Smoke & Mirrors

  stronger. He should have had Dex on the floor by now. Was something messing with him? Sloane didn’t feel any different.

  “Dex, stop!” Sloane didn’t know what was happening, but it was freaking him out. Was he losing his strength? Was something getting fucked up inside him?

  “You murderous motherfucker!” Dex struggled against Sloane, pushing at his chest. “You had her killed, and now you want to kill me?”

  “Nonsense. I don’t want to kill you, Dex. Your lover is going to kill you.”

  Dex let out a fierce cry, and Sloane could feel Dex slipping from his grip.

  “Sparks! I can’t hold him!”

  Sparks tapped her earpiece, and the door flew open, half a dozen Therian operatives flooding in. It was rather excessive, as surely two or three could easily restrain Dex, but if it meant calming Dex down, he’d go with it. Sloane reluctantly released Dex, wincing as his partner was tackled by the six Therian operatives.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  Sloane frowned down at his hands when he heard Sparks gasp. His head shot up, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. Not only was Dex putting up a fight against the six operatives, but he was still on his feet. Sloane rushed in to help when he heard it.

  Holy fuck, his Human partner just hissed like a Felid!

  With an additional two bear Therian operatives joining the struggle, they got Dex on the floor onto his stomach, and even then Dex wouldn’t give in. Sparks hurried over to Sloane.

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. One second it was fine. Next thing I knew, it’s like his weight doubled. I couldn’t hold him. I thought it was me, that there was something wrong with me. I, um—” Sloane leaned in, his voice quiet. “—he hissed.”

  “Clarify.”

  “He hissed like a Felid.”

  Sparks’s eyes widened, and she dropped to her knees next to Dex, who continued to struggle against the TIN operatives.

  “Dex, so help me, if you bite me I will seriously hurt you.”

  Sloane got closer, curious as to why the hell Sparks was trying to get Dex to open his mouth. When she did, Sloane cursed under his breath. “Are those what I think they are?”

  “Look familiar, don’t they.”

  Sloane’s heart was ready to beat out of him. He shook his head and took a step back. Dex’s canine teeth were elongated, and they were the exact length as Sloane’s when he was going feral.

  “It’s happening.”

  The room stilled. Shultzon stared at Dex as if he were the Second Coming.

  “Let me go!” Dex growled, his murderous gaze on Shultzon.

  “Absolutely magnificent. I never thought I’d live long enough to actually see it.”

  “See what?” Sloane asked. He put his hand to the back of Dex’s neck, unable to help soothing him despite Dex’s hissing and furious cries for his release. He’d never seen Dex like this. As if he weren’t himself.

  Shultzon addressed Sloane but kept his gaze on Dex. “You marked him.”

  “That’s none of your goddamn business,” Sloane spat.

  Shultzon smiled at Dex. “Oh, Dexter. Look at you. The very first of your kind. You boys have made history.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Sloane growled.

  “Congratulations, Sloane. Your boyfriend is the very first. A truly magnificent specimen.”

  Sloane approached the table as Sparks marched up to it, slamming her hands on the surface. Shultzon barely blinked.

  “You have five seconds to explain what in the hell you’re talking about.”

  “The anomalies I mentioned. Those present in a select number of First Gens, such as Sloane. His name was at the top of the list, if you’ll recall. He’s one of a select few whose DNA possesses a mutation strong enough to alter that of a Human, providing the Human is equipped to handle the change. Sadly, not all are, leading to a slow, painful death.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “Through the mating bond. First Gens with this rare DNA infect their mates through their claws.”

  It was like a punch to Sloane’s gut. “Infect?”

  Shultzon turned his attention to Sloane. “Well, yes. When you pierced Dex’s flesh with your claws, you infected him with your mutation. Any Therian traits he exhibits will be akin to your classification.”

  Therian traits? “What does that mean? What’s going to happen to him?” Sloane demanded.

  Shultzon shrugged. “I don’t know. He could shift, he could become something in-between the two, or he could die. It all depends on how well Dex’s body responds to your mutation. One thing is certain. He will die.” Shultzon looked down at Dex. “Don’t let him swallow his tongue.”

  Sloane spun toward Dex, yelling at the operatives to do something when Dex’s eyes rolled into the back of his head and he started having another seizure. Sparks yelled orders, and her operatives dispersed. Some secured the area while others carried Dex out. Sloane hurried after them when Shultzon called out to him.

  “Sloane, they know now. They’ll send someone to kill you both. Someone whose desire for your mate can easily be turned into deadly jealousy. Protect Dex with your life.”

  There was so much Sloane wanted to know, but he had bigger worries right now. He ran after the operatives as they rushed Dex down the hall and through a set of white double doors. They laid him on a hospital bed, and Sloane paced the room, his hands in his hair as they strapped Dex down onto the bed.

