The following morning, Ari and Nikos stood before the inn, waiting on their tour guide. Nikos sat on one of the benches outside the restaurant while Ari kicked at a stone in the parking lot. He had too much energy to stay still. They’d pretty well stayed put all night, grabbing some food after they’d slept off their bedroom adventures and taking it back to their cabin before another round of screwing had commenced.
They’d gotten up that morning and had another round.
While Ari and Nikos’ appetites had always been strong, it seemed Bear Mountain had made them voracious for one another. Even now he could only imagine getting his brother bear alone and ripping off all their clothes.
He needed to be careful. Nikos hadn’t brought that many changes of clothing.
“He’s late,” Nikos sighed, checking his phone.
“We can wait a few more minutes. If he doesn’t come, we go explore on our own,” Ari replied.
Nikos was still staring at his phone. “I’ve got great reception out here, but then that brings another thought to mind. How do we have reception at all? Do they have their own towers? Is it magic?” Nikos lifted his head, scenting the air. “What’s that?”
“What?”
Nikos rose from the bench, inhaling. “You don’t smell it?”
Ari cast a look around them, inhaling as well. He caught a faint hint of something… but it grew as he stood there.
Everything tensed, every muscle. Heat rushed through his veins, and his cock thickened.
A man burst around the corner, running and out of breath. He paused before them, his scent washing over Ari.
Mine.
Ari struggled to bring in a breath to his burning lungs. Instinctively, he took a step forward, his bear screaming in his head.
“Are you… the two…” He paused, bending over to lean on his knees and breathe, lifting one finger.
An omega.
Handsome… blond with fair, fair skin. He looked almost porcelain, except where his face was bright red from exertion.
He rose to his full height with one last deep breath. “Sorry. Are you waiting for the tour of Bear Mountain?”
Ari cast a glance at Nikos and saw his brother bear’s eyes were glowing fiercely, the blue like ice. Nikos met his gaze and nodded.
“We are,” Ari forced from his dry mouth.
The omega smiled and offered a hand. “I’m Cotton.”
Cotton. Ari took his hand, squeezing it. He drew in more of the scent… it was mixed with someone else and it was apparent the male had been with another not long before. A flash of jealousy hit him in the chest. “Nice to meet you, Cotton. I’m Ari.”
Cotton smiled, appearing oblivious. Does he not feel it? The omega withdrew from the handshake and offered it to his brother bear.
“Nikos,” his bear said to the omega.
“Sorry I was running a little late. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
It was worth the wait. “Just a few minutes.”
Cotton took a deep breath, smiling. “Good. So, were there any sites you really wanted to see?”
Ari shook his head, knowing he’d try to stretch this day out into infinity. “I want to see it all.”
“How about we start in town? It’s not far. Follow me.”
* * * *
“By the bear gods, I never want to ride in a helicopter again,” Dillon announced after he’d disembarked and gotten a few paces from the craft. They’d landed in a small field that looked like it was out in the middle of nowhere. Rhett, their human pilot, was still inside shutting everything down, while Colm jumped out.
For some reason, his usually sane and normal younger brother had overpacked. He carried three large bags with him for a short stay.
“Where the hell are we?” Colm asked.
“Rhett said this was the last leg, so I assume we’re here,” Dillon answered. He turned back to the helicopter and watched as the human climbed out, but the blades were still moving slowly. Had they not arrived? “Where to now?”
Rhett frowned. “Declan didn’t tell you where to go?” His southern accent was thick and smooth, but it was already starting to grate on his nerves—just like the human.
“No, I assumed you knew where to go,” Dillon said.
“Fuck,” Colm murmured behind him.
“I thought all you shifters had some kind of paranormal echo location or some shit,” Rhett drawled.
Dillon rolled his eyes at the man.
Rhett scratched his head and grimaced. He lifted a hand and pointed. “You see those two huge pines?”
Dillon cast a look into the nearby wood. “Yeah.”
“The doorway’s between ‘em.”
“Declan tell you that?” Dillon asked.
“Nah,” Rhett said. “And don’t you be telling him I knew anything, either. I’ll deny it.”
Dillon frowned at the human.
“I’m from Midnight. The human side, that is. We heard tales.” Rhett brushed his hands on his jumpsuit. “You fellas go on. I’ve got somewhere I’ve gotta be.”
“Where are you going?” Dillon asked.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back so I can ferry your asses home,” Rhett said before jumping back into the helicopter. The human was quickly in the air again and sailing away.
