Chapter Four

"Where do you think we should put them?" Dermot asked.

Tamlin looked out at the area around the village. Gary knew what he was doing. He wanted to include as much of the village as possible in the magical wards, but at the same time, there weren't enough of them to make the wards sturdy enough. The bigger the wards, the weaker they would be. They might even be vulnerable enough to be broken.

Like they had been when Gary's village had been attacked.

Gary swallowed and looked at the dry earth he was standing on. The ward had been strong, but not strong enough. He still didn't know what had happened or how the Kudlaks had managed to get in, and sometimes, he wondered if it mattered. Knowing wouldn't bring back the people he loved, and it wouldn't change the fact that they were dead. At the same time, though, knowing more might help him find peace.

Tamlin sighed. "I don't think we should go beyond the last houses."

Dermot grimaced. "I'd hoped you'd have better news."

"We can't go bigger. Maybe once more people start arriving, but not right now. It would be too taxing on us, and even if we tried, I don't think they'd be strong enough."

Dermot nodded and looked in the distance. Gary did the same. Every one of them wanted to protect the village. This was their new home, and after what they'd lived through, they wanted to feel safe here. Gary wasn't sure he ever would, and it had nothing to do with the new clan or the people who belonged to it. He'd been supposedly safe with his old clan, too. Instead, they'd ended up in a war with other clans, and the Kudlaks had exterminated the people left behind.

This time around, it wasn't looking great, either, and Gary wondered if he was setting himself up for heartache or death. He'd already decided that if they were attacked, he wouldn't run, but even though he'd started training with Alexis, he still didn't have a clue what he was doing in a fight. That was why the village needed better wards, which in turn was why he and the others were here, discussing how to make them. They had no idea how long they'd have to sustain these wards before they could change to better ones, and there was no way for them to find out. The news that a new clan had been created was spreading, and more people arrived every week, but it was still only a trickle and not enough for the village to be safe.

"Maybe we could contact other people," Anita suggested. "I mean, we all know Vila we crossed paths with when we were on the run, right? I don't know about you, but I have a few phone numbers of people who could be interested in moving here. I didn't want to say anything because I wasn't sure they'd be welcome, but now that we've lived with the clan for a little while, I know they would be. We need them, and I think they might need the clan."

Gary frowned. Why had he not thought of that? He was safe now, but some of the people he'd met when he'd been on the run probably weren't. He should have thought to call them and offer them a spot with the clan, but he'd been too focused on his own safety and living his life. Did that make him selfish? Maybe, but he was still in time to change that.

Dermot and Tamlin looked at each other.

Gary couldn't read their expressions, but he thought they were all on the same page. They needed more people.

"I think it's a good idea," Tamlin said. "We need to convince everyone we can think of to move here. It's the only way to keep the village safe, and I don't know about you, but I'm done running. Even if something happens to the clan, I'm not leaving. Not again."

Dermot grinned. "We should highlight that people find their mates when they move here."

The three of them turned as one toward Gary, who rolled his eyes. "And what if they don't find their mate when they get here?"

Dermot shrugged. "They might not, but they also might. I mean, you found your mate in the village. Alexis did, too. It's worth mentioning, at the very least. It means that even if people are somewhat safe wherever they are, they might want to come around and see if their mate is a clan member."

It had just been Gary and Alexis until now, but it was a big coincidence. Maybe Dermot wasn't wrong. They were building a new village where people would be safe and able to build a life. As they settled down, more of them would meet their mates or enter relationships. Besides, if it meant that more people would move, it would be worth mentioning.

Anita bumped her shoulder against Gary's. "How are things going with him?"

There was no reason for Gary to blush, but he felt his face heat. He didn't like being at the center of attention, and right now his three friends were staring at him. They looked hungry for news, which Gary could understand. He was sure they were hoping they'd meet their mate, too. Didn't everyone? Now that they were safe and had a home, it was time for them to put down roots, and what better way to do so than having a mate? Gary was one of the lucky ones, and everyone hoped they would be, too.

He smiled, unable to stop himself. "Things have been a little shaky, but we're working it out."

Anita beamed while Dermot slapped Gary's shoulder. "How did he take it? He's human, right?"

"He is, which means there will be a little adjusting, but not that much. We had a talk, and we were honest with each other, which has made things smoother. I don't think he's ready to bond yet, but I'm not in a rush."

"He's fragile," Tamlin pointed out. "I don't know about you, but I'm not used to living with humans. It's odd to watch them around the village and think they can stand up to Kudlaks."

