The Lynx Who Claimed the Sun (3 page)

Garth and Soren had been at the club, waiting to meet Byron, when Soren’s connection with Daniel had notified them off the danger. They’d rushed to rescue the three men, but arrived too late to prevent the ensuing car accident and the shot that had Skylar struggling between life and death. In the end, Byron intervened to save them, but they weren’t out of the woods yet.

Together with Soren, Garth had taken the three men to the hospital. They were there now waiting for news on their two mates and Skylar. It seemed to take forever until at last, a medic appeared.

“Mr. Gardner-Boyd isn’t in any danger,” he explained. “He was very lucky. His broken ribs didn’t pierce his lungs, and the mild concussion from the car accident is being healed as we speak, courtesy of his shape-shifter powers. Mr. Shields can go home immediately, since his injuries were very light and have already disappeared.”

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Garth immediately felt much better when he heard Nicolas was unharmed. Soren seemed similarly relieved upon finding out Daniel would be all right. However, it didn’t escape Garth’s notice that the doctor hadn’t mentioned Skylar. “What about Mr. Pierce?” he asked, keeping his tone formal. In the end, Skylar was not only his friend, but also his boss.

“Mr. Pierce was shot with a special bullet, and it caused a lot of damage to his system,” the doctor said.

Soren looked surprised. “Silver?” he asked.

“The bullet was indeed made out of silver,” the doctor confirmed,

“but the precious metal didn’t actually hurt Mr. Piece. The projectile seems to have been embedded with a substance extracted from sea anemones. Smaller species of shifters, and especially sea animals like Mr. Pierce, are very vulnerable to such venoms.”

Garth cursed. “How typical of Heathcliff. Will Skylar be all right?” He slipped into familiarity, but the doctor didn’t seem to notice or didn’t care.

“We’ve managed to eliminate the substance from his system,” the man said. “Sea horses are actually quite sturdy in case of blunt trauma, but penetrative injuries allow bacteria in the system, something they are sensitive to. They heal slower than other shape-shifters from such wounds. Still, Mr. Pierce’s condition has improved considerably since he was brought in. The following hours will be critical, but our prognosis is optimistic.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Soren said. “Can I see my mate?”

“Of course. Step this way.”

The doctor led them both toward the private rooms. Soren stayed behind in Daniel’s quarters, while Garth went further. As he approached their destination, he could hear the sound of a familiar voice shouting, “I’m fine. Lay off. I’m not hurt. You should focus on the others.”

Garth entered the hospital room and found Nicolas shouting at the gathering of nurses and doctors. When the hummingbird saw Garth
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come in, he shot to his feet and reached for him. “Thank God. What’s going on, Garth? They won’t tell me anything.”

Garth wrapped his arms around his disgruntled mate. “Shh, it’s fine.” At first, Nicolas tried to protest, but slowly, he melted in Garth’s arms. “Tell me,” he whispered almost brokenly. “Are they dead?”

Garth wished he had better news for his mate, but truth be told, he knew it could have been much worse. “Daniel’s fine. His injuries weren’t that serious. According to the doctor, Soren will be able to take him home tonight.” He paused. “Skylar’s wounds were more severe. He’s not out of danger yet, but he’s getting better.”

Nicolas trembled in his arms. Garth would have almost thought the other man was crying, except he somehow knew Nicolas would never surrender to such a weak impulse, especially not in front of strangers. Garth, however, understood him. Skylar was very special to him. The seahorse had been his only friend for years. Garth had been reluctant to allow anyone to reach his heart, anyone except his kits.

But somehow, Skylar had done it. It boggled the mind that one single gunshot could wipe away all that kindness, deprive the world from Skylar’s gentleness and caring nature.

Taking a deep breath, Garth released Nicolas and cupped his mate’s cheek. “How are you feeling?” he couldn’t help but ask.

Nicolas threw a disgusted look over his shoulder. “Like I was telling them, I’m just fine. I may be a hummingbird, but I’m still a shape-shifter.”

Garth nodded. Nicolas did indeed look unharmed, and the only thing that had kept Garth sane throughout the wait was the knowledge that his mate hadn’t been injured as much as Skylar or even Daniel.

“Can you talk to the doctor?” Nicolas asked. “I want to see my friends. I’m sick of this room.”

