Chapter 1

ONE

Linus Higgs eyeballed the goal about twenty yards ahead of him and the position of the opposing team's goalie. The goalie was protecting the closest part of the net, not the farthest, more open side, but from Linus's angle that side was also a more difficult kick. Their teams were tied, the final seconds ticking down, and they'd likely go into overtime.

But Linus didn't want overtime to decide this game. It was the biggest of his university career. At least a dozen scouts from various professional soccer teams were in the stands, watching and evaluating the players for potential contracts. Linus loved living in Sansbury Province, he adored his huge, extended family, and he wasn't a big fan of change. However, he loved soccer and wanted to play professionally for as long as his body and talent allowed. If that took him across the continent after graduation this spring? So be it.

He dribbled the ball closer to the net, his mind a whirling dervish of indecision. He could simply keep control of the ball and let the clock run out. It wouldn't be that hard. But there was still the tiny chance an opponent could steal the ball from him and attempt a final-seconds run at Linus's goalie. If he was fast and the Sansbury goalie was too slow to react, they could lose the game. And the championship.

And if Linus lost the ball, he'd look like an idiot to those scouts. Scouts who were deciding his future right now. Time to take his future in hand and run with it.

Literally.

Linus chose his shot and toed the ball forward, barely missing an opposing player's attempt to intercept him. Countless hours of practice drills kept the ball in front of him, always moving toward his destination. Instinct kept his head up, awareness on the twenty other players moving around the field with him. Some close, others far away. Ten teammates, ten opponents.

A shape moved in his left periphery. Linus ducked low and spun, avoiding the human obstacle without losing control of the ball. The net was getting closer, his target looming. The goalie was shifting his weight on the balls of his feet, hands up, trying to anticipate. The money shot, the fancy shot that audiences devoured, was above the goalie's head. The sure shot, the winning goal he needed, was to the goalie's right and the wide-open net.

Let's win this fucking season.

Linus stopped the ball, shifted his position, pulled back his leg, and made the most important kick of his university career. He watched the yellow and black ball sail through the air, a clean arc toward the net. The goalie jolted in that direction, hands outstretched. Mere centimeters seemed to separate the two objects in motion: man and ball.

The goalie's fingertips missed it by a hair's breadth. The ball hit the net in the back of the goal. Linus stumbled to a halt, blood thundering in his chest while cheers thundered in his ears. He'd done it. Scored the winning goal. He stared, stunned that the one thing he'd dreamed of and longed for this entire academic year had finally come to pass: he was a starting varsity senior and MVP who'd just won the Territory Championship for his team.

Everything got a little surreal for a few minutes as his teammates surrounded him, laughing and back-slapping and congratulating him. Linus did his best to respond but he was stuck in his own head, still unsure if this was happening, or if he was dreaming it. Not until his team lined up to shake hands with the other team, and it finally began sinking in that they'd won.

Someone dumped ice water on his head. A couple of guys, not teammates but supporters, kissed him right on the mouth; he wasn't even sure who they were.

Everything focused a bit more when his family came onto the field and found him. Dad and Papa were there with Linus's youngest older brother Layne, plus Layne's mate Peyton. Dad was already out of breath and sweating from the long-ish trek across the field, and Linus wanted to scold the elderly alpha for exerting himself. But Dad would make excuses like he always did, and Linus didn't want to take this proud moment away from any of them.

Papa would certainly give Dad an earful later.

Linus's other older brothers, Tarius and Aven, appeared in the crowd, as did so many of Linus's childhood friends. Linus's best omega friend, Miko Tovey, was hugging him hard and nattering on about the final few minutes of the game. One of his other best friends, fellow alpha Caden Cross, was there with his mate and family. Everyone Linus loved seemed to be there, cheering on his victory and finely-honed skills.

Everyone except his beta brother Demir. It didn't surprise him, not really. Demir Lars-Higgs was a genetic researcher, highly sought after in his fields of expertise, and he worked long hours in between maintaining a three-way marriage with an alpha/omega bonded pair. School activities weren't high on his To Do list, but he'd hoped Demir would make this game.

This was The Game.

He ignored the disappointment and focused on the positive. The people here now, celebrating this momentous win. His coach took him aside and introduced him to two different professional scouts, and Linus wasn't entirely sure what they asked or what he said, only that they all shook hands and left the huddle smiling. Linus was absolutely delighted by everything he didn't remember talking about and basked in the glorious good feelings filling him near to bursting.

