Chapter Eight
It was late evening when he woke, the sky just beginning to darken. It was three days until the full moon. Three days to get organized. He had a lot of work to do. He was up and halfway across the room before he remembered Nix. Listening, he didn't hear the shifter.
He checked the guest room first, but it was empty. Downstairs, he found the door to the kitchen open but still no sign of Nix. The garden door was ajar. Looking out, he caught sight of the green-eyed man stretched out on the grass, peering over the edge of the pond into the water. Orion wasn't sure what he was watching but there were fish and frogspawn aplenty in there this time of year.
Nix hadn't noticed him yet, so Orion leaned against the door and watched. Nix's head was turned to the side, one arm stretched out in front of him— his uninjured arm, Orion noted distantly— and his hand dangled loosely over the pond, fingers trailing the surface of the water. Ripples spread out across the pond. Here and there, fish darted from shadow to shadow. Nix laughed, a sound of amusement, untroubled by the heavier emotions that had dogged them the previous day.
He stepped outside, enjoying the feel of soft grass beneath his feet and the warmth of the setting sun. It was nice to forget, just for a moment, the worries of the world.
On hearing him, Nix rolled over onto his back. "You're awake."
"I am. How is your shoulder?"
"It's okay." He shrugged as he spoke, a wince crossing his face.
"I had better check, make sure it hasn't slipped out again."
An unreadable look crossed Nix's face as he climbed to his feet but he stepped forward readily, turning to let Orion see.
Orion let his hands rest on Nix's shoulders, thumbs pressing into his muscles. Nix grunted under his breath as Orion's thumb felt along the joint. The shoulder was still in place though he could feel heat and tension in the muscles surrounding it.
"It hasn't dislocated again. You need to make sure you keep the joint active. Shoulders stiffen up pretty fast if you're not moving them."
Nix took a half-step back towards him as Orion spoke, which put his back flush to Orion's chest. He held himself as if expecting rejection at Orion's hands. Orion let his fingers brush across Nix's shoulder and up along his neck. He could feel Nix's pulse beating fast beneath his skin. His body craved a taste of him, and he dipped his head, pressing his nose against Nix's hair and scenting deeply.
It took effort to pull away, to let his mate go. He had other things to think about. If he got lost in Nix now, he might never tear himself away to take care of his responsibilities.
"Come on," he said, turning back towards the house. He grabbed some leftover food and made his way to the dining room, taking a seat at the table to go over the plan and the maps.
"What is all this?" Nix asked from the doorway.
Orion waved him in and gestured to the seat next to him. Nix slipped into the chair, refusing his offer of food.
"We've been having a lot of trouble with a particular pack of shifters, coyotes. So, we've set up a plan to deal with them. I'm afraid it's going to take up a lot of my time over the next while. But don't worry, you'll be perfectly safe here, there's lots of food, a library full of books, and plenty of other things around to keep you occupied. Do you like woodwork or painting?"
"How are you going to deal with them?" Nix asked, seeming genuinely curious.
"Try and beat them at their own game, I guess. We have a good idea where they'll be at the next full moon, in three days. I'll be leaving here in two days, to go north east to here." He showed Nix a map, tracing his path from Briar Hill to Hollow Lake.
"Why are you going that way? Why not this way?" Nix asked him, pointing to a straighter route on the map.
"It might look more direct but that terrain is much tougher to cross, plus there's a marsh here. It would slow me right down. This way," he said, tracing his route again, "means some easy travel through valleys and crossing a few shallow rivers. Nothing to it."
Nix bent his head over the map, studying it closely.
"Where are your people from, Nix," he asked, gesturing to the map.
Nix lifted his head slowly, green eyes meeting his. Was it Orion's imagination or had they gotten just that little bit wider?
"From the mountains in the west," Nix said, with a shy smile. "We prefer being up high."
"Of course. You really did have a long way to travel to find me."
Nix nodded, dropping his head to study the map again.
"I have to go out this morning. There's a farm a few miles away that I get my food from. I could take you with me." Nix started to yawn as Orion spoke, covering his mouth with his hand. "But I think you need to get more rest," he concluded.
Nix grinned at him. "You're going to think your mate is terribly lazy. I could do some housework, maybe? Get rid of all the dirt."
"What dirt?" Orion challenged. He might be many things, but untidy wasn't one of them.
Nix made a face, running his finger along the back of the chair he sat on and holding it out for Orion to see.
"There's a layer of dust over the whole house," his mate pointed out. Orion made a face. He had been a little distracted these past few months. Or rather, years.
"Cleaning can wait. Rest and let that shoulder heal."
"Yes, Alpha," Nix replied, hiding another yawn behind his hand.
Nix waited until ten minutes after Orion had left before hurrying from the house and into the forest surrounding them. He went the opposite direction from Orion so even if the Alpha came back early, he wouldn't stumble across Nix by accident. He'd found a lighter in the house and taken it with him, shedding his clothing and leaving it outside the back door. The last thing he needed was to return to the house with his clothes smelling of smoke.
March had appeared in Nix's dream, making it clear he expected Nix to make contact as they'd planned. Nix spent a few minutes gathering firewood, happy to find plenty of dry twigs to pile together. March had shown him how to do this before he'd left. He didn't need a big fire, just one that would last long enough for them to hold a conversation.
It was easy enough to get the fire going, but harder to coax it to grow enough that he could start the spell. The words that tumbled from his lips were unfamiliar yet he could feel the power within them. In minutes, he could hear March's voice.
"You found the bear." The Shaman sounded tinny and distant.
"Yes, March. We arrived at his house last night."
"What have you learned?"
"He plans to attack the coyotes at the full moon near a place called Hollow Lake. He is leaving here that morning and taking a path through the valleys to the east of the marshland." He went through the route in more detail, recalling the landmarks he'd seen on Orion's map.
"Hmmm. You have done well, Nix. And much faster than I expected. How have you gained his trust so quickly?"
"I didn't need to. He... he knows I'm his mate. The trust is there."
"Wait a moment, I must speak with the others."
As the minutes ticked by, Nix fed a few more branches to the fire and watched the surrounding woods with trepidation. He needed to finish up soon, put out the fire, and hope the smoke dissipated before Orion's return. There was enough of a breeze that it should.
"Nix, I have another task for you."
"Anything, March."
"Orion's path north will take him through Hansen Valley. It has a river running through the center. Halfway through the valley, there's a large, pointed rock. We need you to get Orion there but no further. The coyotes will take care of everything from then on. As soon as you see them, I want you to hide nearby. I wouldn't want you to be hurt by accident. Bears are very volatile and violent creatures, especially when they know they're outnumbered."
"I... I think I can do that March. At least, I'll try."
"There is no trying where this is concerned, Nix. You must. You will."
"Yes, March. Of course. Please give my mother and sister my love."
"Of course, dear Nix. One last thing. Remember your purpose, what it is you're fighting for. There are so many people counting on you. We cannot afford any mistakes. You cannot let any of those feelings the bear might be provoking in you stop you from fulfilling your duty. The consequences of that would be grave indeed. For you, and your family."
"I won't, March. I promise." He wouldn't let his family down. They'd suffered enough and he wouldn't let them suffer more, not on his account.