Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

B el lay on his side in bed, running a gentle hand over Lio's shoulder. He willed the bedside lamp on just enough to see Lio, but hopefully not enough to wake him. Last night's lovemaking hadn't merely been with their human bodies but also with their souls.

He felt it, some indescribable thing hovering just beneath the surface of his consciousness, something not entirely him, but not entirely Lio either. An entity curled in a tight little ball, gathering strength to unfurl into existence. A little more nurturing….

Bel had accomplished his mission, come to Terra, and found the Tenebris.

A mission given to him by Udeall. Had the remaining council been members of the cult, or had Udeall acted alone? What Udeall hadn't known, could never know, was the depths of what a bond could be and the lengths Bel would go to protect both it and Lio.

Udeall. Bel's mentor, Lio's torturer. How could someone Bel looked up to be guilty of such heinous crimes? The cult had orchestrated Domus's destruction, something else he'd loved. He must put away thoughts of his mission for now and for what kind of future he and Lio might build together in Terra. Only this moment should matter: holding the man he was coming to love.

Along with ensuring Lio didn't inadvertently carry out Udeall's plot. But hadn't Udeall stayed in Domus, sacrificing himself to get others to safety? The bright souls he'd dreamed of had winked out of existence….

Icy fingers of dread ran along Bel's spine. What if Udeall had sent them nowhere but to oblivion? But if Udeall planned for Lio to destroy Terra, why send a Lux to balance him? There must be more to the plot than Bel or Lio knew about. He'd have to discuss the matter with Farren and Morrisey—but later.

Lio rolled over with a lazy smile that warmed Bel's heart and canceled thoughts of weightier matters. Human bodies were fascinating. Bel trailed his fingers over Lio's arm. Chill bumps formed. Bel used to depend on auras to predict someone's mood in Domus, but humans had so many ways besides auras. Like the beautiful smile and the glint in Lio's eyes, the relaxed way he lolled in the sheets, seeming in no hurry to go anywhere else. Bel knew the feeling. He'd like to arrange another session with the Nutrix to connect their minds. Sadly, they had other obligations.

"I believe Farren wants to take us out to the city today and give us a taste of what it's like to live as a traveler in Terra," Bel said.

Besides, Bel needed to tell Farren more about Udeall.

A furrow appeared on Lio's brow, giving him an endearingly confused look. "I thought he said we could stay here."

"He did. But he wanted to leave us the option of moving on." Bel wouldn't mention the traveler-haters now. "I know we talked a bit about returning to the Carnival, but I, for one, would love to see how local travelers live. My host's memories are one thing, but they're strictly human. Besides, Morrisey said we might manifest more powers that normal humans don't have. I want to test the boundaries on our own."

Though they'd have to keep a careful eye on Lio's capabilities.

Lio frowned, and even the wrinkle forming between his brows was adorable. "If I'm supposed to be this all-powerful destructive force, what if something sets me off?"

Bel kissed Lio's nose, not trusting himself to go further. They had work to do, and it wouldn't take much more temptation to derail any good intentions and give in to a leisurely morning spent in bed. "We're together now, and I think we're well on the way to being bonded. From what I've been told, that means I can balance you. You won't have to worry with me around."

Based on the additional wrinkles etched into Lio's brow, the words weren't as comforting as they were meant to be.

Bel pushed aside his reservations. He would make this work. No, they would make it work.

His phone chimed and he retrieved it from his discarded jeans to find a text from Farren. He handed the phone to Lio. "I'm kind of bleary-eyed. Can you read this for me?" He'd explain later about his reading problems.

Lio read, "Meet me in the conference room at six a.m." He turned to Bel. "It's already five twenty-five. We need to move."

Damn! That didn't leave them much time. "You take a shower. I'll fix breakfast."

"We could shower together." Lio waggled his brows.

"Then we really will be late." Bel deserved a medal for having so much self-control around a naked Lio.

Lio stuck out his tongue. "You're no fun."

Bel's heart warmed to see Lio's playful side, especially after all the hardships he'd endured. "I'm supposed to be the practical one, like Farren."

"Are you saying I'm like Morrisey?" Lio cried in mock outrage.

"Honey," Bel said, using an endearment he'd learned from Jessa, "no one is like Morrisey. I'm not even sure Morrisey is like Morrisey." It was more that Morrisey projected whatever image he wanted others to see.