"I kind of want to hate you right now," Danyel said as he came up behind Linus. He was their star defender and one of Linus's best friends on the soccer team. "You're my fucking hero, Higgs."

"You hate me and I'm your hero?" Linus laughed. "Make up your mind, dude."

"Hey, two things can be true at the same time. We won because of you, but now you're, like, our school's hero, and I bet you get choice pick of where you'll play when you graduate. You're golden!"

"Hey, you played like a rock star today, Danny. You'll have offers. You still have a whole final year to play before you have to worry about life after graduation."

"We'll see. Look, no one said anything because we didn't want to jinx it, but we're having a victory party at Alton's house, starts at nine. Be there. And don't worry about a date, you are so hot right now you could get laid ten times over before the first keg is empty."

Linus snorted and clapped Danyel on the back. "I'll get there. My parents will probably try taking me out for ice cream or something else lame like that, but I promise to make the party."

"Hey, enjoy the lameness of ice cream with your folks while you've got it." Danyel's bright smile dimmed, and Linus regretted his comment. Danyel's parents had both passed away in the last two years, his omegin from liver cancer and his sire from a sudden heart attack. He was the youngest of five siblings and the last still in university. Linus and the entire team had done their best to support Danyel through his grief, but he still struggled and would for a long time.

Linus couldn't imagine losing either of his parents, much less both in such a short period of time. Every day with his sire was a gift, because of his age. Didn't mean he still wouldn't prefer to head straight to the party at Alton's house.

"We've both got to live our best lives while we've got them," Linus said. "I'll see you at the party, okay?"

"For sure. Invite your friend Miko, too. He's hot and needs to get out more."

He bit back a growl. "Miko gets out plenty. He's had a lot going on these last two years, after everything with Peyton's coma and then Emory Cross's situation."

"Exactly! So Miko needs to come to the party and have some fun for a change."

"You just want an excuse to hit on him."

"So?"

Linus rolled his eyes. Miko could absolutely take care of himself, and he wasn't afraid to stand up to alphas his own age who got handsy. He was also an omega who hadn't yet had his first heat, which was a bit unusual at twenty-years-old. Until he finally went into heat, Miko wouldn't feel the mating bond with an alpha, but he could definitely date and enjoy himself until he found a mate. Still, Linus was protective of all his omega friends, and Miko's life had been pretty chaotic in the almost-three-years since his older brother Peyton's coma and recovery. Linus's big brother Layne was Peyton's bondmate, they were insanely in love, and they had a baby together. Miko was as much family to Linus as his own four blood brothers and nephew.

"Just remember Miko has an older brother and a lot of alpha friends who'll kick your ass if you do anything he doesn't like," Linus said.

"Duly warned. Plus, his best friend is the nephew of the mayor. I'll behave."

Linus grinned, because his own sire was a retired Chief Constable. It helped having family with connections. "I'll tell Miko about the party, and I'll see you there. Okay?"

"For sure, pal. You'd better shower first, though, you smell."

Linus playfully kicked at Danyel's departing backside. Some of their teammates had already left the field for the locker room, while others hung around with friends and family. Linus wanted to celebrate until he passed out from exhaustion, and he didn't know where to turn first.

Strong arms wrapped around his waist and spun him in circles until Linus shouted to be let down. His nose told him who'd done it, but he still waited until he was steady on his feet again before turning to smack Peyton in the chest. "Asshole," Linus said without malice to his brother-in-law.

"Just manhandling you while I can," Peyton replied. "Before you get so famous you'll have bodyguards at all times, and us little people won't be able to sneeze in your direction without intervention."

"Please don't sneeze on me anyway. I already have seasonal allergies. Why do you think I don't play spring sports?"

"Don't blame me. Sic Demir on it. He cured me, he can cure you too."

The banter was easy and familiar, and Linus didn't read a single thing into it other than affection. Layne came over and hugged Linus again, and then Dad and Papa were back. Linus braced for the inevitable invitation for ice cream or pizza or something as a family unit.

"I'm sure you boys have plans for the rest of the night," Dad said, his powerful voice still able to overcome the din of conversation all around them. "Liam and I are going to head home. Be safe, okay?"

Linus blinked dumbly at his sire for several seconds. "Okay. I'll be safe, I promise." He grasped for humor to stave off his nerves. "Too much excitement for one night, old man?"

Dad chuckled. "A bit, but the best kind of excitement. I'm so proud of you, Linus. I don't have the words. All five of my boys have exceeded my expectations, and I love you."