"Tamlin!" Dermot scolded.

"What? I'm right. I don't want Gary to worry, but his mate isn't a Krsnik. Something might happen when he's out on a hunt, which is why I thought Gary would want to bond with him as soon as possible."

Gary's happiness had only lasted a few moments. He didn't need Tamlin to tell him how precarious the situation was.

Did he want to bond with Chris? Of course he did. There was nothing he wanted more. But Chris wasn't ready, and Gary would honor that. It wouldn't be fair to force Chris into a situation he wasn't ready for just because Gary was afraid.

The sound of someone running made all of them jump and turn. The person wasn't running toward them but rather toward the edge of the village, and they weren't alone. Gary noticed several others following, all of them wearing their hunter gear.

He swallowed and took his phone out. He hadn't realized he'd had a text from Chris, and he quickly opened it. His stomach dropped as soon as he saw the words on his screen. "They found a nest."

Dermot swore and squeezed Gary's shoulder. "He'll be fine. He's not going out there alone, and I'm sure both Clay and Rowan will be with them."

"I hate that they nest now," Anita muttered.

Gary did, too. Things had been hard enough when Krsniks had been hunting lone Kudlaks. Now, they had to deal with couples and sometimes nests. Gary could only imagine what they found in those nests. It made his stomach churn.

That was where his mate was going. He might not be going alone, but he'd still be surrounded by Kudlaks and vulnerable. Gary wanted to scream, but instead, he pressed his lips together.

Chris was a hunter. Gary understood better why he'd chosen that life after Chris had told him about his best friend, but that didn't mean he wasn't terrified.

What if Chris didn't come home today?

* * * *

"Why are you here again?" Kendrick teased. His smile was at odds with the way they all felt.

Boyd grimaced. "I couldn't stay at home knowing that both of you and Alexis are headed out. I want to know what's going on."

Chris understood. He wasn't sure he'd continue hunting if he felt he had a choice. He'd started doing so to get revenge, but mostly, it had been to make the world a better place and to ensure that Ronnie would feel safe. He still hadn't achieved that. There were still plenty of Kudlaks and other monsters, and worse, they were starting to organize and hunt in families—if that was what you could call them. The world still wasn't a safe place, and while Chris realized it probably never would be, he'd do what he could to make it happen.

"Have you called Gary?" Boyd asked.

Chris shook his head. "I texted him, but I didn't stop to call him." Chris wasn't sure he could stand it if Gary asked him to stay at the village.

They'd all gotten a group text telling them a Kudlak nest had been found and that they'd be heading out soon. They'd been told to meet at Clay and Rowan's house to get more information, which was different from how Cornelius used to do things. He hadn't cared how many hunters he lost when they went out. Even when they found nests, he just told people to go to a certain address and threw them off the deep end. Those who survived were strong, and those who died, well, they should have been stronger.

Chris shuddered. He was ever so thankful to be rid of Cornelius. The man should never have been the leader of anything, let alone people who put their lives in danger every day. He couldn't help but wonder how the other hunters were doing, but it didn't matter. They'd made their choice, just like Chris, Boyd, and Kendrick.

When they reached the house, several people were standing in front. Rowan and Clay were on the porch, talking. Their expressions were grim, which told Chris everything he needed to know.

He swallowed. This was the first time he was heading out on a hunt since meeting Gary, and he wasn't sure how it would change things. He was sure it would, and he felt more nervous because he knew Gary would be waiting for him, but did it mean he wouldn't be able to focus? He sure hoped not. Not being able to focus could mean death when he was fighting Kudlaks, and he wasn't willing to risk that.

It was odd. Even before, Chris had Ronnie and the other hunters. He'd always had someone waiting for him when he returned from hunts, but not in the same way. He could imagine all too well how Gary would feel when he saw his text, and he wished he could make things easier on his mate. The only way to do that would be to stop going on hunts, though, and that wasn't something Chris was willing to consider at the moment.

Luckily, he didn't have time to obsess over it and tie himself in knots. More people were arriving, and Clay gestured at them to follow as he hopped off his porch. Rowan was behind him, looking like the lethal Krsnik he was. Sometimes Chris felt inadequate because he was only human, but even though it took at least two or three of them to kill a Kudlak, that didn't make him weak. Sure, they were weaker and not as fast, but they trained for this, and they knew what they were doing. Even more than before, they were protected. They now had several Krsniks working with them, keeping them safe as they took down the Kudlaks. Things had gotten better.