Most likely overhearing the conversation, the medic appeared.

“You’re free to go. Mr. Wade is with Mr. Gardner-Boyd, but I have nothing against you visiting, too, as long as you remember not to tire
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him. Mr. Pierce, however, is a different matter entirely. I’m afraid I can’t allow you to see him.”

“Have you contacted his family?” Garth asked.

The doctor nodded. “As you know, they were abroad, but they’re flying toward us as we speak.”

Garth was pleased to hear that. His friend cared about his parents greatly. Alas, the Pierces’ many businesses often led them away from the United States and Skylar. Garth knew they would be crushed once they heard about their son’s injury.

For the moment, Garth couldn’t do anything except trust Skylar’s strength. He took his mate’s hand and said, “Come on, love. Let’s go see Daniel.”

Nicolas seemed a bit pacified at that. The doctor led them to Daniel’s quarters, but they didn’t go inside immediately. Soren was with the squirrel, and both Garth and Nicolas decided to give them a few more moments of privacy.

“What’s going to happen now?” Nicolas asked absently.

Garth didn’t know if his mate was even talking to him, but he replied, nonetheless. “Nothing in particular,” he said. “Byron is a man of his word. Between him and Soren, Heathcliff will be punished. I believe our role in this story is over.”

Even as he said this, Garth wasn’t sure he’d spoken the truth.

He’d thought he’d left behind his life in the Cunningham family, but recent events had blown that conviction away. Their worries rotated around their friends, though, so Garth added, “Skylar is going to be all right. He’s stronger than he looks.”

Nicolas eyed him with a mix of hope and disbelief. “I just wish I could have helped them more,” he said.

“From what I gather, you did.” Soren had told him Nicolas had killed two of the men intent on attacking them. It might have seemed odd to Garth, except he’d seen the gun Nicolas used with his own eyes. There were many things about Nicolas he still didn’t know, but
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one thing was certain. The hummingbird was no mild-mannered bookstore owner.

Nicolas tensed, his gaze turning into a suspicious glare. When Garth didn’t add anything different, he seemed to deflate in relief.

Obviously, whatever questions Garth had, they would have to wait.

His mate didn’t feel ready to share anything about where he could have acquired skills to protect himself.

“It wasn’t enough,” Nicolas said sulkily. “They both got hurt, and you and Soren would have been in the same situation if not for Byron’s intervention.”

Was it Garth’s impression or had Nicolas’s voice softened a bit when he’d mentioned Garth? He stared at his mate, trying to decipher the enigma of the hummingbird’s soul. What did the other man truly think about him? There was attraction between them, yes, but could there be more?

As a rule, hummingbirds were known to be promiscuous in their romantic relationships. Many bird species were like that, and Garth rarely, if ever, saw a committed couple come register at the agency.

Actually, in all the years he’d been there, he’d never met a hummingbird who’d chosen to register his or her mating. In fact, he’d never met a hummingbird at all, until Nicolas at least, and what he did know was from books or word of mouth. In a way, lynxes shared the hummingbirds’ lifestyle, never choosing one single partner. But not Garth. Garth wanted more. He wanted a real bond.

Before he could make himself ask something, Soren emerged from the room. “Hi,” he said with a weary smile. “Come on in. Dani wants to see you.”

Nicolas rushed inside with the haste typical of any hummingbird.

Garth smiled fondly as he watched his mate fuss over Daniel. Today’s attack could have erased not only Skylar’s kindness, but also Nicolas’s mysterious beauty, his energy, and the grumpy affection he always hid. The thought made Garth cold to the bone, and he swore he would talk to Nicolas seriously after all this was over. No more
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hiding. They were mates, and Garth wanted to get to know Nicolas, to learn everything Nicolas wanted and was too afraid to show.

He didn’t know how long they’d been in Daniel’s room when a nurse rushed inside. “Mr. Pierce is awake,” she said with a smile. “He wants to make sure you are all safe.”

The fist that had been clenching Garth’s heart released and he sighed in relief. “Thank you,” he told the woman.

“Can Daniel be moved, or is it too risky?” Soren inquired.