"Yeah. You've got a point."

Lio disappeared into the bathroom, giving Bel a look at his gorgeous ass. Yes, he definitely deserved a medal. Memories that weren't quite Bel's own guided him in the steps of making pancakes and sausage, and he'd set the bar by the time Lio emerged, fully dressed.

They ate a quick breakfast, and then Bel took his turn showering, shaving, and dressing. He stared at himself in the mirror at the lustrous red hair and the green eyes. He'd not met anyone yet who looked quite like him, and he drew curious gazes wherever they went, especially with his towering height. But the gazes he got from Lio made the scrutiny worth any discomfort.

By the time Bel rejoined him, Lio had cleaned the kitchen. They each fixed a cup of coffee to take with them, and then they left the room, took the elevator up one floor, and ambled into the conference room, where Greg waited.

Greg's grin didn't quite meet his eyes. Bel found himself checking for something off with the man's aura but could sense no aura at all. Had Greg been trained to hide his nature? If so, why hide from Bel?

"Bel, are you ready to go?" Greg didn't even acknowledge Lio's presence.

Bel cocked his head to the side. Farren hadn't mentioned Greg would be joining them, and Farren seemed the organized type who'd mention a change of plans—unless some kind of emergency came up. "I thought Farren was taking us."

Greg's smile slipped, but he quickly regained control. Had that been a brief flash of annoyance? Maybe he'd had other plans and didn't like being called in as a last-minute babysitter. "He got called away. You know how it is when you're at the top. Always in demand."

Still, how odd that Farren didn't call or text to say so. After all, he'd been the one who insisted Bel and Lio get cell phones. Bel checked his phone, but there were no new messages except the one telling him to be here at six a.m. instead of eight.

"What about Lio?"

"He'll spend the day with Morrisey, learning what it means to be Tenebris." Greg didn't spare Lio even a glance.

Now Bel regretted not being delayed by morning sex. "I was hoping he'd go with us." He and Lio were starting to bond. Couldn't they have a chance to enjoy each other's company and bask in their togetherness? Besides, something about Greg's responses didn't seem quite right. He was Magestra, though, right? Law enforcement in both realms.

"Another time. Now, come on. We need to get started." Greg jangled his car keys in his hand, already starting for the door.

What was the hurry? Bel took a long look at Lio, trying to convey I don't want to leave you with a mere glance.

It's okay, Lio mouthed, and then he said aloud, "See you tonight." He gave a smirk that promised more togetherness soon.

Oh, how Bel wanted a kiss goodbye, but Greg was already likely halfway to the elevator by now. "Later," Bel said, and then he left before he could change his mind.

Greg continued smiling as they strolled down the hallway. "It's hard leaving them after bonding begins, isn't it?"

The comment caught Bel up short. "How did you…?"

Greg laughed. "I think every traveler in the building felt it, which is why there's been a change of plans. Morrisey needs to work with Lio now that the bond is forming, and you might need a bit of distance. Your proximity might cause… difficulties."

"Why?" Farren hadn't mentioned any problems when he and Morrisey bonded.

"It's easy to get caught up in the bond to the point where you think the two of you are one person, and you lose track of yourself." Greg gave a wistful sigh. "I envy you. I'd love to be joined so completely to someone."

"Did that happen with Farren and Morrisey?" The question would test exactly how close to his bosses Greg was.

"A bit, so I'm led to believe." Greg jangled his keys again, a habit destined to grate on Bel's last nerve. "I wasn't part of the team then. As much as Lio now needs to learn to manipulate power, you'll need to know how to keep it in check." They passed by the empty reception desk. "If you ever need to borrow a department car, Arianna keeps the keys in that top drawer." When they reached the bank of elevators, he said, "Go on. Push the up button using just your mind."

"My mind?" Bel had only practiced moving objects before. He'd never even considered buttons or even light switches other than the bedside lamp.

"Yes. Imagine pressing with your finger, how the button lights up and…," Greg grinned as the button lit. "There you go."

Bel stared at the button. "Did you do that?" Sure, he'd moved small objects, but nothing more. Wait. He'd unlocked a door and had done other things, too.