  “Oh God, please.” Sloane waited for them to finish before he ran over, feeling absolutely helpless. Operatives rushed in and out, along with doctors and medical equipment. Dex thrashed violently against the bed, and a medical operative pressed a button to raise the bed so Dex was reclined rather than lying down. This was the worst one, and Sloane had tears in his eyes from watching Dex’s back arch, his body lifting off the bed. His skin was crimson, his muscles straining, and sweat beaded his brow. He screamed, as if he were being torn apart from the inside out. They strapped Dex’s head down and did everything they could so he wouldn’t hurt himself. No one knew what was happening.

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here.” Sloane put his hand to Dex’s brow, doing his best to comfort. “It’ll be okay.”

  They hooked Dex up to a heart monitor and several other pieces of equipment that began monitoring Dex’s vitals. His heart rate was through the roof, his pulse swiftly climbing. They checked his pupils, making note of how they were dilated when one operative stiffened.

  “What is it?” Sloane asked, taking a look at Dex’s eyes.

  A ring of glowing amber was spreading from Dex’s pupils, leaving the outside of his eyes pale blue and the inside amber. How was that possible? Dex screamed again, his fangs elongating and claws piercing his fingers.

  “Shit.” Sloane looked up at the doctor. “Is he… is he going to shift?”

  Just as he said the words, Dex convulsed violently, his breath coming in rapid pants. Dex’s terrified gaze landed on Sloane, a tear escaping him before a wobbly smile came onto his full lips. The last thing Sloane heard was the sound of Dex flatlining.

  “Get the fuck off me! Get off!” Sloane pushed against the Therian operatives trying to take him away from Dex’s bedside. “He needs me. Dex, please, you need to wake up. Wake up, baby. Oh God, please. No, don’t do this to me, not again. Please!” Sloane was frantic, his eyes stinging from the tears. This wasn’t happening.

  One doctor cut through Dex’s T-shirt while the other quickly prepared the defibrillator.

  “Clear!”

  The doctor pressed the paddles to Dex’s chest, his body pulsing with the shocks. Sloane wanted to close his eyes. He’d never get the images out of his head, of Dex’s body jolting, each one worse than the last. When the doctor stopped, Sloane shook his head.

  “You can’t stop.”

  “I’m sorry, Agent Brodie.”

  “No.” Sloane shook his head. “Dex, wake up! You wake up right now!”


  Sloane pushed away from the Therians holding him, and they released him. He clawed at the straps, demanding frantically that they get them off Dex. As soon as Dex was free, Sloane cradled him in his arms, running a hand over his hair. Dex’s body was limp against him, his eyes closed and lips slightly parted. He looked like he was asleep. No. It couldn’t end like this.

  “Sweetheart, you listen to me, okay? You gotta wake up, because I can’t be without you. Please. Don’t leave me. You promised.” Sloane ran his hand over Dex’s hair, refusing to believe it. “Come on, baby. Come back to me. I’m begging you.” He ignored the doctors who wouldn’t stop telling him Dex was gone.

  Dex was strong. The world couldn’t lose him. Couldn’t lose his smile or rich laughter, couldn’t lose his boyish hijinks or awful taste in cheesy eighties music. The world needed Dex’s light. Sloane needed it. Needed it more than anything. Sloane shut his eyes tight, murmuring into his hair. “Please, Dex. There’s so much we still have to do, so much I want. I want us to get married, have a dog, kids…. You’ll be such an amazing dad. We can embarrass our kids together. Get a minivan, grow old together. You can’t go before we’ve begun, angel. You just can’t. It’s taken this long for us to find each other. You can’t leave now. Please—” Sloane choked on his sob. “Oh God, please don’t leave me.”

  A sharp gasp tore from Dex’s lips, his body twisting and his eyes flying open. The gold ring around his pupils glowed molten before draining away, leaving only the sparkling blue.

  “Dex?” Sloane’s voice broke, and he was too scared to even breathe.

  Dex turned his head and gave Sloane a small smile, his eyelids growing heavy. “Hi, handsome.”

  Sloane laughed, fresh tears escaping to roll down his cheeks. He hugged Dex against him, closing his eyes as relief washed over him.

  “It was the transformation,” one of the doctors said.

  “What transformation?” Sloane asked, basking in Dex’s warmth. He was alive. It was okay. Everything would be okay.

  “It would seem his body was accepting the mutation. The final steps. His DNA has successfully fused with yours.”

  “Is it over?” Sloane asked roughly, Dex peacefully asleep in his arms. “Are the seizures over?”

  The leopard Therian doctor nodded. “The seizures were caused by the Therian mutation seeking to fuse itself with his Human DNA. At first his body fought against it, seeing it as a foreign entity, uncertain of its intention. At some point his body welcomed the mutation, and the changes began. This last seizure? Think of it as a reboot. His new body needed to restart itself, as it were.”

  “So he died, but didn’t?” Sloane asked.

  “Correct.”

  “Just like Shultzon said,” Sparks said thoughtfully. She turned and ran from the room.

  Sloane didn’t care. He gently laid Dex down and held on to his hand, brushing his hair away from his brow with the other. “I won’t ever let you go, Dex. I love you.”

  “He’s dead.”