"Love you too, Dad. I'll try to be quiet when I come home later." Even though Linus was at university, he lived at home with his single beta brother Tarius, so they could help Papa out whenever Dad needed some extra care. Their family knew how to pull together in a crisis, and Dad's age was an ongoing semi-crisis. It sucked being the youngest and having had Dad in his life for so many fewer years than all his brothers.

"You just get home safe," Papa replied. "After you bask in your amazing winning goal and everything you've accomplished this year. You deserve it, baby boy."

"Thank you, and I will be safe. You and Dad be safe, too."

Papa hugged him hard. "See you in the morning."

After his personal cheering section dispersed from the field, Linus followed his teammates into the locker room. More celebrating transpired, and Linus did not turn down a few belts from "water" bottles full of higher octane liquids. He ignored two underclassmen in the corner of the shower room who were jerking each other off and went to get dressed.

He'd had an amazing season—hell, an amazing four years playing—and practically floated his way out with the last of his teammates (except the two shower sex dudes, whose echoing moans were almost comical). The stadium parking lot was still full of tailgaters, both alumni and current students celebrating the win. Someone shoved a beer into his hand and Linus drank it. He was either bumming a ride or taking the bus to the party anyway. University security was around but mostly lingered on the outskirts to prevent any fights with the rival team's fans who might not have left yet.

"Hey!" Miko's familiar voice rang over the general din, and Linus spun around. He'd lost track of his friend in all the earlier excitement, and he was glad Mike hadn't left yet. Miko sprinted toward him, and they met in another tight hug. Miko's naturally sweet scent seemed a bit stronger, but Linus's own adrenaline was also coasting at an unusual high, so whatever.

"I still can't believe you got the winning goal, hotshot!" Mike said.

"It was a lucky kick. It could have easily ricocheted off the post or something else stupid, and let the other team get control of the ball."

"But it didn't. Stop being modest for once, geez. You're the youngest in a family full of overachievers. Bask in this glory, fool."

"I'll try. Hey, there's a party tonight at Alton's place. You're coming, right?"

Miko blinked big, dark eyes at him. "I mean, this is the first I'm hearing about it, but yeah, I'll come. As long as I'm not the only omega."

"Unlikely. Alton knows basically everyone, especially the guys in the omega program. The house will be stuffed to the gills with dudes of all genders."

Linus loved that his generation was the first in Sansbury to offer a full university program to omega students, even in the majors were still somewhat limited. When his parents were his age, omegas were not allowed to attend university, and were often pressured to leave secondary school entirely once they entered their first heat cycle, so they didn't distract the alpha students or cause disturbances in the classrooms. Linus had always thought that mindset was stupid. Yes, heat hormones could be distracting, and alphas could get a little worked up when scenting an omega in heat, but alphas were still whole human beings with control of their faculties.

Infantilizing alphas and punishing omegas by removing their educational (and job) opportunities was archaic and dumb. He hoped his own future mate was smart and funny and engaging, and a man who challenged him in life. He wanted a true partner, not a submissive boy who acquiesced to every request. Someone like Miko, who got shy in crowds of strangers but shined around his friends, and was fiercely loyal to his family.

"Then I'm definitely going to the party," Miko said. "If I get uncomfortable, I'll just tell everyone you're my date. No one will fuck with the date of the senior all-star."

"No one should fuck you with regardless of being single or not," Linus practically snarled. "Have you had to lie before because guys were fucking with you?"

"Once or twice, but it happens. All I have to do is say my sire once stabbed a guy with a kitchen knife, and they usually back off."

"Well, at least you've got that card in your back pocket."

"Right?"

Long before Miko or Linus were born, Miko's alpha sire Mikel had been in a bad place, emotionally and mentally, and he had accidentally stabbed an omega in the chest. The omega had lived, mated and now had three grown kids, and Mikel had worked hard to move past that incident. While Miko was his only biological child, Mikel loved and protected his adopted son Peyton with the same intensity.

Linus's own former-constable sire was a great back-pocket card to play when people tried to give him shit. It didn't happen often, but since he was on the shorter, slimmer end of the alpha physical spectrum, he also knew how to defend himself against alphaholes.

"So do you have a ride with someone?" Linus asked. "Papa dropped me off before the game, but he and Dad went home."

"Yeah, I was going to hook up with Morgyn and Jaxson in about ten minutes. They were here for the game, they just got here late and had nosebleed seats. You want a ride?"

