Page 13 of Unclaimed

Leif, who had been hovering the entire time, sat hard on the only chair in the room. “Fuck me. Let’s not do that again. I can’t believe we were sent in so woefully unprepared for this.”

“Sent in?”

Leif nodded. “The Americas king asked us to check out the rumors of Lucifer walking the earth. We didn’t think it was possible. He hasn’t been seen in millennia, as far as I know. It’s not really King Jonathan’s fault, though. I don’t think anyone believed it could be true. Why is he here? Why now?”

Unclaimed mates.

Frost ran his fingers through Gemini’s thick fur. Gemini purred a big cat purr. God. He was everything to Frost. “Gemini says unclaimed mates.”

Audor and Leif exchanged a glance.

“What?” Frost had to know what that ominous look had been about.

We should go home. Leave the vampire drama to the bloodsuckers. Their bullshit isn’t ours.

Apparently, it’s mine. I just spent hours reattaching a leg.

A kitty-sized huff escaped Gemini.

“Your mate is rightfully fed up.” Leif crossed the room and touched Frost’s forehead. “Forget this happened.”

Frost scratched his nose. “Um. Why in the fuck are you touching my forehead?”

He tried to wipe your memory.

“What?” Frost’s gaze shot Gemini’s way. He sounded every bit as outraged as he was. Frost had used all his energy saving Audor, and they planned to manipulate him.

“That should’ve worked.” He looked Audor’s way. “Why didn’t that work?” His gaze moved back to Frost. “What are you?”

“He’s the north’s new healer. He has powers passed down through the line of Goddess Eir. A long-forgotten skill.”

Every head turned toward the door where a beautiful Asian man stood. Frost knew his eyes and he couldn’t explain that.

“Have we met?”

A wicked smile touched the new arrival’s features. He put his hands together, as if praying, and gave a short bow. “I am Riku, godling of Jörmungandr.”

Frost suddenly felt faint.

Gemini stood. Let’s go. Riku will take us home.

Frost headed toward the door. The way Riku’s eyes followed him had the sense of knowing him getting stronger.

“Wait. If we leave you with this memory, we’ll be on the king’s shit list. This was supposed to be a secret mission.”

Riku’s gaze shifted Leif’s way. “Goddess Celeste says to feed and rest. You’ve more than done your job for the night. There’s no doubt her brother is here now. Frost is one of us. His memory of you is inconsequential.”

Leif sat back down. “Well, how about that? You get your bloody leg ripped clean off and we can’t even get a message from the horse’s mouth.”

A bright smile exploded across Riku’s face. “Celeste says if you dare to call her a horse again, she’ll make Lucifer look like a pussycat.”

Leif’s face turned bright red. “Apologies to Her Grace.”

With a chuckle, Riku focused on Frost. “Let’s get you home.”

Frost nodded, but held tightly to Gemini’s fur. He was scared as hell to get pulled away from him again. They were supposed to be a set.

Gemini leaned into him, pressing his massive weight against Frost.No one will take you from me. I’ve got you.

---