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Ryder struggled to stay upright and face their attacker. Two arrows protruded from his chest – a freezing cold was already spreading from the wounds. His legs felt heavy while his head was enveloped in a heavy, suffocating fog. He blinked and tried to focus. When the man stared past him, he focused on the strange hisses and pops coming from Samson. Black spots narrowed his vision as Ryder swayed to the side to see his mate. He turned in time to watch the man transform into a large lion. Golden eyes stared at Ryder.
“What a cute kitty. I wasn’t expecting you but I think I have just the thing for freaks.”
The lion moved to his side. Ryder blinked several times but gold eyes continued to stare at him. He placed a hand against the lion’s neck and turned back to the stranger. A new arrow appeared in the man’s hand. The tip was now a neon pink.
“I don’t know who you are...” Ryder heard the slur in his words. His knees buckled and he hit the ground.
The stranger seemed fascinated by Samson. He ignored Ryder even as he answered his question. “I’m an Orion, a hunter. Someone has to eliminate monsters like you two. It doesn’t hurt that I’m well paid, o’course, and he’ll fetch a shiny mint.”
Ryder tightened his grip and the lion pressed into his shoulder. He had a bizarre moment to note the fur was surprisingly soft. Shaking his head, he turned again to the man.
“You won’t be able to fight it much longer then I’ll take care of the little pussy.” The man laughed at his own joke.
“Run...go...” Ryder pushed at the solid wall of muscle and fur, but Samson didn’t budge. The lion flicked his tongue over Ryder’s cheek then stepped in front of him with a growl.
Without his Mate bracing him, Ryder slumped to the side. He kept his gaze locked on the hunter whose words he could no longer understand. He fought to keep his eyes open. The last thing he saw was the lion Samson leaping through the air to tackle the man.
###
BRIGHT WHITE LIGHTS flashed and a harsh smell burned Ryder’s nose and throat. His body felt heavy and ached with each breath. Soft voices faded into a muted hum.
Sharp pinpricks of pain – a comforting caress – warmth and safety.
Wrapped in a soft, fuzzy blanket, Ryder wanted to ignore the pull of morning and snuggle deeper into bed with his Mate. Samson’s familiar scent was different and Ryder drew in a deep breath. The whiskey was all but covered by vanilla. The chocolate was darker and tinged with a sharply bitter edge. He forced his eyes open to check on the Omega. It wasn’t Samson watching him.
“Great, you’re finally able to see me. We don’t have much time.”
Ryder was alone in a white-walled room with the bookstore owner. “What are you doing here?”
“Considering all I’ve done for you and yours, I’d think you would welcome me. We don’t have time to waste on your rudeness.” Zaniel waved a hand and the television on the wall flickered to life.
Pushing himself up on the bed, Ryder ran a hand along the soft fur blanket covering his bed. He could still smell Samson, but he couldn’t remember where his Mate was.
“Focus.” Zaniel snapped his fingers with an annoyed frown. It was his voice that came through the television; his lips didn’t move.
“Whether they are lions on the African savannah, alley tomcats, or shifters. Mating season is serious business for felines.”
The images revealed not just lions and domesticated cats but also cheetahs, tigers, and bobcats. Each pair circled and stared at their mate. Ryder frowned at the television as the voice continued to explain.
“The scent of an Omega’s need starts the dance and it is the Omega who decides when it is time to mate and who is worthy to be his partner.”
Ryder was still staring at the screen when his face replaced the animals. He saw himself sniff the baby blanket that brought Samson’s scent to him for the first time. The next images showed him typing furiously before the covers of his romance novels flashed in rapid succession. There was even a brief replay of his interview admitting to being a shifter.
“I was courting him.”
“And very successfully,” Zaniel agreed.
An image of Samson holding one of his books sent an electric shot up Ryder’s spine and straight through his heart. He smiled at the pictures of them dancing.
“I won’t abuse my tender sensibilities by sharing your first rut and heat.”