"Definitely. Morgyn and Jaxson were here without Symon?"

"Does that really surprise you? Symon abhors crowds."

"True."

Morgyn, Symon and Jaxson were all betas about the same age who'd been renting a house together for three years, and it was silently understood among their friend group that the trio was in a kind of three-way relationship, even though none of them had ever openly dated any of the others. But they were long-time family friends and Linus didn't really care, as long as they were happy with the arrangement.

Symon Lee, specifically, had scars on his neck and arms from chemical burns, and no matter who said what or how often, he was not comfortable in social situations. Morgyn's parents had an amazing in-ground pool at their house, and Symon refused to swim in it even now, years after the fact. His choice. Linus loved that pool.

"Cool, well, let's go then," Linus said. He chugged the last of his beer and tossed the empty into the nearest trash can. The celebratory atmosphere jamming the parking lot energized him like crazy, and he practically bounced over to Morgyn's parked car. He and Jaxson were sitting on the trunk, passing a bottle of something brown between them. Linus grabbed it and took a long swig.

Whiskey. He coughed and gagged but didn't complain. "Smooth," he rasped.

Jaxson laughed. "That'll teach you to steal booze. Congrats, by the way. You're about to officially become the most famous member of our friend group."

"I don't know," Miko countered, "I think my brother Peyton is a touch more famous, as the first person to ever be completely cured of Donal Syndrome."

"Yeah, but my big brother Demir is the one who cured Peyton and is working on curing others," Linus replied.

"Fine, both of our brothers are more famous than us. You're probably second tier at best."

Linus knuckled Miko's shoulder hard. "Just for that, I'm not buying you a present when I get my first signing bonus."

"You were going to buy me a present?"

"Maybe. Definitely not now. I'm second tier and can't afford you anymore."

Their quartet burst out laughing. Miko took a swipe at his head, which Linus easily ducked, and they ended up lightly wrestling until Jaxson nudged his way between them. "Down, boys," Jaxson said. "We're all keyed up and excited. Where are we going?"

"Alton Westphall's house," Linus replied. "He's throwing a big party tonight. Pretty much everyone is invited, and I need a ride. Miko, too. You dorks can drive us and then stay if you want."

"Gee, thanks, that's so generous," Morgyn deadpanned. "Hop on the roof. Miko can ride inside."

"Very funny."

"Who's joking?"

They all four eventually ended up inside the car, and Jaxson pointed it toward Alton's neighborhood. It was adjacent to the richest, ritziest part of Sansbury, so the house was pretty damned huge. Three stories, circular driveway, pulsing with light, music and moving bodies. Cars lined the driveway and street, and everyone within a three-block radius had to know where tonight's party was.

Linus led his mini-pack up the brick walkway to a wide porch covered in string lights and full of people. With the gorgeous, unseasonably warm winter night, the party had spilled outside, and from the foyer, he could see straight through the house to the big backyard where more people were chilling. Everyone Linus knew from school seemed to be there, plus a bunch of players who'd graduated when Linus was an underclassman.

Drinks found their way into his hand, and Linus basked in the hugs, back-slaps, compliments, occasional kisses, and congratulations from friends, acquaintances and total strangers. A small part of him that loved intimate gatherings with his family and best friends chafed at the attention and wanted to hide. The part of him that was, as Miko had so delicately put it, the youngest in a family of successful overachievers, basked in the glory of tonight's win and temporary fame.

He fucking deserved this.

Their team captain eventually turned the music down and did a long, slurred speech about teamwork, talent, and kicking ass that got lots of cheers. Linus was toeing the line between tipsy and drunk, so he slowed down on his consumption. He wanted to have a night to remember, not black out and forget the fun.

After the speeches, Linus let himself be pulled into a pile of dancing bodies, mostly alphas and betas, but the enticing scents of a few omegas rose over the general odor of beer, pizza and body sweat. Ending tonight by getting laid would be the perfect cherry on his sundae, but Dad's voice kept whispering in the back of his mind not to do this while drunk. Respect himself and his partner; don't let his dick do all his thinking.

More whiskey might get Dad's voice to shut up for an hour or two.

He moderated his beer with soda and danced, his already-high metabolism working to burn off the alcohol before he got too wasted. He was pretty sure he was, anyway. The party lights were bright and blinking, and sometimes the music didn't seem loud enough, but he never stopped moving. He was happy , damn it. Years of sacrifice and practice and missing fun events had led him to this goddess-damned moment, and he was going to enjoy it.