"No. You did, and you're capable of much more, but we have to start slowly." Bel didn't press the button. Greg probably did it to speed things up.

When the elevator doors opened, Bel saw several people milling around the lobby, some wearing security or maintenance uniforms. "Tell me which ones are human and which are travelers," Greg said.

Bel studied the people. "How can I tell?"

"You'll know."

Greg led Bel slowly through the room. Bel searched for the face-over-face phenomenon—not really a face, but the aura of a Domusian. He slowly circled the room again, realizing these people had nowhere to go; they were merely props for Greg's exercise.

Bel finally spotted what he had been looking for: "That man in the red jacket." The scent of spice confirmed the choice: a mix of cloves and maybe cilantro.

Greg beamed. "Very good. Ten people and you picked out the single traveler in the group." He clapped his hands. "Okay, everyone. Thank you for your time. Now get back to work."

Bel studied Greg, looking for any traces of otherness. "Why can't I get a sense of you?"

"Because I'm trained on how to block, just like you will be." The answer came a bit too quickly, as though rehearsed.

Still, the absence of an aura felt unnerving. Humans had auras, too, even if Bel had gotten so used to sensing them that he rarely paid attention until there were hints of red or black, signaling anger or ill intent.

The crowd dispersed, a few folks ogling Bel in passing and a few scowling at Greg. Not well-liked, then. Or they resented having to show up this early at Greg's command.

"We seldom get new folks here," Greg said as he continued passing through the lobby. The security guard on duty had been involved in the exercise and wasn't back at his desk yet. Greg scanned his badge to let them out.

"Could that man tell who I was?" Bel stopped before reaching the final door to outside, keeping them inside the glass security box. He'd feel much better if the guard saw them leave together.

"Doubtful. He's a Servus in our maintenance department. With time and training, he could, but he's shown no inclination to join the law enforcement team. I was law enforcement in Domus, as I am here, and wouldn't want to do anything else."

"What about Jessa?"

"Ah, yes. Jessa." Greg gave a lazy smile. "While she can feed on lust, she also feeds on any potent emotion. She's helpful to diffuse tense situations."

"Morrisey?"

"Like yourself, Morrisey is a Princeps." Did Greg add a slight sneer to the name? "Being raised human, he didn't know that he was from Domus, so he had no preconceived notions. Although you might say, he's still in a… well, not ruling capacity, but a decision-maker all the same."

Decision-maker, as Bel had once been and perhaps would be again if he managed to assimilate into a new realm.

How strange to be thrust into the Terran world and learn a new set of rules. How much more so for Lio, who hadn't known where he came from? "Greg, if you could go back to Domus, would you?"

"Why do you ask? Domus no longer exists, so it's not really a valid question."

"But do you think you would go back if you could?" Bel really wanted an answer, possibly because he didn't know how he might respond.

Greg shook his head. "No. My life is here. Would you?"

Bel had understood the rules and lived a settled life in Domus. Here, he stumbled through learning a new world. Rather than be afraid, he could see this as an adventure, like traveling with the Carnival. And then there was Lio. Society might frown on their relationship in Domus, or worse, kill Lio, and Bel wouldn't give up his Lio for anything. Besides, Princeps had tortured poor Lio, not that he'd want or accept pity.

"No. Lio is here, and I'm seriously considering that Domus did itself a disservice by being so caught up in a tier system."

"My thoughts exactly. Once you've lived among humans, there's no going back. Not that humankind is perfect by any means, but they have more choices and free will." Greg opened the building's front door, holding it for Bel to pass through. No more stalling, even though the guard still hadn't shown up.

Greg continued talking in the parking lot. "There are so many more things I could do here other than law enforcement if I wanted. I could live where I wanted. In fact, I've been looking at nearby houses. I'm considering moving out of the complex altogether. Who knows? Maybe one day I'll have a family."

"What about spawn? How can we have spawn in human bodies?"

"We can have human children. They lack the abilities of travelers, so that trait will be lost in a generation, but many travelers used their powers for ill anyway. I don't want spawn… I mean, children, but nothing says you and Lio can't adopt or find a surrogate."

Children. A younger Bel had once wanted a mate and spawn, though spawn were becoming less common in Domus toward the end. The sign of a dying world?

