Chapter Sixteen
It was getting dark by the time they arrived back at Briar Hill. Phil had dropped them as close as she could but they'd still had some distance to walk. Once again, Nix struggled to put one foot in front of the other. Orion slowed to walk next to him, going so far as to place his hand in the small of Nix's back. The touch was unexpectedly intimate, and it buoyed him on for a little longer, but he was glad when the house came into view in the near distance.
Orion led him upstairs as soon as they walked in the door, guiding him back to the guest room he'd been sleeping in before they left. He left Nix to get undressed, returning with a long t-shirt which he offered to Nix to sleep in. Nix was so tired at that point, that he didn't balk when Orion slipped the shirt on over his head, or when he urged him into bed and covered him with a blanket. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Another nightmare and he woke with a start, his heart thumping, the cries of his family echoing in his ear. Had it been a dream? Or was it March, taking Nix's failings out on his mother and sister?
"It was my fault," he murmured to himself, pressing his hands to his eyes to hold back the tears. "But I did the best I could."
The door creaking open startled him. He knew it was Orion by his scent, by the sound of his heartbeat, though he couldn't make out the Alpha in the pitch-black night. Orion didn't turn on the light, his heavy footsteps padding across the room towards him. Nix felt the mattress dip as Orion sat.
The Alpha's hand found his cheek, cupping it gently. Nix blew out a breath, struggling to keep the tears at bay.
Orion didn't have to talk, Nix knew how the conversation would go. They'd talk about his dream, he'd feel sad and frightened, and Orion would offer him meaningless platitudes and Nix would lap up every kind word, every offer of comfort.
It was odd, being unable to see Orion's face, his eyes. His scent surrounded him, his warm hand steadied him, and each breath, each heartbeat, sang in Nix's ears. There was no escaping the attraction there.
Nix stretched out his arm, letting his hand hover in the air for a moment before closing the gap between them and settling his palm against Orion's cheek. The Alpha was still beneath his hand, his skin cool. Nix felt emboldened to continue, stroking Orion's skin with his fingertips, feeling the rough stubble contrasting the smooth skin. He traced Orion's face with his fingers, bringing his second hand up as he brushed across his forehead, circling his temples before sweeping along his cheekbones.
When he reached Orion's lips, the Alpha spoke. "What are you doing?"
"Knowing you." It was important to him, that every sense recognized the Alpha.
Orion's hand caught him before he could pull away, kissing the center of Nix's palm. He shuddered at the warm press of the Alpha's lips to his skin. Still holding his hand, Orion kissed his fingers, then curled them and kissed the back of Nix's hand.
The clouds parted and a sliver of light from the moon entered the room, bathing them both in its glow. Nix's breath caught as the moonlight reflected in Orion's eyes.
"How can I feel this way," he whispered, "when I know what you did?"
"Maybe," Orion whispered back, "because you know, in your heart, that it isn't true. You have shifter blood in your veins. Trust your instincts."
His instincts were screaming at him to kiss the Alpha until he ran out of breath. Until nothing mattered but his lips on his mate's, until he could taste Orion, the last sense left until… until what? He didn't know but, right at that moment, he didn't care. It was easy, so easy, to cross the distance that separated them and surrender himself to the Alpha's arms, the Alpha's lips. Orion pulled him closer, a hand on his head, the other fisted in the shirt Nix wore. The Alpha's shirt. Groaning, he pulled his mouth from Orion's lips and rested his forehead on the Alpha's broad shoulder. He wasn't thinking straight. His mind was all over the place. How could he be doing this?
"Stop thinking so hard," Orion grumbled, shifting them both so they were stretched out on the bed, lying side by side. "You're a wolf, wolves aren't solitary creatures, they need Pack, the comfort of other warm bodies next to them."
And Orion was certainly that, his body radiating a warm heat that called to him.
"Close your eyes, Phoenix. Sleep."
"Just Nix," he muttered, letting his body give in to the lull of sleep.
"You can be more," was Orion's parting whisper as he drifted off.
He woke alone, the memories from the night before hazy. Had Orion really been there? Had they kissed? He knew from the strength of Orion's scent that he hadn't dreamt the Alpha's presence in the dark. Hearing voices downstairs, he got up and went to see what was what.
"Morning, Nix," Orion called over his shoulder as Nix stepped into the kitchen.
