A Bond of Brothers (5 page)

"Yes. But after kissing him I knew it wasn't Lynk."

"How did it feel?" She gazed at me surreptitiously.

I blushed harder. "The way that I felt when I was with Lynk. Kissing Tavian felt right, but it was also different. It made me pause, but before I could pull away and see what was wrong, Lynk showed up. I didn't mean to hurt him."

"Of course you didn't. You didn't do anything wrong, I promise. My husband will get to the bottom of things and then we'll see where we are, okay?"

I nodded numbly, sipping at the hot brew and trying to calm my racing mind. I only knew a few things for certain: I liked Lynk and wanted to be part of his life. He liked me and believed we were meant to be together. Lynk and Tavian smelled the same to me, and scent was an important factor in bears finding their mates. My stomach tightened. What if they wanted to fight over me? I shuddered at the thought. I didn't want Lynk or his brother to get hurt over me, and I didn't want one of them to leave their family in disgrace.

But the sharing? Lynk sure didn't look like he thought the idea of Tavian and I together was appealing, and although I found Tavian to be as equally handsome as Lynk, I didn't know him well enough to say whether I could come to care for him the same as I did for Lynk already. The way I felt about Lynk had come on so fast and strong, and it was easy to be with him in the little bubble of the cabin with no one else around. But here in the den? What would others think of all that had happened?

I pushed away the little shiver of excitement that being with two men gave me, knowing that it was probably foolish to even entertain that idea when they were most likely going to try to beat each other silly over me. No, I didn't want that. I didn't want something as painful as losing a family member hanging over the relationship. Because if Lynk won, Tavian would leave. And if Tavian won, then I'd be with someone I didn't know and Lynk would be gone. Neither of those scenarios sounded very promising at the moment. All I could do was wait, and send a silent prayer to whoever was in charge of were-bear love that I might be able to catch a break with this one. But that wasn't really my kind of luck.

Chapter 4

"Shaylee, this is my husband Adriel." Filene returned after a while, with Lynk's father. He shook my hand and sat on the couch next to me.

"How are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm still a little freaked out. Are, um, are Lynk and Tavian okay?"

He sighed and attempted a smile. "Lynk is confused and worried, and Tavian is anxious to meet you formally."

Oh hell.
"Why is Lynk worried?"

Filene answered, "He doesn't want to lose you, Shaylee."

I chewed on my bottom lip. "What am I supposed to do?"

"We'd like to perform a test." Adriel said, flipping his long, black hair over his shoulder. He didn't really look like a king were-bear in faded jeans and a henley with the sleeves pushed up, but I could feel how powerful he was just by being in touch with my nature power. He was the king bear for a reason.

"What sort of test?"

"A mate test. If you really are drawn to both Lynk and Tavian, then this test will confirm that. If you aren't, and it was just a coincidence that you reacted to Tavian the way that you did, then there is no problem and you can continue on with your relationship with Lynk."

"But what if I do react to both of them the same way?" I know what I felt when I kissed Tavian. He made me feel exactly the same way that Lynk did, except guilt clouded all of those feelings now.

"Then you will have a decision to make." Filene answered simply, as if it were something as easily decided as choosing what to make for dinner. "But I should tell you that if you are connected to both of them through the mate-call, then you will need to spend an equal amount of time with Tavian so that you can make an informed choice." A shiver of fear wove through me, tangled around something that felt a whole lot like desire.

I swallowed hard. "Lynk said that when there are three called together that often the two males fight each other and the loser leaves."

Adriel shrugged. "It does happen. But you're getting ahead of yourself. First, let us do the test and then we'll go from there."

He stood up and walked towards the opening of the tent, ducking outside with practiced ease. Filene squeezed my hand comfortingly and motioned towards the opening. I followed her out and found what appeared to be the entire den gathered around a large pit near the market that was lined with stones. The people parted, mostly males I noticed, and upon closer inspection, I saw that the pit was filled with burned logs and lined with black rocks.

Lynk and Tavian were standing apart from each other. Lynk's posture was straight as an arrow, his arms folded over his chest and his eyes blazing. Tavian looked calm and even excited to see me. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. A part of me, a big part, liked the idea of having two men to love, but remembering how Lynk had talked about how unusual sharing a wife was led me to think he wouldn't want to have anything to do with Tavian. I shook my head at my strange thoughts. Just yesterday I was entirely alone in the human world, shunned from my own people and without companionship for nearly a year. Now...what? Now I was standing in front of two men who were both attracted to me - hell, I was attracted to both of them - and I was going to be tested on my attraction. Nothing good was going to come from this, I just knew it.

Adriel cleared his throat and silence followed as everyone stopped whispering and focused on him. His voice was clear and authoritative as he spoke, "According to our laws, when a mate-claim has been uttered to a bride already claimed by another in the den, the mate-scent test must be performed. This test will determine if there is a connection between Shaylee and both Lynk and Tavian. If there is no connection, then Lynk's mate-claim stands unbreakable and solitary."

I waited for him to say what would happen if there was a connection to both men, but he didn't and it hung in the air like wet rags. I knew what would happen. I would tear their family apart. Already they didn't know what was happening with their little sister Daeton, and they had no idea where their brother Griegs was. If Lynk and Tavian fought over me, which seemed to be the only outcome judging from Lynk's angry posture, then one of them would be leaving their family.

I felt the tears building behind my eyes and I fought not to cry. Filene eased my jacket from my shoulders as Adriel stepped over to me. She folded my coat over her arm and handed him two pieces of black cloth. "We're going to bind your hands behind your back, Shaylee, and blindfold you," Adriel said quietly.

