Page 75 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

He pondered for a moment. “You might have something there. A triangle isthemost stable shape, isn’t it? And while threesomes occur for different reasons—to spice up a relationship, to bring in something that’s lacking in the original partners—sometimes they can be a little… wobbly, you know, with not all the sides equal. But with mates, it isn’t like that.” Dellan pointed toward the ceiling. “Take Saul, Vic, and Crank for example. Crank came along after Saul and Vic had been together for years, but if you ask him if he feels as though he’s an add-on or a third wheel, he’d laugh at you. Heknows, balls to bones, that he’s meant to be with them, just like they’re meant to be with him.”

“I don’t think musing about mates would’ve deprived you of hours of sleep,” Horvan remarked.Come on, baby, tell me what’s hurting you. Let me in.

Dellan returned his gaze to the window, his face tight. “Alec….”

Aw shit.

Horvan felt the pain that lanced through Dellan. Ever since Saul had told them about his torture at the hands—or rather, claws—of Alec, the result of the Geran’s experimentation with one of Dellan’s offspring, Horvan knew it had to be on his mind.No one wants to think they’re created a monster. He waited for Dellan to say more.

“Once I learned about the enforced mating—and God knows how many times they brought shifters to that fucking cage in more than a year—I accepted the truth. Somewhere out there are probably untold numbers of little Dellans and Dellanettes.”

Horvan couldn’t hold back his smile. “That sounds cute as fuck.”

“It does, doesn’t it? Except then you remember why they came into being, and suddenly it’s not so cute after all. But Alec? He’s in a whole different league. From what Saul told me, he’s… an impossibility. A bio-engineered freak. A Geran killing machine.” His face contorted. “But I have to find him, if only to discover if….”

“If what?”

Dellan’s eyes were full of pain. “If he can be saved.”

Aw fuck.

Horvan put his cup on the table and held his arm out wide. “Come here.”

Dellan didn’t hesitate, shifting across to rest his head on Horvan’s chest. Horvan wrapped Dellan in his arms, holding him close enough that he could feel Dellan’s heart beating.

“Remember what Saul told us? How he described Alec? He said it was as if the lights were on but no one was home. He also said Alec didn’t speak, not once. That he didn’t show any emotion.”

Dellan craned his neck to peer at him. “But maybe he can be… deprogrammed?”

Horvan stroked a finger under Dellan’s bearded chin. “We won’t know that until we find him.” Then he pressed his lips to Dellan’s forehead. “But I don’t think you should get your hopes up. It’ll only hurt more if they’re smashed.”

“At least you saidifand notwhen.” Dellan sighed. “I want my dad.”

“I know. And when this guard gets here, we’ll know more.” He hoped.

I hope so too.

Horvan chuckled.I’m getting forgetful in my old age. I didn’t hide that thought.

Dellan’s eyes twinkled. “Anyone who can fuck me through the mattress twice in one night is not old byanystretch ofthe imagination.” He returned his head to Horvan’s shoulder. “About our visitor…. We’re going to have to keep an eye on Brick.”

“You noticed that too, huh?” When Aric had informed them of the visit, Horvan hadn’t missed Brick’s mottled face, the veins on his neck straining against the skin, his clenched hands.

“Hey, I’m with him on this one. This guy is one of the bastards in charge of keeping my dad, Seth, and countless others prisoner. How many seconds do you think Brick will wait before ripping his arms out of their sockets?”

Horvan snorted. “Two—if we’re lucky.”

“Exactly. So if this guy is as important as Seth says, we have to let him speak. And that means keeping Brick on a tight leash until we’ve heard why the fuck he’s come to us.”

“Seth didn’t tell Aric that part?”

Dellan shook his head.

Horvan bit his lip. “I don’t think they make a leash strong enough to restrain a pissed-off polar bear.”

“Remember the other day when we called Doc? Well, something he said got me thinking.”

“Too much thinking, not enough fucking,” Horvan remonstrated.

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