"Good morning," Leona said from her seat at the table, a cup of tea sitting in front of her.
"Hi," he replied, sitting at the table next to her.
"Hungry?" Orion asked. "I'm making omelets."
Nix made a face at that. "I'm not a big fan of eggs."
Orion turned, eye wide. "I hadn't thought of that. Sorry, Nix."
It took effort not to laugh. "Oh, no. I just don't like the taste, that's all. I mean, there's not a lot of food up on the mountain, we make do with what we have."
"Then you probably don't eat hen's eggs?" Leona asked.
"We eat whatever we find but there aren't many chickens around."
"You may find this a lot more palatable," she said.
"Okay," he agreed, nodding to Orion who grinned.
"I'm glad to hear it. Omelets are my specialty."
"Famed throughout the three territories," Leona agreed dryly though Nix could see her lips turning upward in a smile.
"Mock me and you'll be making do with scrambled eggs," Orion said, jabbing his spatula in her direction.
"Never," she declared, hiding her smile behind her teacup as she took a sip.
Nix watched all this in bewilderment. He only saw people act this silly when…
"Are you drunk?" he asked, unable to keep the accusing tone from his voice.
There was momentary pause when no one moved or spoke. Then both of them doubled over with laughter. The noise alone was enough to send him scrambling to his feet and backing towards the door. Orion was quicker, catching hold of his arm and guiding him firmly back to his chair before pulling out a chair for himself. He sat down heavily, still grinning ear to ear.
"We're just teasing each other, Nix. There's no alcohol needed for that. Besides, it's a bit early in the day to be breaking out the liquor."
Mollified, Nix relaxed in his seat. His people didn't often have alcohol, but the coyotes drank heavily when they could. The Metatherians often came off the worse for it.
"Do you remember last night?" Orion asked. Nix spared a quick glance towards Leona, who had resumed enjoying her tea, before nodding.
Orion leaned closer, capturing his chin between finger and thumb and kissing him softly.
"It's all about the instinct, remember?" he murmured against Nix's lips before kissing him a second time. Nix leaned forwards, ready to deepen the kiss, but Orion sprang to his feet and dived towards the stove to rescue his forgotten omelet.
"Just in time," he called over, dishing it onto a plate.
"Ladies first," he said, presenting it to Leona with a flourish. A little while later all three were sitting at the table digging into their own omelets. It was like nothing Nix had ever tasted, in amongst the fluffy egg, Orion had hidden bits of bacon and sausage, peppers and some other vegetables he didn't recognize. Each mouthful was a burst of flavor and he savored every bite.
He was the last to finish, Orion drinking a cup of coffee and Leona on her second tea of the day. Nix finished his last mouthful and sat back, eyeing his empty plate with some regret.
"I'll call into the farmer this afternoon, get some more eggs for tomorrow," Orion said. Nix felt a pang of guilt that he was getting to eat so much. His thoughts turned to his people on the mountain and how much of a struggle it was to scrape together each meal.
"If you're free this morning, Phoenix, I was hoping you and I might do a magic trade of sorts," Leona said.
"What kind of trade?" he asked her.
"I thought I might demonstrate some of what I can do and if you were comfortable, you could show me something of yours."
He was shaking his head before she'd finished speaking. "I told you. I'm weak. I can't do much of anything. I can't even shift to become a bird without March's help."
Leona seemed puzzled by that. "But bird shifting is in your nature, is it not? In your people's nature."
"Our people's strength comes from our leader. That was my father. When he died, and then my brother, the strength faded. I'm weak and so my people are weak. It's only March who's strong, who keeps us safe."
Orion squeezed his shoulder. The touch was comforting even though by rights it should have been anything but.
"Nix, spend some time with Leona. Get a feel for her and her magic. If, after that, you think you'd be comfortable allowing her to check over your memories, it would be a real help."
It was said in such a way as to leave no doubt in Nix's mind that he had a choice. Why not just hold him down and let her do what she needed to do? What had they to lose?
As if reading his mind, Leona spoke. "I won't do anything you're not agreeable to, Phoenix. It's not the Wiccan way."
"Okay, when do we start?" he asked.
"Why don't you wash up and we'll get going after that."
As he left the kitchen, Orion called after him. "You remember where the towels are, right?"
"I remember," he called, climbing up the stairs, his thoughts racing a mile a minute.