"I'm not sure I'm up for raising children right now." There was too much uncertainty in Bel's life. Would Lio want to remain in it, with or without a bond? Would they go back to the Carnival of Mysteries? Would he find out why Udeall had really sent him?

What about Lio? Would he want children?

"Well, travelers tend to live longer than normal humans, so you have more time than you know. You don't have to be in a hurry." Greg approached one of the FBI official cars, squeezed a door handle, and clicked open the locks.

Bel climbed into the passenger seat on muscle memory, instinct, or whatever knowledge his host left in their shared body when Kevin departed for whatever awaited humans after death. If a traveler died in Terra, would they go to the great beyond and join their loved ones, or would they go to some form of Terran afterlife? Or, as some said, would they simply cease to exist?

Greg drove past the guard shack and into Atlanta.

"Where are we going?" Bel asked.

Greg's entire demeanor changed. Gone was the helpful young man of frequent smiles. Muscles jumped in his clenched jaw. "Just to go visit other travelers. Not everyone believes we travelers should keep our heads down, be good little children, and do as we're told. Some think we could own these pitiful humans. Others think we should've all died with our world. I think you should fully understand what you've walked into."

I, not we . Greg no longer spoke for Farren, Morrisey, or FAET. Bel slipped his fingers over the door handle, subtly ensuring the door wasn't locked. It was. Right. He'd noticed that some cars automatically locked their doors.

Greg kept his tone conversational. "You don't want to test the locks. And before you try any mental mojo to contact anyone, I'll tell you that this car is specially shielded. Your cell phone won't work here, and neither will telepathy. Your phone can't be traced either. No one at FAET knows where you are."

Bel grabbed his phone from his pocket. No signal. He'd not practiced sending mental messages to Lio but fully believed he'd get no response.

What had Bel gotten himself into? Surely, by now, Farren or Morrisey would notice him missing. Or did they believe Greg still carried out their orders?

Bel flipped the lock and grabbed the door handle.

The lock clicked back into place too fast for Bel to open the door. "Uh, uh, uh!" Greg admonished him. "I already said you don't want to do that."

Damn it! Think, Bel, think! If Morrisey and Farren trusted this guy, either Greg excelled at hiding his motivations, or Bel couldn't trust them, either.

Greg pulled into the driveway of a nondescript metal building in a long row of similar structures. He honked the horn, and the door rolled up. He drove through, parked the car, and then turned to Bel. The door closed with an ominous thud, sealing off the streetlights outside and leaving only a dim, fluorescent glow from industrial-style lights.

"I normally don't give advice, but I highly recommend you nod and say ‘yes, sir.' Just because your precious Lio isn't here doesn't mean we can't get to him."

Bel stared out the side window at approaching figures. He couldn't see the face-over-a-face thing, but the over-confident way they carried themselves practically screamed Princeps. None smiled, expressions blank. His heart pounded.

He turned to see Greg holding a gun. The lock audibly clicked open.

"Get out of the car. Now. I'll take that cell phone." Greg held out his free hand.

Bel tossed the phone onto the floorboard to buy a moment's time, threw open the door, and gave the cavernous room a quick once-over. There were no visible escape routes except a door at the far end, the roll-up door, and a personnel door beside it, all closed. The people surrounded him, not speaking, just standing in a loose circle, cutting off any possibilities of escape. Greg joined them, making ten in all.

The room emitted the smell of motor oil, blocking any other scents. Dark stains on the floor suggested that the building had once served as a garage. Pegboard walls stood empty, bearing outlines of the tools they once held.

"C'mon then." Greg waved the gun toward the door at the far end of the room.

Four people turned and silently exited the door leading farther into the building. Another stranger pushed Bel forward. Greg and the others brought up the rear. Stained carpet lined the corridor on the other side of the door, the stains growing lighter with each step. Many a mechanic must've tracked oil in here. The chemical smell followed them.

The silent Princeps entered another room holding a small, four-seater table. They stood along the walls as Greg sat, motioning for Bel to do the same.

Bel sat, willing Lio, Farren, or someone to hear his silent screams for help.

The door opened again, and in strode an unfamiliar woman who appeared to be in her thirties, bearing the unmistakable haughtiness of a Princeps. She sat and fixed her gaze on Bel. "You know, there's an old human legend that says if you call a demon by their true name, you can control them. Hello, Bel Am'I."