“If he abandons us here, I’m going to hunt him down and murder him,” Dillon spat.
Colm just huffed. “Let’s just get to where we’re getting. These bags weigh a ton.”
Dillon eyed his brother. “Then you shouldn’t have packed everything you own.”
Colm eyed him oddly before turning to walk away.
Dillon caught up quickly. The walk to the two large pines wasn’t far, but the heat and the humidity was enough to take your breath away. Dillon quickly realized he much preferred home, where it was cooler. And the bugs! He knew he’d been bit at least a dozen times before he reached the two trees. The pair of them paused before the two stately trees and looked at one another.
Colm turned back to the trees. “Doesn’t look like a supernatural doorway.”
“It’s not supposed to,” a female voice said from behind them.
The young female glared at them before passing and entering the opening—where she quickly disappeared.
“Suppose that’s it, then,” Dillon said with a smile.
“Let’s go,” Colm said.
They both walked in, one after the other. Dillon felt a wave of magic roll over him, not unlike the feeling he had when walking through the Bear Mountain dome.
Only this time, the other side was utter chaos.
There appeared to be a gate with several long lines to get in. When he looked to his left and right, there were other portals, with paranormal travelers arriving at regular intervals.
“Come on!” someone shouted behind him.
Dillon turned back to see what appeared to be a golem standing behind him.
“Are you getting in line or what?” he asked, more roar than words.
“Sorry, go on ahead,” Dillon said, letting the being pass.
He harrumphed before walking on.
Dillon turned to a wide-eyed Colm. “Holy shit, dude.”
Colm smiled. “Better get in line. Looks like we’re waiting a while.”
They stood waiting their turn. About a half hour later, they finally got near the front of the line and Dillon watched the processes. Apparently, there were some that weren’t allowed entry. He saw two entities pulled from the lines and forced to some kind of portal, and another taken away somewhere else. Most of the folks got through after answering a few questions.
Finally, it was Dillon’s turn. He stood before a large beaver-human hybrid of some kind in a police uniform. It wasn’t a shifter, but some other kind of creature.
“Name and status?”
“I’m Dillon McCreary… and I’m not sure what my status would be. We’re visiting for the first time.”
“What type of being are you?” the male asked after rolling his eyes.
“Shifter.”
“What kind of shifter?”
“Bear. Brown bear.”
The guard entered his information into a tablet and seconds later his eyebrows rose. The guard lifted a hand and urged some other guards over, a trio of shifters in human form.
“What’s happening?”
“Dillon McCreary, you’ll go with these men.”
Dillon stepped back. “The hell I will.”
Two of the guards grabbed him, one on each side. He tried to pull away, but the bastards were strong. He felt the anger rising and knew he was seconds from shifting.
Before he could stop himself, his fur began to ripple across his flesh, his claws growing. Both guards began to shift as well, their bodies quickly adjusting to bear size. Somehow, their uniforms shifted with them, growing in size.
The third guard before him drew out a large metal rod. One end of it sparked with electricity. “Don’t make me use this on you, boy.”
Dillon roared, his beast coming to the fore. His roar was answered by his brother’s, who had apparently shifted as well.
A shifter in human form raced forward and got in front of Dillon. “Dillon! Colm! Stop this!”
It was one of Preston’s brothers—Dillon couldn’t remember the guy’s name. Preston was their brother Mikel’s mate.
“Release him!” Preston’s brother cried.
“He’s on the watch list, sir,” the beaver-guard said.
Preston’s brother grabbed the tablet and read over it. He sighed. “Release them both to me.” He turned to Dillon and Colm. “Grab your stuff and come on.”
Dillon shifted back into his human form. Unlike the guards, his clothes had ripped apart and he stood there naked. Never before had he felt uncomfortable about his nudity, but glancing around, he saw the shocked looks on faces.
“We need to get you some enchanted clothing,” Preston’s brother said. “Get something on before we go.”
Dillon dug in his bag and pulled out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt to quickly cover up. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Colm doing the same. Once they were ready, they followed Preston’s brother through the gates and into an empty office.
“Might I ask why we’re on a watch list?” Dillon asked the male.
Preston’s brother grabbed a tablet from the desk and scrolled through it. “It appears my eldest brother added the McCreary name to the watch list some time ago.”
“Isn’t that nice. Considering we’re practically family,” Dillon said.