Chris prayed they wouldn't get worse.

He and the others followed their leaders to the edge of the village. Chris knew the wards were in place, but they weren't very strong. There were also devices to block anyone from shimmering into the village, which was why they were meeting the Nix, who would shimmer them in and out at the edge of it.

The pink-haired nuisance wasn't there today. These two Nix were blond, and their expressions were serious. They were wearing uniforms, and when Chris got close enough, he recognized them as enforcers. Maybe they'd stick around to help fight. Even if they didn't, they knew what they were doing more than Nysys. Hopefully, they'd talk less.

Rowan turned toward their group. There weren't as many of them as Chris wished, and without Boyd, he and Kendrick would have to learn to fight without him. It made Chris nervous, but he knew staying back made Boyd happy, and that was what he wanted for his friend.

All of them had lost someone or had been hurt. Chris was the exception, although he felt that, in some ways, he'd lost Ronnie, even though he was still alive. Boyd had lost his sister to a Kudlak, which was why he'd become a hunter. He'd made his peace with her death, and he wouldn't be coming on hunts anymore. Chris was sure Alexis was relieved.

"We don't have a lot of information," Rowan warned. "This town contacted the council. They've had people vanishing for a few weeks now, and they found some of them dead, all their blood gone. From the many disappearances, there's no way this is a lone Kudlak. That means we're looking at least at a couple, but with the number of people involved, I'm betting there are more of them."

Kendrick groaned. "I hate it when they nest."

Chris shared that feeling. It wasn't only because it was more dangerous for them, but also because the nests tended to be nasty. Kudlaks dragged their victims into their nests, played with them for as long as they could, then drank them dry and discarded their bodies. He was surprised that some of the bodies had been found. It wasn't unheard of for Kudlaks to leave them to decay in their nests until they were ready to move on.

"You know what to do. I have a good idea of where the nest is located, so we'll shimmer there. Alexis, I want you with Chris and Kendrick."

Alexis nodded. He stood nearby, leaning against Boyd, who had an arm around his shoulders. They were both tense, and while in a way Chris wished Gary were here the way Boyd was for Alexis, he was also glad he hadn't come. Chris wouldn't have known how to behave. He and Gary weren't close enough that they could bid each other goodbye like that.

Alexis's friend, Caroline, stood with Rachel. They seemed to have decided to work together, which made them a lethal pair. Rachel had always been strong, and more than that, she was a skilled fighter. She never hesitated to kick Chris's ass when they trained, and Chris was glad for that. He knew that if he could take on Rachel, he could take on a pissed-off Kudlak.

Caroline was a Krsnik. She was wearing hunter gear—all in black—and she was clearly comfortable in it. She'd arrived with Alexis, and Chris knew that the two of them had been hunting Kudlaks all their lives. They hadn't had clans to protect anymore, but they'd banded with another friend and made a little family. They'd been integrated into the village, and now they had an even bigger family to protect. Caroline looked like she wouldn't hesitate to tear off heads if it struck her fancy.

The Kudlaks wouldn't know what hit them.

A movement outside of the wards made Chris turn. He groaned at the sight of pink hair. Sometimes he wondered why Nysys had decided that he needed to come with them every time they found a nest. He didn't think the Nix had a death wish. Likely he was bored. Chris wished Nysys would find something else to do if that was the case.

* * * *

Gary tried to focus on the wards and the conversation between his friends, but he couldn't. How was he supposed to when his mate was leaving the safety of the village to attack a Kudlak nest? The only thing Gary could think of was what would happen if Chris was hurt or, worse, killed. No matter how many times he told himself that Chris was a good fighter and wouldn't be facing the Kudlaks alone, his brain would show him images he'd rather not see.

It wasn't just Chris. Other people Gary cared about were going on that hunt, like Alexis. Of course, Alexis was a Krsnik, so his chances of coming home in one piece were higher. Hopefully, since he was friends with Gary, he'd keep an eye on Chris and ensure he returned home safely.

Gary couldn't imagine how Clay and Rowan did it. Maybe it was easier when both of them were out on hunts, but he couldn't imagine it would be. At least at home, Gary couldn't see how bad things were. Clay and Rowan would both be there, and while they'd protect each other, they would be in the front row to watch if something happened to the other.

"You should probably go home," Dermot said gently.

It took Gary a moment to realize he was talking to him. "I'm sorry. I swear I'm listening."

