Healing Fire Read online

  “Shh. Shh, I have you. You’re free. You’re free, my friend. You’re free.”

  Mikhail leaned on him, panting, the pain deep and hard, a ball in the skinny belly. He could feel it, but he wasn’t sure how to reach it. He put his hands on Mikhail’s belly, pressing down a little, hunting. If he could just see where it started…

  “Drew!” He felt Lee’s hands on him, tugging him away. “You’ve got to slow down. He’ll have plenty of help coming.”

  “He hurts.” He couldn’t keep his feet; his head was spinning and he could barely breathe.

  “I know. I do. I have some stuff crushed up in his milk that will help. But you can’t fix him in one day.” Lee picked him up, carrying him to the couch. “Let me give him his meds.”

  “I’m trying. He’s so scared, terrified he will go back there. To hell.” Drew needed him to understand.

  “Oh, baby. That’s just because he hasn’t really been awake yet. I get it. The meds will help.” Lee smiled for him.

  “Okay. Can… do you want milk too?” He did. He wanted the creamy goodness.

  “I do. We have a ton. Jase brought us a bunch of it. Fresh and shelf stable both.” Lee beamed. Oh go him. He’d pleased Lee by wanting food. He loved that look on his mate’s face.

  Lee went to feed milk to Mikhail, then returned to pour them both a big, cold glass. “Did you want it heated up, love?”

  “Not this time, thank you. Such a luxury.”

  Lee grimaced. “I can’t imagine. How many did you save? Like Mikhail?”

  “Some?” He sighed, shaking his head, staring at the milk in his glass. “There were too many I couldn’t save. They would get sick. Weak. I tried hard to get transferred to different rooms often, but sometimes it was just too late.”

  Lee laid a gentle hand on his arm. “You can’t save them all, you know. This is a fucked up situation, and we do what we can.”

  “I know. I do. Mikhail was kind to me. He was there as long as me, I know. I met him the first day.” Drew took a sip of milk. “How did you get involved in this?”

  Lee’s expression went dark. “They took my brother. My twin. He didn’t make it to the compound. The tranq they used, he had a rare reaction to it. It killed him.”

  “Oh, mate.” He moved without thinking, crawling into Lee’s lap to embrace him. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It was a while ago. I miss him, but I feel like I’m doing what I can in his memory.”

  His soul was drawn to his mate, his energy searching the pain out, trying to help.

  Lee smiled at him, patting his back. “I’m fine, sweet. I have you now.”

  “You do.” They drank the milk, both of them sighing as they finished their glasses.

  “There. Sit with me a moment.” Lee stroked his skin, smiling for him. “You, we, can’t save them all, sweet. I know we have to try, but I just want you to think about it.”

  “I have to try. I’m not made for anything else.”

  “You’re made for me. My mate.”

  That statement made his heart swell, happiness bubbling in him. Maybe that was what he needed to share with Mikhail. Some of the bright happiness Lee gave him.

  “Love you, mate.” He leaned in, nuzzling.

  “I love you too. So much.” Lee hugged him close. “So much.”

  He melted in, and took a deep breath. He’d waited centuries for those words to mean something.

  They did with Lee. They had to learn each other, know each other, but the love was there. The truth was there.

  “Should we make a fire, mate? The snow is coming.”

  “I think we should. It would cheer up the room, yes?” Lee rose, letting him slide to the chair. “Let me get some wood, hmm?”

  “What should I do?”

  “Can you clean out the old ashes? There’s a shovel and a hod.”

  “I can!” He knew how to be careful. This was his mate’s den. He would keep it clean and safe and whole. “We’ll have a fire, Mikhail. A real fire.”

  Mikhail moved a little, paws flexing as if warming by the fire. Yes, just like that.

  “It’s going to be so warm, and you’ll be able to watch the snow.”

  Lee came in with an armful of wood. “There will be some by tonight.”

  “I want to snuggle with you while it snows. I need to.” He finished with his cleaning. “What now?”

  “Now we lay the fire.” Kneeling down, Lee put in an elaborate stack of wood, kindling, and paper.

  He touched. He had to. This was what he needed more than anything. They had to connect. The bond between them would only grow.