My heart stopped. "What?" I took a step back. "Why?"

Filene put her hand on my shoulder and smiled reassuringly. Adriel said, "You can't have the ability to touch them. Touch can alter your senses and we're focusing on scent alone for this test, which is why you also need to be blindfolded. You're perfectly safe here, Shaylee. No harm will come to you."

I slowly let out the breath that had caught in my throat and looked at Lynk and then Tavian. Tavian said, "It's okay, Shaylee. This is for the best, really."

Lynk's body tensed and he growled, "Stop acting as if you're even a consideration, Tavian."

Tavian snorted, "I know what I felt, Lynk. You wouldn't be so pissed if you didn't know it was the truth."

Just seconds before the blindfold covered my eyes, the tears welled up and I ground my teeth together hard until the sting disappeared. My hands were pulled gently behind my back and a soft cloth tied them loosely but securely. Filene said, "Shaylee, one at a time, the boys will come to you and put their arm in front of your nose. You're to take a deep breath, more than one if you like. After you have scented both men, you'll be asked which one came first to you. If you can tell them apart by scent, then the mate-call does not apply to Tavian and you and Lynk can carry on. If you are unable to tell them apart, then they are both your mates and you'll have a few decisions to make. Are you ready?"

I nodded, even though I wasn't remotely ready. I heard someone move towards me and my heart leapt into my throat. The arm pressed near my nose, not quite touching, but I could feel the rush of air and the warmth of the limb. I inhaled deeply and little fingers of heat radiated through me, pooling in my belly like a tender caress.
It's Lynk. He smells so perfect.

The arm disappeared and after a few steps, another arm came near and I inhaled deeply. And then again. And again.
It smells just like Lynk. Identical.

"Again." I said, turning my head away from the arm.

"What?" Adriel asked.

"I want to smell them both again." I wanted to stomp my foot in frustration.

"If you wish," Adriel said, although he sounded as if he knew I couldn't tell them apart.

The footsteps sounded again and an arm appeared and I inhaled over and over until I was nearly drunk on the scent that I was certain was Lynk's. The second arm smelled identical, and while my body responded with liquid heat and tingling awareness, my heart cracked and I stepped back.

Struggling with the tie on my wrists I couldn't stop the helpless cry that came from my mouth. "No, no!" Arms wrapped around me, strong and sure, and I knew it was Lynk.

Until the blindfold was pulled away and it was Tavian, his handsome face carved in worry even as hope bloomed in his dark eyes. A whimper escaped my mouth as he tugged the cloth free of my wrists. I allowed myself to stand in the shelter of his warm arms until Lynk put his hand on my shoulder, anger sparking in his eyes. I shoved away from Tavian and stormed through the throng of bears.

Someone spun me around and it was Lynk. "Where are you going, lilenta?"

"Home." I tried to extract myself from his grip but it tightened further.

Tavian said with a soothing tone, "Tell us, Shaylee. What happened with the test?"

I was so angry just then I could have brought the whole den crashing down around us. "You know what happened, don't act like you don't. You smell the same to me. I couldn't tell you apart. So I'm leaving."

I let out a frustrated growl when Lynk refused to let me go.

Their parents joined us, which just compounded my annoyance. Adriel's tone was that of a teacher, soothing but strict, "We should speak, all of us together."

"No thanks. All I want to do is go home."

"I'll come with you." Lynk said.

"Me, too." Tavian offered and Lynk released my arm and spun on his brother, a growl lodged in his throat.

I shoved at Lynk's shoulder as more tears threatened. "That's why I'm leaving. You can't stand your brother now and I won't come between you. I don't have any family and I won't let you tear your own apart. Forget you ever met me and leave me the hell alone...forever."

Lynk turned abruptly and reached for me but I jumped back. "NO!" I yelled and the ground shook as my nature power flared with my emotions. I spun on my heels and ran for the stairs, grateful that he'd left the keys in the car.

I saw them behind me as I slammed the car into gear and took off, and knew it was just a matter of time before they came to the cabin and found me. But it wouldn't matter. I couldn't let them beat each other all to hell over me, and I wouldn't let one of them walk away from their family for me. Family was everything. But maybe you had to lose your entire family like I did to understand its importance.

As I sped away from the den, I realized that I really didn't know how to get back to my cabin. I hadn't really been paying attention as much as I should have been, and eventually the scenery all looked the same and I was entirely lost. I pulled over onto the side of the road and laid my head on the steering wheel and cried.

There was a knock on the window and I pressed the button to roll it down.

"Sweetheart," Tavian said, "what are you doing out here?"

I turned my head and looked at him as he bent over to look in the window, Lynk next to him. They wore twin expressions of worry and confusion.

"I got lost. I don't know how to get home." The words came out on choked sobs and I felt so foolish.

"Come on, sweet angel," Lynk said, opening the door and handing me my jacket that I'd left behind. "Get over on the passenger side and I'll drive us to your home. Tavian's going to follow in the truck. We have a lot to talk about."

I unbuckled my seat belt, slid my coat on, and scooted over. "There isn't anything to talk about, Lynk."

"Of course there is," Tavian said, leaning into the open window after Lynk shut the door. "All the stuff in the den happened so quickly and you're not used to our ways. Of course you freaked out, and of course Lynk is upset. But you can't walk away from us, Shaylee. It's impossible for us too, until the matter is settled between us. We have tons to discuss."

He patted the door and walked away to a pick-up truck parked in front of my car. Lynk put the window up and put my car into gear, turning around and going in the opposite direction I was headed.

"Shouldn't fairies have a good sense of direction?" He asked after a few quiet minutes while I tried to shrink into the seat and collect my thoughts.