Tamlin shook his head. "I have no doubt that you are, but Dermot is right. You won't be able to focus, and none of us expect you to. Right now, your mate is your only focus, which is as it should be. Go home and wait for Chris. We can meet again to talk about the wards tomorrow or in a few days. The wards that are currently active are good enough for a while."

Gary bit his lower lip. He wanted to help the village, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to think about anything that wasn't Chris until Chris returned. That wouldn't help Dermot, Tamlin, and Anita. They needed him to be attentive to what he was doing so he wouldn't make mistakes while pulling up new wards. Gary had to do the best he could to keep the village safe, and he wouldn't be if he was focused on Chris.

He sighed. "Fine. I'll head out, but call me if you decide anything."

"We won't decide today," Tamlin said. "Besides, we have to start calling the people we met over the years to convince them to visit. I think it would be best to wait until we know if people are coming before we touch the wards. If we manage to convince even two or three people, we can use their magic to make the wards stronger."

Gary was glad to leave. If he was going to freak out—and he had no doubt he would—he wanted to do so in private. This would be his life from now on, and he needed to learn to deal with it. Unfortunately, he had no idea how. He was anxious and angry at himself for not being able to help the hunters, and at the same time, he was angry because Chris was doing the right thing. Gary wanted nothing more than to tell him he had to stop being a hunter, but he could tell that wouldn't go down well. Besides, it was his fear talking.

Would he rather have Chris stay home? Yes. He'd be happy if he never had to worry about his mate ever again. Chris might even consider the idea if Gary brought it up, but he wouldn't, or at least, he didn't think he would. He didn't actually want Chris to stop being a hunter, because that wasn't what Chris wanted. They might be mates, but they both had their own dreams and things they felt they needed to do. This was Chris's, no matter how anxious it made Gary.

Gary didn't want to leave the village and the clan, but this reminded him too much of when he'd lost his clan. The hunters were all going out, leaving the village behind, unprotected beyond the wards.

Gary sucked in a breath and looked in the distance. From where he was, he couldn't see Whitedell or the house where the pride lived, but they were close enough that the pride could be here in seconds if anything happened. Gary had to remember that.

His clan had been decimated during a very different time. The clans had been at war back then, which meant no one had come to help. His new clan had friends. The Whitedell pride would be here to save them if they ever needed it, and while they couldn't do anything about Chris, knowing that the village was safe enough helped Gary relax. Not a lot, but he didn't feel like screaming as he walked home.

Before he got there, he noticed Devon sitting on the porch of the house Clay and Rowan lived in. Devon was a human teenager, and to everyone's surprise, he'd been found with two Kudlaks. Gary hadn't known what to think of them when he'd first heard about it. He'd been sure the Kudlak kept Devon with her so she could feed her daughter and herself, but from what Gary now knew, they'd never hurt Devon. As far as he could tell, there wasn't even a single bite mark on Devon's body, even though he'd lived with the Kudlaks for a while.

Why was he waiting in front of Clay and Rowan's house? Gary was curious. Maybe talking to Devon would help distract him.

Instead of walking toward home, he headed toward the boy. Devon looked up with wide eyes when he heard Gary, but his shoulders slumped when he saw who it was.

"I'm sorry I'm a disappointment," Gary teased.

Devon's cheeks flushed. "It's fine. I'm just nervous because they all went out."

Gary nodded and gestured at the steps on which Devon was sitting. "May I?"

"This isn't my house. You can do whatever you want."

"I don't want to bother you if you're not up for company, but I wouldn't mind talking to someone."

Devon stared at Gary for a moment before nodding. "Your mate went out on the hunt."

Gary shouldn't be surprised that Devon knew Chris was his mate. The village was tiny, and he was pretty sure that every person who lived here knew about him and Chris. That was how things went when so many people lived close to each other.

He sat down, careful to keep some distance between them. He didn't know how the boy would react to his presence.

Devon stared for a moment. "You're not a Krsnik."

Gary shook his head. "I'm a Vila."

"Melissa told me about them."

"Is Melissa your mother?"

"No. My mother kicked me out. Melissa is the woman who took me in and protected me." Devon hesitated. "She's a Kudlak."

Gary nodded. "I know."

"You don't care about it?"

"As long as she doesn't hurt the people I love, I don't. I've seen too much to believe that all Kudlaks are bad people or that all Krsniks are good."

"She's a good person. She protected me, and she never once hurt me. Her daughter didn't, either."

"Then I'm glad you found them. Why did your parents kick you out? You're so young."

"I just turned eighteen." His cheeks flushed, and he looked away. "They found me kissing the neighbor."