  Drew draped himself over Lee’s back, kissing Lee’s nape gently.

  “Mmm. Feels so good. Careful now, I’ll light it up.”

  “Okay. I’ll pull in blankets for the sofa.”

  “Thank you, love.” Lee smiled for him, then clicked a lighter to set the paper ablaze.

  He grabbed all the pillows and blankets and dropped them on the sofa, making them a little nest.

  Lee stirred the fire patiently, then added more wood. He checked on Mikhail before diving in with Drew. Drew gasped at the chill on his mate’s skin, and pushed close, cuddling right in.

  “Oh, thank you, love. The room will warm soon.”

  “My mate. I can’t have you cold.”

  “No. You might have to rub me just to keep me warm.”

  “Rub you?” He snuggled in hard, his hands dragging over Lee’s body.

  “Yep. I think so. You know that’s how we make fire.”

  Drew chuckled and rubbed against him, dragging their bodies together.

  Lee laughed right along with him, hugging him tight. He loved that joy in Lee’s face. That need.

  His hand wrapped around Lee’s hip and held on.

  “Sweet.” Drew rested their foreheads together. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Oh, he was as well. He’d never felt so strong, so very at peace as when they were together. Lee gave and gave but never seemed to get weaker or tired in the least. They were made for one another.

  He’d just had to be patient. Mikhail was a concern for now, and then they could have the whole cabin to themselves once Mikhail was healing and off in the ambulance. He tried not to feel selfish for thinking it, but he’d been good for so long. He’d been patient and helpful.

  Now maybe it was time for him to have something good. Something only his.

  Now perhaps he could rest a moment.

  “I’m here. We can sleep and I can read to you and we can have soup and noodles and roast beef.”

  “I’d like that, very much. I like being here.”

  “Good. We need to get out and explore the woods once Mikhail is on his way. I want you to be careful until then, though. It’s easy to get lost.”

  He blinked up, shivering hard. “I don’t want to lose you. Please.”

  “No. No, it will be okay.” Lee pulled him close again, stroking his skin. “I just mean in the snow. It will be perfect once we get you familiar with home.”

  “Oh. Oh, sorry. Forgive me. I’m -- it feels so tenuous, the fact we’re free.”

  “I bet.” Lee never judged him for it. He could tell. Just loved him. Sweet man.

  “I need this -- being free with you. I need it.”

  “Then we’ll have it. Us. Together.” They snuggled down, blanket over their heads. Lee was warm now, body firm against his, and he wouldn’t, not with Mikhail in the room, but it felt so good. So right.

  “Do you have a pack that you go see?” Drew asked. “I used to have one, years and years ago.”

  “No. No, we were orphans, me and my brother. We learned what we were together.” Lee shrugged. “I tried to join a pack a few years ago. By then I suppose I was used to going my own way.”

  He could see it in his head. The Alpha had kicked Lee out for daring to ask what had happened to a few older, sicker pack members. Oh, that was sad. It was an ugly world sometimes.

  “They hurt them, at the B
rotherhood. They forced them to stop changing, to stay men. Some of us wouldn’t lose our fur.” They would have killed him.

  “Oh, sweet. I know they abused you all, but I had no idea. I just transported…” Lee held him tight, the urgency right there. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You waited for me. You brought me home. It’s all I needed.”

  “Well, I can think of a few other things we need.” He laughed. “Carrot cake.”

  “Milk and sausages.”

  “Fires and blankets and snuggling.” Lee laughed for him, suiting actions to words.

  “Mmm… Sucking. I like sucking, mate.”

  “Do you? Like, on candy?” That soft laughter rang through him.

  “Mmhmm. Candy. Ice cream.” Then he cupped Lee’s cock, teasing hard.

  “Oh!” Lee arched and bucked for him, the sound a little too loud. They both peeked out at Mikhail, but he wasn’t stirring.

  “Sorry,” he whispered. And he was. A little.

  “Shhh. We can just be quiet.” Lee kissed him gently, easing him down.

  Oh. Oh, he’d just been teasing, but if Lee would let him… He kissed his way down, licking and nuzzling Lee’s fuzzy belly.

