared at the man. It had to be a trick of the light causing the clerk’s blue eyes to flash purple then a nearly iridescent black.
When the man nodded, his eyes were a normal blue again. “Sometimes, magic isn’t enough. It’s love we need and love sometimes requires us to fight.”
Samson tried to keep a distance from everyone – human or magical. His family had at least taught him to always land on his feet and only count on himself. He wasn’t sure what category the man fell into; he was sure he needed the Zari Arielle books in his den. “Just let me buy the damn books.”
“Of course.”
Samson’s phone beeped as he handed over his credit card. Alyx’s name popped up with her message. The friendly nurse was again asking if all was well and when he was returning to the hospital. He was still waiting on Maura’s big plan and his hospital form remained blank. Scrubbing a hand across the back of his neck, he put the phone away without responding.
“I know you aren’t afraid to fight. Don’t be afraid to love either.” The man held up the romance novel and waved it in the air before putting it in the bag. “Maybe actually read this one instead of just sniffing it.”
Heat flooded Samson’s face. He grabbed his new purchases and his card before pivoting away to almost sprint from the store.
Once he was alone in his den, he was happier than he’d been since the first book purchase. It was then Samson remembered the man’s words. He sat up against the pillows and opened the book.
“Might as well get my money’s worth since I’m not eating tomorrow.” Even the loss of a meal didn’t make him regret having the scent for himself. He closed his eyes for one more deep sniff then focused on the words.
‘Cayden Ranier was an Alpha without an Omega. The prissy princesses his parents pushed his way didn’t heat his blood or touch his heart. It was sharp angles, hard muscles, and a darker scent he spent his nights craving.’
Samson flipped the book over to scan the blurb – it was a romance between an Alpha and Omega and both were men. There were mentions of martial arts, magic, and murder. Grinning, he turned back to the author’s signature then nodded to himself. He hadn’t read since school and even then, it was only the basics. His family had wanted him to graduate early and he had. Then they’d abandoned him in Pagosah.
Pushing the memories away, he flipped to Chapter One and joined Cayden on his search for romance.