It took a moment for Ryder to look away from Samson’s smiling face on the screen. He needed several more seconds to focus on the words. “Ruts and heats are real then?”
Zaniel shrugged and snapped his fingers again. The television screen went dark. “The words are used loosely as humans must always categorize things. Magic simply is whether humans understand it or not. Gravity doesn’t need you to believe or understand for it to work. Magic is the same and just as powerful. Ruts and heats are magic being unleashed to bond two souls and physical bodies do the best they can to keep up. Next time, you’ll remember more.”
“You act like magic is sentient. My research showed that Alphas and Omegas appear during turbulent historical times. Is that true? Is it magic trying to...” Ryder faltered even though he wanted to understand his biology. He couldn’t make sense of what Zaniel was implying. The existence of his True Mate only made him more curious though as he had an Omega to care for now.
“I understand you need to know more, but there’s time for that later. What you need to know right now is that your Mate is in danger. Shifters and Omegas, in particular, can store a lot of magic, but they can’t channel more if they exhaust it all. Samson may not survive without his magic.”
Ryder tried to leap from the bed, but his limbs wouldn’t move. He turned to snarl at Zaniel. The bookstore owner had one hand lifted.
“You need to ask him to shift back. Let him know you’re safe. Samson is trying to protect you both but he needs your strength and the reassurance of your love.” Zaniel lowered his hand and smiled. “And now, it’s time for you to really wake up.”
The flash of white made Ryder flinch and squeeze his eyes shut. Pain reverberated through his head and heat flooded his body. His limbs still didn’t respond to his attempt to move. He blinked to bring the world into focus – golden blurs sharpened into his lion’s bright eyes. Samson had him pinned to the oversized bed.
“Hey, beautiful. I’m so glad to see you.” His voice was a scratchy whisper and a weak purr was his Mate’s only response. Ryder brushed his hands through soft fur. A metallic click snapped Samson’s attention to the door. It was his brother’s voice that sounded through the intercom.
“It’s about time you woke up. We’re hoping you can do something about the lion. It won’t—”
“He’s Samson, not an it,” Ryder interrupted with a growl.
There was shuffling and a series of clicks. “Ryder, we know the lion is Samson. We can’t check him or you. He won’t let anyone in the room.” The tone in Tamra’s voice was urgent and pleading.
Zaniel’s words pierced Ryder’s fascination with the lion and repeated in his mind. ‘Samson may not survive without his magic.’ He gripped the fur and struggled to sit up with Samson still on top of him. Pulling the lion’s face to him, Ryder again stared into golden eyes.
“Samson, thank you for choosing me. You protected me. Let me protect you now. You need to shift back, please. I just found you and I can’t lose you.”
The lion butted Ryder’s chest with his head then rubbed against his neck. Ryder continued to stroke his golden fur.
“We’re in this together, Omega. I need to do my part. I want to protect you, to love you. I can only do that if you shift back and stay alive.” Ryder kept his head against Samson’s body to whisper against one ear. Samson whined and flicked his tongue over his skin.
The sharp hiss made him jerk back but Samson inched forward to close the gap again. A shudder rippled the lion’s fur before several pops and cracks sounded. Ryder watched his Mate’s body shift from animal to human in mere seconds. A naked and shivering Samson collapsed against him.
“We’ll send in doctors,” Fane announced from the open door.
Ryder moved Samson to lie on his back and hovered over him. His hands and eyes traced the familiar golden body looking for signs of injury or illness. The man seemed slimmer, almost gaunt. “How long was I out?”
“Thirty-six and a half hours.”
He didn’t acknowledge Fane’s answer. Ryder’s attention was focused on the rounded bump of Samson’s stomach. Again, Zaniel’s words came to mind, ‘Samson is trying to protect you both.’
“We’re going to need all the doctors. I think Samson is pregnant.” Ryder caressed his True Mate’s belly with a trembling hand.