Fuck, he really wanted to get laid.

A new, writhing body entered his immediate proximity, and the sweet scent—strong but familiar—made Linus's blood hum. He turned and his pulse jumped. Miko was dancing beside him, moving like a living, breathing seduction, and that cravable scent, like toasted coconut, went straight to his half-hard dick. He'd danced with Miko before, dozens of times, but he'd never reacted like this to his best friend.

His best omega friend, who he should not be undressing with his eyes right now, but hot damn !

Linus stopped thinking and wrapped his arms around Miko's waist. Pulled him in closer so their hips were thrusting together. Linus was the same height as Miko—who was already unusually tall for an omega—and he adored the way Miko seemed, for the first time, to be made perfectly to fit against his body. The other dancers melted away, and he stared into Miko's dark brown eyes. Saw only trust and excitement and curiosity in them. Miko's mahogany skin had a darker flush to it, and the entire room seemed a bit extra-warm now.

His gaze dropped to Miko's plump, damp lips and for the first time in his life, he wanted to taste them. To feel them against his own and to match Miko's scent to his flavor and to know every intimate thing about him.

Miko stiffened, his motions faltering, and it knocked Linus back into his head. Another alpha—he'd been a senior when Linus was a freshman, so he couldn't remember the guy's name—had come up behind Miko and was grinding on him. A pair of unwanted hands gripped Miko's hips from behind. They were in a large group of gyrating bodies and frequent partner swapping, but Linus still growled.

Miko's eyelids fluttered, and he mashed his body closer to Linus's, his expression clear: get me away from him .

Gladly.

Linus tucked Miko under his left arm and navigated a path out of the dancing throng and toward the staircase. Alton always said the three rooms on the left side of the hallway were free game during parties, just stay out of his parents' bedroom. Miko didn't hesitate or protest, simply followed him upstairs. The first two doors were shut, but the last stood open. No one was inside, so they went in and shut the door.

Instead of a bedroom, they stood inside an office with a desk, several bookcases, and a long leather sofa situated beneath a large window. Lights and sound from the backyard revelers drifted up, giving them some background noise without being too distant from everyone else. Not quite the same sense of privacy as the conservatory at the Porter estate—a favorite make-out location in a house frequently used for large parties—but it was something.

"Thanks for the save," Miko whispered. "It was getting a little intense down there."

Disappointment sank his heart into his shoes. "Oh, right. Sure. We can, um, just chill for a little while."

Miko twisted so they were once again face-to-face, hips-to-hips, his hands now resting on Linus's shoulders. "The other guys were getting intense. I liked what we were doing. A lot."

Hope gave his heart a little kick. "Me too. I didn't want to share you."

"Good. Because I get to choose who gets what when it comes to my body. I've had a lot of long talks with my parents about that, especially as an omega some Traditionalists still see as inferior property."

"You're no one's property, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise." Mine. The territorial thought surprised him but he didn't pull away from Miko. Instead, he leaned in closer and pressed their foreheads together. Their breaths mingled, and their scents seemed to wrap around each other. This felt so right. Why hadn't he felt like this with Miko yesterday? Or even a few hours ago?

"Will you kiss me?" Miko asked. "Before you're famous and don't have time for me anymore?"

"I'll always have time for you. I'd do anything for you."

"Prove it."

Miko tilted his chin, his lips so close to Linus's mouth, a gift on offer. A gift Linus very much wanted to accept, but something deep down kept him still. His life was about to change again, and he wanted something to stay the same. To keep and protect this stable, wonderful friendship. But what if they could have something bigger? What if they were?—?

"Shit, Miko." Linus pulled back, his hands on Miko's wrists, and he really took in his best friend. His heightened scent, his general glow, how hot his skin felt. The abruptness of this attraction to each other. "Are you feeling heat symptoms?"

"What?" Miko blinked dazed eyes at him. "Why would you…oh. Maybe? Fuck. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." His defeated heart plopped to the floor and he tried not to sulk, because Miko's safety was more important than Linus's hurt feelings. "I'm just glad this happened with me and not some random alpha who doesn't love you. Things could have gotten dangerously out of hand. I'll take you home."

"This is your party. I can get a ride?—"

"You will not." Mine. He's mi—no, shut up. "I'll call a taxi for us and make sure you get home safely, I promise."

