wanna see your dick again. Or your bubble butt, for that matter.” He peered closely at Crank. “You sure you’re not bi? ’Cause you seem awful fond of getting nekkid in front of us.”
In Horvan’s head, Rael laughed, and the sound made him feel a little lighter.
Maybe a game or two is just what we need. You know, to keep our mind off… things. Horvan knew Crank was trying to keep the tone light to help bolster their spirits. He’d worried Rael might be upset by the jocularity from his friends, but it seemed he was concerned over nothing.
No, I’m not upset, not at all. I understand why he’s doing it. I might not show it, but I really appreciate the way he’s looking out for you. Well, us. Rael’s eyes sparkled. As long as I don’t end up naked. They do not get to see my bits and bobs.
Horvan chuckled. But you have such lovely bits and bobs. Then reality hit home. Hey. Maybe I don’t want you seeing their bits and bobs.
Rael’s lips twitched. You forget. I’ve already seen what you’re packing. They can’t even begin to compete.
Damn, that made him feel good.
“Does anyone here get the feeling we’re missing out on something?” Roadkill was regarding him and Rael with obvious amusement. “I mean, please, don’t let us interrupt your mental sexy shenanigans.”
“Yeah, if you two lovebirds wanna go somewhere and… commune, that’s fine by us,” Crank added with a grin.
“I think you mean mate, don’t you?” Hashtag was grinning too.
Horvan rolled his eyes. “Deal the cards.”
Don’t worry. We can commune later. Rael flashed him a smile. When we’re alone.
Horvan knew it wouldn’t amount to more than cuddling and caressing, but damn, that sounded good. You know it. Then Rael’s smile faded, and an image flashed through Horvan’s mind.
Dellan in his cage… pacing.
Horvan would hold Rael all night if it would keep his mate from being distressed.
Chapter Nine
RAEL HAD no idea what had awoken him so abruptly, but his chest felt constricted and his breathing labored. His heart was racing too. Beside him, Horvan slept soundly. Rael sat up, running his fingers through his hair.
Dellan. Something’s wrong with Dellan. Not that he had any idea if their link extended over so great a distance, but it was the most likely explanation. At least Rael had the means to check on him.
He eased himself carefully out of the bed, trying not to disturb Horvan. Through the closed door, he could hear snoring. Rael crept over to where he’d left the laptop on the chair. He grabbed Horvan’s robe from its hook on the back of the door and put it on. Lord, it drowns me. He snuggled it around him, sat in the wicker chair, and opened the laptop, glancing over to see if its light bothered Horvan. When it became obvious nothing short of a nuclear bomb was going to wake his mate, Rael logged in, straining to read the password Hashtag had given him.
The sight that awaited him stole his breath. Dellan was not alone.
Rael lurched out of the chair and scrambled onto the bed, the laptop held precariously in one hand. He shook Horvan’s shoulder. “Wake up!”
“Whaaa?” Horvan blinked and rubbed his eyes. Within seconds he was alert. He sat up quickly. “What’s wrong?” Voices from the living room told Rael he’d woken the others too.
Good. They need to see this. “Get in here, all of you,” he yelled.
“I do not wanna watch, okay?” Crank grumbled groggily. The door opened, and the three men stood there, blinking, wearing nothing but shorts. “What time is it?”
“You need to see this. There’s something going on,” Rael said urgently.
The men piled onto the bed, everyone peering at the laptop.
“Wait—who the fuck are they?” Roadkill demanded.
Beside Rael, Horvan stared at the screen. “What’s going on in there?”
Rael had no clue. Two men stood at one end of the cage, outside the glass, holding on to a naked girl who was struggling, clearly extremely reluctant to be there. She threw back her head, her mouth wide, her long hair flying. Rael caught his breath when one of the men opened a small tin the size of a tablet and removed a hypodermic needle. Another man appeared from off-camera, grabbed the girl’s arm, and held it out, keeping it immobile.
“What the fuck?” Horvan sounded as agitated as Rael felt.
The man with the needle removed a tiny vial from the tin, then slowly transferred the liquid to the hypo. The girl was held