“Well, considering your past, can you hardly blame him?”
Dillon’s teeth set on edge while he heard Colm growl low.
Preston’s brother lifted his hands. “I wasn’t trying to be an ass, but your family did have a reputation. I know how far you’ve come since your fathers have passed… and like you said, you’re now a part of our family.” He smiled brightly. “Which has driven my father insane, which makes it even better.”
Dillon couldn’t help but smile at the last comment, no matter how he tried to hide it. He’d thought Preston’s brother stuck-up assholes, but maybe this one had potential. He searched his brain, still upset he couldn’t recall the guy’s name… but then it came to him. Eilam.
“I knew Preston had come here, but I didn’t realize you had as well,” Dillon said.
“Our family has been working in security here in the city for several years. Thanks to the efforts of my brother Max, we’ve secured the contract to oversee the security of the entire city, as well as the king himself,” Eilam said. “I’ve been put in charge of city security now.”
“Are you hiring?” Colm asked.
Dillon’s head swung to look at his brother. “That’s some commute.”
Colm glared at him, but said nothing.
When Dillon looked back to the male, Eilam was staring back and forth between them. “We could always use a few good men. It would, of course, depend on a background check.”
“My brother already has two jobs,” Dillon said. “In Bear Mountain.”
“I’m not planning on going back,” Colm said.
Dillon turned to face his brother. “What?”
“I have to get out of there,” Colm said. “A fresh start.” He hefted his bags. “This is everything I own. I don’t plan to return.”
“But… you just got hired at the fire department,” he said, stunned. “And… the family.”
“You have plenty of other brothers there,” Colm said. “You won’t miss me.”
“I will.”
Colm shook his head.
“You haven’t even seen it here yet. What if you hate it?”
“I can’t hate it any more or less than I hate Bear Mountain.”
Dillon stood frozen, unsure what to say.
“We have a fire department here,” Eilam said. “If you’d prefer checking into that?”
“Shut it,” Dillon said, turning to glare at Eilam. “Don’t make it easier on him.”
Colm sighed. “At this point, work is work. Whatever I can find.”
“We’ll talk,” Eilam said, nodding at Colm.
Dillon glared at both males.
Finally Eilam broke the awkward silence. “How long do you plan to stay, Dillon?”
“A week or two,” Dillon said, staring at Colm.
“I know Colm’s reason for being here. What’s yours?”
Declan had asked Dillon to keep his reasons for being there under wraps. “Sightseeing.”
“Ah,” Eilam said. “I would be able to supply you with a guide to the city.”
“A babysitter?” Dillon asked.
Eilam smiled. “You’re much too old for a babysitter. But this city is bigger than anything you’ve ever seen. Residents you likely have never come across before. There are dark corners and twisted paths you can get lost down. I don’t recommend newcomers to be alone.”
Dillon didn’t like the idea of a spy traveling with them, but what he’d seen in the gate alone made him realize he’d bitten off more than he could chew. “I’d be grateful for the assistance.”
Eilam reached into his pocket and withdrew a cell. He made a quick call. Within seconds a knock came to the door. Eilam opened it and a bouncy, sultry blonde woman walked in.
She moved in, her body sleek and movements liquid. Her skin shone with a slight iridescence.
“Well, hello, sugar,” she purred in an accent as syrupy as Rhett’s. She smiled up at Dillon, her eyelashes batting.
“Wanda, this is Dillon and his brother Colm. Guys, this is Wanda, a nymph.”
She shook Dillon’s hand before looking at Colm. “Ooh, two for the price of one. Aren’t you both a whole lotta man?”
“Wanda, you know shifters only lay with males,” Eilam said.
Wanda smiled. “Of course I know.” She turned and looked at Dillon. “I love a challenge.”
Dillon chuckled, shaking his head.
“Wanda, they need to be set up in a hotel. Tell them to use my account,” Eilam told the nymph.
“We have money,” Dillon said.
“You’re family,” Eilam said. “Consider it my welcome to Midnight.”
“We could use some rest before a tour,” Colm said. “We flew all night.”
“Follow me, boys. I know all the best places,” Wanda said, curling her finger and beckoning them on. She moved into the hallway, and Colm followed her on out. “And I can help tuck you both in.”
Dillon began to follow, when Eilam stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Watch her. She will try to seduce you or your brother. Or both of you.”
“Good luck to her,” Dillon said with a laugh.