Miko's eyes glittered, and Linus wasn't sure what he'd do if his omega started crying. "Okay. I trust you. I mean, I've only been feeling off for a couple of hours, so I'm not going to spontaneously start leaking slick."

"Thank goddess, or we'd have to tell the Westphalls they've got a houseguest for the rest of the weekend. Come on."

On the way downstairs, Miko texted Jaxson that they were leaving but not why. Linus couldn't take his arm off Miko's shoulders or stop watching every person who came toward them. A few alphas gave them pointed looks, and the older guy who grabbed Miko's hips while dancing actually trailed them to the front door. Linus was prepared to deck the guy if he tried anything, but he didn't, so Linus didn't have to.

He didn't release Miko while they waited at the end of the driveway for their taxi, the cool night air doing little to chill the heat rising from Miko's skin. Or the threat of arousal that had Linus's teeth on edge. His body was just reacting to the proximity of an unmated omega edging into his first heat, that's all. He had enough sense and self-restraint to get Miko home safely to his parents. Given Miko's age, they had to have a heat plan in their back pockets, ready to go when this inevitably happened.

"Should I call your parents?" Linus asked. "Give Brogan a heads-up so he can get whatever started?"

"I can do it." Miko shivered despite the body heat he was giving off. "I'm not delirious yet." He got his mobile back out. "Omi? Hey, yeah, I'm okay…yeah, the game was amazing…no, I um, think I'm going into heat. Linus is bringing me home." Even Linus heard the way Miko's omegin, Brogan Tovey, squawked. "I'm perfectly safe with him, I swear. We're waiting for a taxi now. It shouldn't be forty minutes until we're there."

Linus strained to listen but couldn't hear any distinct words from Brogan's end.

Miko smiled. "Okay. See you in a while. Bye."

"So I guess you've got a plan in place?" Linus asked as he eyeballed the headlights of an approaching car.

"Yep. Omi's calling the nursing service to cover when he has to work at the café. Dad's going to go stay at your house for the weekend so I have privacy away from alphas."

"That's a good plan." The Higgs house had a permanent office/guest room, because they had a lot of alpha friends with mates and omega kids, and they never knew when someone might need it. Aven had even used it once a few months ago, after he and his husband Yosef had a huge fight, and Aven had needed a night away.

Dad hadn't been happy, because he wasn't a fan of going to bed angry or separately, but it had been what Aven needed. He and Yosef, and their son Tobias, were now as happy as Linus had ever seen them. And Tobias was twelve, almost thirteen, and probably going to start dating in another year or two. Linus couldn't wait to see how his normally even-tempered oldest brother handled that development.

Goddess, but they were all getting so old. Linus only had another semester at university left, and even though he did enjoy studying for his Communication Arts degree, soccer was his life and his future. The one he'd chosen a long time ago, in order to stand out.

The first set of headlights was not their taxi, but the next set was. The yellow-and-black car came to a stop at the curb. Linus opened the back door for Miko. They practically shared the same seat, because Linus wasn't letting go, and the driver didn't give them shit about wearing seatbelts. He probably assumed they were both drunk and heading home for sexy fun times, away from the party.

Linus was still a touch tipsy, but also whole focused on the most important task at hand: getting Miko to his house safely. Then Linus would go home, guzzle some water, and face-plant in bed. Not quite the way he'd wanted this party night to end, but he didn't want to go back to Alton's. His interest in getting laid was wholly refocused on Miko's comfort.

And his strong, warm, inviting scent. He'd probably dream of their near-kiss all night long.

Linus gave the driver the Tovey address.

"I'd normally use Freeway Three," the driver replied, "but they just put up the cones for overnight construction on two of the three lanes. Probably faster if we take Faircourt Highway."

"That's fine," Miko said. "We just need to go."

"Going!"

Nice of the driver to offer them a faster alternative, instead of running his meter in merging freeway traffic. Linus couldn't figure out his gender with the sheet of plexi-glass between them, but so far the guy was mostly ignoring them in favor of doing his job. Linus only half-noticed their route, more interested in the way Miko struggled to breathe evenly and not pant. The way Miko clung to him, like Linus was the only thing keeping him from flying away into the night sky.

Damn, but his heat seemed to be progressing fast. Or maybe because Linus was so close to him…

"I've got you," Linus whispered. "Never letting go."

Miko looked up and met his eyes, lips so close. Too close. "Promise?"

Linus smiled.

Bright lights flashed, and the world wrenched sideways.