  Lee stroked his hair, loving on him with gentle fingers. “Sweet man. Love your mouth.”

  “I’m hungry for you.” This soothed him, and he ached for every drop of need, every little moan.

  “You can have everything you want.” Lee rocked into him, thighs and belly surrounding him.

  “Everything.” He was covered and warm, enveloped in Lee’s scent.

  “Yes. I’m yours.” That cock bumped his chin when he pulled it out of Lee’s pants, and Lee moaned.

  He wanted more. So he groaned and took the sweet head between his lips. He loved Lee’s flavor, loved how Lee grunted and squirmed for him. Loved the way he was surrounded by Lee, inside and outside.

  “More, love. Please. I need you.” Lee’s voice was scarce, a tiny whisper.

  He began to suck, working just the tip at first, flicking it with his tongue. Drew tested all the textures and flavors of his lover, wanting to take it all in.

  Every time he flicked at the slit, Lee groaned, shivering hard. Someone liked that, so he did it over and over.

  Then he pressed his tongue inside, stretching his mate so gently.

  “Oh, God.” That came out strangled, Lee shaking for him, around him. “Baby.”

  Yes. Yes, love. I crave you. He began to bob his head, sucking and taking more and more. Drew wanted his lover to come, wanted to feel and taste it. All he needed was this man, the connection between them healing him every second.

  “I can’t hold on much longer, love. I can’t. Making me crazy.” Lee had started moving, humping, fucking his mouth.

  He opened up and let Lee take everything he needed, allowing Lee to take his throat. Lee fucked back and forth, in and out, one hand on his shoulder. The blanket was flapping madly, but they managed to stay quiet.

  “Soon. Soon, love. I need.”

  He knew that. It was written in every line of his lover’s body, and he could hear it ringing in Lee’s voice. He reached up to cup the heavy balls, rolling them against the base of that hard cock in his mouth. He earned a strangled cry, and then Lee was pouring into him, thick ropes of seed splashing on his tongue.

  Lee moaned, his breath whooshing out, then slumped down a little, gasping. “Drew.”

  He didn’t linger long, because the floor was cold on his legs, and Lee’s arms were open for him to push in to.

  Lee pulled him up, hand finding his cock and stroking.

  His eyes flew open; he hadn’t even known he was hard and ready. That hand told him so, though, and he arched his back, a low sound of need escaping him. Yes. That. More.

  Pretty mate. Such need. Lee’s hand was driving him to madness, and he fell willingly.

  They moved together just like before, but with him slamming against Lee’s grip, his need spiraling up and up until he knew he was about to fly.

  Lee! He arched hard, and then the pressure in his balls let go, and he shot, offering himself to his mate.

  “So amazing. Oh, Drew, that’s it. That’s it. You’re mine now.”

  “Yours.” And he knew it. His scent was mixed with Lee now. That couldn’t be taken away. They were sunk into each other.

  Lee dipped the blanket, checking on things, he thought. “Let me stir up the fire, and then we can snuggle. Maybe have a sweet?”

  “Mmm. I like sweet.” He blinked over, so sleepy. “Love.”

  “Rest. I’ll be back in two shakes.” Lee slipped away, but he could feel the connection between them like a rope tied to each of them.

  I feel you. I know you, mate.

  I feel you too. Lee checked on Mikhail, who had thrown off one blanket, then stirred up the fire. Just getting cookies.

  Cookies were good. It was even better when Lee came back, that big body sheltering him, Lee’s hands cold for a moment, making him yelp. He pulled the blankets back over them while Lee fed them bites.

  He’d never been happier in his life.

  Chapter Seven

  Lee woke up fuzzy.

  When he peered outside, the world was white. Yes. Snow did that to him. It brought out his fur.

  Snow. His tail wagged of its own accord. He loved snow.

  Drew hopped up and padded to the window, jumping up to peer out, that tail wagging ninety to nothing.

  Come love. Let’s go play. Mikhail slept, his chest rising and falling, the fire low but warm.

  Play? Goddess, that wide-eyed curiosity for something so normal, so natural. It hurt his soul.