Before the nurse could even answer, the squirrel was out of the bed, a bit unsteady on his feet, but otherwise looking quite all right for someone who’d been in a terrible car crash. Soren hastily grabbed his mate and lifted in his arms. “Baby…”

“Soren…”

That one word held enough exasperation, and Garth knew the werewolf would have some trouble keeping his mate safe as he so obviously wanted. Nevertheless, the nurse reassured them, explaining that Daniel’s shape-shifter nature had dealt with the injuries quite quickly. He was all clear to visit Skylar.

The doctor met them at the door and gave them a serious look.

“Just one visitor,” he said. “Mr. Pierce is out of immediate jeopardy, but his condition is still delicate.”

“You go in,” Nicolas told him. “You’ve known him the longest.”

Garth thanked his mate and, after dressing in a protective outfit, went inside. He was struck by how pale his friend looked, how small and frail. Still, in spite of the obvious pain he was in, his friend smiled upon seeing him. “Garth, thank God. Tell me what happened. I don’t remember much after the accident.”

“Don’t worry, my friend. Everyone’s fine. Just worried about you.”

“Really?” Skylar gave him an eager look. “You’re not just saying that?”

“Trust me, Skylar. Everything’s okay. You get better and you’ll see it for yourself.”

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Skylar beamed at him. “I trust you. I just… needed to know.” He hesitated. “And… The man. Your friend.”

“Byron? What about him?”

“Could I maybe see him?” Skylar asked. “I want to at least thank him.”

Garth gave his friend a puzzled look. “Skylar, he’s not here. He went to take care of Heathcliff.”

Skylar blinked and deflated. “Oh. All right. I suppose that makes sense.” He was struggling to keep his eyes open now.

“Just get some rest, Skylar,” Garth said. “I’m sure you’ll get to thank Byron another time.”

Skylar nodded and murmured another “thank you.” His breathing evened as he fell asleep. Garth felt tremendously relieved. His friend might not be in a great condition now, but he would recover.

He left the room to see anxious faces around him. “Well?”

Nicolas asked impatiently. He was biting his lip, and Garth couldn’t help but steal a small peck.

“He fell asleep after I told him you’re all right.” He decided to keep the little issue about Byron to himself. There was no sense bringing it up, anyway. The important thing was that Skylar would be better soon.

“You should take your mates home,” the doctor advised. “They need bed rest to recover completely.”

Daniel started to protest, but Soren silenced him with a brief kiss.

“We will, Doctor. Thank you.”

“We’re staying,” Nicolas said stubbornly. “I’m not hurt, and I’m not leaving until I know for sure Skylar isn’t alone in this place.”

“Are you sure, love?” Garth inquired. The endearment slipped out, and Nicolas scowled fiercely.

“I’ve said it a million times now,” the hummingbird said. “I’m fine.”

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Garth would have preferred it if his mate agreed to rest, but Nicolas was, indeed, stronger than he looked and the doctor decreed Nicolas’s injuries healed. “All right, but I’m staying with you.”

“I don’t need you to babysit me,” Nicolas mumbled. Nevertheless, he didn’t protest when Garth directed him to sit down on a bench just outside Skylar’s room. They said their good-byes to Soren and Daniel, and as the other couple left, Garth sat next to Nicolas and pulled his mate close. Nicolas allowed it and even leaned into the embrace.

It was surprising, just like it had been surprising that his mate hadn’t protested to the endearment. Garth wondered what thoughts passed through Nicolas’s head. Had the events of the day put things into perspective for the hummingbird just like they did for Garth?

When Nicolas spoke, the words surprised Garth tremendously.

“So, care to tell me about your sons?” he inquired.

Skylar must have mentioned them. Well, it would make things easier, to a certain extent, since Nicolas didn’t seem pissed at Garth’s omission of their existence. “Their names are Preston and Corbin.

Their mother and I never married. Lynxes aren’t family-oriented.”

Garth sighed. “Still, I’d hoped we’d get over that mentality, if only for the kits. We didn’t. Bella left when the boys were barely learning how to shift into human form.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Nicolas whispered.

“Not your fault.” Garth shrugged. “I didn’t really love her. I just hate that the kits suffered from her abandonment.”

“How old are they now?”

“Corbin is ten and Preston nine.” He smiled fondly. “They’re growing up so fast.”

“Do you think I could meet them?” Nicolas asked in a small voice.