trick?”
Eaton shrugged. “What if it is? That still wouldn’t change what we need to do.”
“We need to make sure that bastard doesn’t get his hands on you,” Marty said.
“It’s only for one kiss!” Eaton shouted. “What is one kiss if it can stop you from being crippled?”
“What if he does something freaky and gets me killed?” Marty protested. “I think you’re putting too much faith in Gallen.”
“And I think you aren’t putting enough. I think Gallen genuinely wants to help.”
Marty scowled. “If you think we can trust him…”
Eaton walked over to the door and flung it open. “We’ve decided to take you up on your offer, but you have to heal Marty first in order to get your kiss.”
“Fair enough,” Gallen agreed.
Eaton followed the sorcerer back to Marty’s side. He clenched his fists so he wouldn’t give into his urge to snatch Gallen away from his mate. After tasting Marty, he knew Marty had spoken the truth; the hawk shifter was indeed his mate. They still weren’t bonded yet, but Eaton could feel the pull of the mating bond trying to lure him to the side of his beloved.
“I’m not going to lie, this is going to hurt,” Gallen said. “The Fae are great healers, but we’re not particularly compassionate.”
Eaton gritted his teeth. His inner eagle flicked his wings and tested the limits of Eaton’s control.
“Maybe you’ll want to step outside for this,” Gallen told Eaton.
“But.”
“Please, babe,” Marty begged, “I don’t want you to accidentally attack Gallen if I start screaming.”
Eaton thought over the chances of that happening before he nodded. “Okay. But do what you can to make sure he suffers the least amount.”
Gallen walked over to Eaton and took his hands in his own. “I will promise to give your boyfriend the very best care I can.”
Eaton squeezed Gallen’s hands tightly before giving his lab partner a small smile. “Thanks, Gallen, I do appreciate you doing this.”
“No problem.”
Eaton released Gallen and walked over to Marty. “You get healed so I can fly with you.”
Despite them both being aerial shifters, they’d never had the opportunity to fly together.
“I look forward to that,” Marty said.
Eaton kissed Marty, then walked out the door. He heard Gallen lock the door behind him, probably a good precaution.
Rubbing his hands up and down his arms, Eaton wondered if the chill going through his body was merely the drafty house or the icy fingers of premonition.
Chapter Five
W
hen Gallen turned back Marty, he didn’t like the gleam in the half-Fae’s eyes. His smile took away the little hint of doubt over Gallen’s intentions. “I thought it might take longer to get my hands on my pretty eagle, but you helped land him right into my hands.”
The cold smile crossing Gallen’s lips had Marty opening his mouth to protest, but Gallen waved his hand and no noise came from Marty’s mouth.
Fear trickled down his spine. Helpless, he couldn’t do anything to stop the sorcerer from doing whatever he wished.
Idiot!
He silently berated himself. He let his only layer of protection walk out the door.
“I’ve been watching Eaton for years,” Gallen said in a wistful tone. “He’s so beautiful, don’t you think?”
Gallen waved a hand at Marty. “It’s all right; I know you agree. I mean, who wouldn’t. Once I have him fully beneath my enchantment, he’ll be perfectly happy as my mate. It’s lucky for me that you were stupid enough to hand him over on a silver platter.”
He slid a scornful glance over at Marty. “You don’t deserve him. When he’s my mate, I’ll never let another touch him. I’ve been waiting to give him this.”
Gallen pulled a silver chain out of his pocket. It shimmered and shone in the sunlight streaming through the window. A small silver eagle dangled from the necklace. “This is a Venus chain. It will keep Eaton under my thrall long enough to bond with him. In fact, it will convince him I’m his proper