  Yes. I bet you can’t catch me. Lee headed for the back door, where he’d installed a push button opener for a large dog door.

  Drew followed him, moving with a clumsy gait at first, a choppy trot that looked uncomfortable at first. Once they got out into the snow, and Lee took off, Drew began to try and catch up.

  He slowed a bit, because Drew was still not a hundred percent, and the snow was deeper than he’d expected, but Drew bounded through it like a puppy.

  It was a fascination, to see Drew run, to see the first bits of freedom in… how long?

  He bounced and barked, tail waving like a flag, and Drew ran to him, nipping at the tip.

  Drew was beginning to fill out, to come into his winter coat, and it made Lee’s heart happy. His mate was beautiful like this.

  They romped, finally rolling over and over in the snow, then standing to shake it off.

  Drew chuffed softly, the sound happy, warm, delicious.

  He licked Drew’s whiskers, tasting snow, crisp and new. Run with me a little more?

  Yes! Let’s go!

  Lee headed up into the trees, ducking and weaving, but making sure his lover kept him in sight. No getting lost. None.

  Drew stopped and barked, the sound happy, then he shoveled a little bit in the snow, having caught a scent.

  Circling back, Lee came to see what Drew was smelling. Rabbit, maybe? They would be too sluggish to make a good hunt.

  There was the definite scent of big cat there, and the claw marks of a mountain lion dug into the tree. Cat scratch. Interesting.

  Big cat, Lee cautioned. We’ll need to be careful.

  Drew’s head tilted. Cat? Are they mean?

  No, but they’re territorial, and they can kill a few wolves at a time. He tried to share the image in his head with Drew.

  Oh! Drew stepped backward. No more hurting. Please. No more.

  No. No more. He nuzzled that cheek. When we come out, we’ll come together.

  Together. I like together. Drew relaxed against him.

  Me too. With you. Oh, love, come on. I need to show you a view.

  He would take Drew to the top of the ridge. Then they would go back in and get warm.

  A view! Drew wagged for him, wiggling hard. Yes, please.

  Drew would love the valley that opened up when they got there. It should be full of snow and
elk. His mate was stronger than he imagined when he’d picked Drew up, but it was amazing, the way Drew healed for him.

  There was a magic to Drew that went well beyond what Lee knew. No mere shifter could do what he did.

  Lee was honored that Drew had come to him, their spirits aligning.

  They wandered together, playing and bouncing, telling each other stories with happy endings the entire walk, and Lee knew that was special, that many of Drew’s stories had bad ends.

  The ones Drew chose for him were happy memories, tales of long afternoons in the sun on the plains, of a pack who understood his talents and never left him behind.

  Lee knew the altitude was getting to his lover by the way that tail drooped, so he was so happy when they crested the hill.

  The vista was beautiful, the snow making everything sparkle, a huge bowl of crystals.

  Love! Look at that. So white.

  Drew stood and stared, panting and wagging. Beautiful.

  He rubbed along Drew’s side, nuzzling in. Happy?

  I’m with you. Of course.

  So simple. So immediate. It made him proud. He licked his mate’s muzzle. Me too.

  A herd of elk began to wander down from the valley, the huge dark forms making Drew’s eyes wide.

  They’re magnificent, aren’t they? They’re usually very peaceful, but watch the big males.

  They’re beautiful. The antlers are… huge.

  Yes. He watched them, having no urge to hunt. A pack was needed for that, and he wasn’t hungry. Still, they awed him.

  Drew leaned against him, watching with wide-eyed fascination. They stayed there until Drew began to shiver, so he led the way back down to the cabin, both of them moving slowly through the snow.

  They dragged inside, both of them panting, and flopped on the heavy rugs by the banked fire. He licked the snow from between Drew’s pads, grooming his mate. That kind of care was important, and he wanted Drew to know he was loved.

  Lee felt like Drew deserved all the good things in life that he’d missed.

  Drew sighed softly, melting under Lee’s care.

  He needed to shift and stir up the fire, then warm up milk for all three of them. Thank God he’d had Jase bring so much extra shelf stable stuff. They had powdered to fall back on to, as well.