Gary frowned. "I don't understand."

"He was a boy. They didn't want me kissing boys, and they kicked me out. I think they believed that I'd come back to them and promise to do what they wanted, but I couldn't. I can't erase part of myself just because they don't like it." He snapped his mouth shut.

He probably felt he'd said too much, but Gary didn't mind. "I'm sorry they did that to you. They shouldn't have."

Devon shrugged. "It's fine. I got used to it, and if they hadn't kicked me out, I wouldn't be here today."

Gary supposed he was right. If his clan hadn't been decimated, he wouldn't be here today, either. He wouldn't have met his mate.

Gary would always mourn the people he'd lost, and he suspected he'd always feel guilty about not being able to do anything to help them, but he wouldn't have been able to change anything even if he'd tried harder. He hadn't been the one to hurt his people. The Kudlaks had done that, and he had no fault in what had happened.

If only he could fully believe it.

* * * *

Chris punched the Kudlak in the nose. Normally it wouldn't do much damage, but the Kudlak was already wounded, and she reeled back, her face a mask of blood. Chris grinned at the sound of the satisfying crunch and at the wail she let out. He always felt good when he fought Kudlaks, but this time was even better.

These Kudlaks had been kidnapping people from the nearby towns since they'd arrived in the area, terrorizing them and draining them dry before abandoning their bodies where they fell. The place stank to high heaven and was a mess of blood and decomposing bodies that had made Chris's stomach churn when he'd first stepped inside. From what he'd seen, he was pretty sure the Kudlaks had been torturing these poor people, and he wanted revenge for them. It might not be his place, but he didn't care.

Kendrick was fighting next to him. When the Kudlak stepped back after Chris's punch, he lunged forward. He had two knives in his hands, and he sank both of them into the woman's chest. She screeched, and for a moment, it was as if time stopped. Chris stared at her as she realized what had happened and that she was about to die. She made a move toward Kendrick, no doubt to push him away, but it was too late. He had his knives in her, and he knew how to use them.

Chris watched as Kendrick twisted the blades, then dragged them through the Kudlak's chest. Blood gushed as her body slumped, and Kendrick quickly stepped back.

Something heavy hit Chris, sending him slamming against the wall. Pain burned in his shoulder, and he yelped, quickly turning around to see what was happening. There was a knife stuck in his shoulder. He stared at it, wondering how it had gotten there.

He wasn't sure he could continue fighting. He knew it would be stupid to take it out, because it would start the blood flow, but at the same time, if he took it out, he might be able to continue kicking ass.

The Kudlak who'd stabbed him was coming toward him. The man looked feral, and a shiver of fear slid down Chris's spine. He had to remember that he wasn't alone. Even if he couldn't fight anymore, no one would allow the Kudlak to kill him.

But Kendrick and Alexis were both busy, so Chris turned to face the Kudlak. He raised his sword, trying to ignore the pain that flashed down his body. The Kudlak cackled. He sounded unhinged, which wasn't a surprise, considering the state of the place they'd nested in.

The Kudlaks had nested in an abandoned cabin at the edge of town. Chris wasn't sure how they'd found it, but from the state of it, it had been empty for a while. Luckily, it was only one room, so when he and the other hunters had barged in, they'd only had to worry about the Kudlaks they could see, but the nest was bigger than they'd expected. They'd thought they'd have to fight two or three Kudlaks, but there had been seven of them, and some were still standing.

"Oh no, you don't," a voice Chris didn't expect said.

Boyd appeared, raising two knives. He placed himself between Chris and the Kudlak, and from his stance, it was clear he was ready to fight.

Chris didn't want him to. Boyd didn't want to fight and continue killing Kudlaks, and everyone respected that. Why was he even here?

"Where the fuck did you come from?" Chris asked.

Boyd quickly turned to wink at Chris. "You're not happy to see me?"

"I'm delighted to see you, but I didn't think you'd be here." He was supposed to stay behind now that he'd decided to retire from the hunters. He hadn't been with Chris when they'd been shimmered here, but Chris should have noticed him sooner.

Movement beyond Boyd made Chris straighten, but he relaxed when he saw that Kendrick and Alexis had turned their attention to the Kudlak who'd stabbed him. Boyd wouldn't have to step in.

Boyd seemed to realize the same thing and quickly moved to Chris. "I was too anxious. When you shimmered away, I decided I needed to come along. I stayed on the edge of the fights, and I'm glad I'm here because it means I can help you. Come on. Let's find one of the Nix so you can go home."

Chris shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere until the fight is over."

Boyd rolled his eyes. "Of course you're not. It would be too much to expect you to be reasonable."

He wasn't wrong, but Chris wouldn't abandon his friends. Luckily, Boyd seemed to understand that. He stood by Chris's side, facing the fight, protecting him even though Chris didn't need it. He might be wounded, but it was nothing he hadn't gone through before.

He ignored the ache in his shoulder and kept his focus on the fights happening around him. Luckily, everything seemed to be under control. There had been seven Kudlaks, but there were plenty of hunters to fight them. Kendrick and Alexis worked together. Rachel and Caroline and Clay and Rowan did the same. The other hunters were paired off or in threes, and with three Kudlaks already on the ground, Boyd and Chris wouldn't have to worry for long.

Chris leaned against the nearest wall and winced. He really could have done without getting stabbed, dammit. It would take him out of the next few raids unless he managed to convince Rowan and Clay he was all right. Thankfully, he had several Nix he could ask to heal him. The two who'd shimmered him and the others here were fighting, too. Nysys wasn't, but then he never did. He usually hung out at the edge of the fight, watching and cheering the hunters on.

It was fucking weird.

As soon as the last Kudlak hit the ground, Boyd waved at Nysys. The man's expression turned to worry when he saw the knife sticking out of Chris's shoulder, and he hurried over.

"You could have told me earlier. I would have taken you back to the village right away."

Boyd arched a brow at Chris, but Chris ignored him. "I didn't want to go until I was sure we'd won the fight."

Nysys rolled his eyes. "You're trying to be the strong guy, huh? I don't understand why you guys always do that. What's wrong with being hurt and in pain? I mean, no one wants to feel that, but you do have a knife sticking from your shoulder."

"I'm fine," Chris said through gritted teeth.

"Sure you are. Everyone would be fine with that thing there, right?"

The guy was always annoying, but right now, he was extremely so. Chris wanted nothing more than to go home, have someone take the knife out, and heal him.

He sighed. Nysys was a Nix. "Can you heal me?"

"Nope."

Chris blinked. "What? Why not? You're a Nix."

"I am, but I'm not a healer. I can heal wounds, but not a freaking knife in the back. I wouldn't even know where to start taking it out."

"You wrap your fingers around it and pull until it's free."

"That sounds nasty, and I'm tempted to do it just to torture you a bit, but my answer is still no. What if I make it worse?" He grabbed Chris's good arm. "I'll take you home so someone else can take care of you."

They were gone before Chris could tell him he wanted to talk to Clay and Rowan first. Thankfully, Boyd was still there, so he'd be able to tell them what had happened to Chris and that he'd been Nysys-napped.

They appeared at the edge of the village by Rowan and Clay's house. Chris wasn't surprised to see several people had gathered there, no doubt eager to find out how the fight had gone. Devon was there, probably waiting for Kendrick since he had a massive crush on him. A few other people were present, but Chris's gaze snagged on Gary, who was talking to one of the men he'd arrived at the village with.

"We need a medic!" Nysys yelled dramatically.

Chris glared at him, but it was too late. The damage had already been done. Several people gasped, and Gary went pasty white when he saw Chris standing next to Nysys.

"Was that really necessary?" Chris asked.

Nysys grinned. "I always wanted to say that. Besides, you strike me as the kind of guy who's going to hide that you're hurt if you can get away with it. This way, you won't be able to."

He wasn't wrong. Chris had been planning to hide his wound until it was healed. He hadn't planned to tell Gary about it, but he should have known better.

Gary reached them quickly. He was still pale, but the fact that Chris was on his feet and talking probably helped him not freak out. He frowned when he saw the knife sticking out of Chris's back, then took his hand and pulled him forward.

"I need to find someone to help me," Chris said.

"I will." Gary's voice was uncompromising. "And I won't take no for an answer. You're coming home with me, and you'll stay there until you're healed."

"It would be faster if we found a Nix."

Gary abruptly stopped and turned to scowl at Chris. "I don't care how fast you want your wound healed. I'll be the one to take care of you, and I'll decide how much rest you need. And you will rest."

Chris could see he wouldn't win this fight, so he nodded and allowed his mate to drag him forward.

He hadn't expected this reaction when Gary had told him they were mates, but he should have. It made sense that Gary wanted to take care of him and ensure he was healthy and healed correctly.

Chris had no idea how to deal with it, but he supposed that going along with Gary's orders was a good start.