  Sloane’s head shot up, his wide eyes on Sparks as she stormed into the room. “Shultzon is dead.”

  “How?”

  “He said they knew. How could they know? This facility is secure. We made certain of it.” Her eyes widened. “Dex. He mentioned the ceilings. Did he say something to you about that?”

  Sloane racked his brain, trying to remember. “Yeah, um, he thought he saw something the last time we were here, and now he saw it again. He said it was every few feet, like the lighting changed color. Something about translucent tiny squares of something.”

  “Shit.” Sparks ran over to one of her operatives and whispered in his ear. The guy took off. She turned and gave orders before addressing Sloane. “Keep an eye on him. If you need anything, there will be several operatives posted outside the door.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We’re going to move Shultzon’s body.” She placed her finger to her lips and pointed up toward the ceiling. Was someone listening in? Fuck, had they somehow managed to breach the facility? Were they being listened to?

  Sloane moved the armchair in the room next to Dex’s bed. Not an hour had passed before Sparks returned.

  “The situation has been contained. The squares Dex noticed were listening devices. The source of the transmission is being located, though I doubt whoever planted these will actually be there.”

  “Are you saying there was a security breach? Here?”

  “It was Wolf. He knows of this facility. The devices were planted undoubtedly the moment he’d received payment for his contract.”

  “Why would you use a facility Wolf knew about? That makes absolutely no—” Realization dawned on him. There was only one reason they would take such a risk. “You wanted to draw him out.”

  “TIN can’t have a former operative running loose. He needs to be brought in.”

  The speaker system came to life, and a voice with a throaty English accent spoke up.

  “We both know that’s never going to happen, Sonya.”

  Sloane frowned at Sparks. Was that who he thought it was? She folded her arms over her chest, confirming Sloane’s suspicions.

  “Wolf.”

  Wait. Dex had never mentioned the accent. Sloane glared up at the ceiling. “You son of a bitch! When I get my hands on you, I’m going to make you suffer for what you did to Dex.”

  “Of course you are, Sloane,” Wolf replied, sounding amused. “How is our darling Dex? Quite the scare he gave us. Almost dying and all. Again. Such a resilient little bugger.”

  “Why don’t you come in, and we’ll talk about it,” Sparks stated evenly.

  Wolf let out a husky laugh. “Oh, hon. Please. By the way, you’re welcome.”

  “For what?” Sparks asked, removing something from her pocket. It looked like a cell phone. She typed away at it.

  “Why, for taking care of those pesky mercenaries coming for Shultzon. They were coming for him.”

  Sparks paused, looking up at no one in particular. “Is that so?

  “You have a traitor in your midst. The surveillance on your ceiling wasn’t mine, darling. I’m not that sloppy, but you knew that, didn’t you?”

  Sparks continued to type as if nothing out of the ordinary were going on. Had she not heard what Wolf said? Did she not believe him? The guy was a certifiable asshole. Maybe he was lying.

  “You see, Sloane. If there’s one thing TIN excels at it’s taking care of TIN. It was more concerned with bringing me in than it was with taking care of its asset. After all, they had everything they wanted from Shultzon. They believed I’d come for Dex, and they knew my ex-employers would come for me, thanks to the mole they planted. Two birds with one stone and all that. They thought they’d get me, and as a bonus capture the men who might provide information on my former employer.”

  “Why did you kill Shultzon?” Sparks returned her phone to her pocket.

  “Because they took me for a fool. You know how much I detest arrogance and incompetence. They betrayed my trust, so I took their precious scientist from them. They were planning a rescue mission. As if they had a bloody chance. Either way, why give them the opportunity? Think of it as a final ‘fuck you’ to my former employers. One of these days, Sonya, I do hope you get that rat infestation taken care of. I’d hate to see you end up like Tucker.”

  “I will find you,” Sparks said calmly, her expression giving away nothing.

  “Perhaps. Sloane, we’ll see each other again soon. Take care of your man. Oh, and you were right. TIN allowed me to take Dex. Ask Sonya. She was there.”

  The room plunged into silence, and all at once, Sloane was across the room, slamming Sparks into the wall. “I fucking knew it!”

  “Sloane, calm down.”

  “Shut up! You let them torture him.” His Felid half roared, and Sparks’s pupils dilated. She lowered her head, her gaze never leaving his.

  “Step. Away. Now.”

  Sloane pulled back a fist when Sparks lashed out, her hand striking h
im in the throat before a blow to the chest knocked the wind out of him, almost bringing him to his knees. Gasping for breath, he pushed through it and lunged at her. She dropped to her knees and rolled away from him, popping up behind him and kicking at the back of his legs. He hit the wall, and before he could turn, she’d grabbed his arm and twisted it up behind his back, her other hand around his neck, claws out.

  “That’s enough,” she hissed. “Yes, we let Wolf take Dex. We needed to know what he was after.”

  “Wolf could have killed him,” Sloane snarled.

  “We never would have let that happen.”

  “So you knew where they were keeping him? Is there anything you’ve told us that hasn’t been a lie? How could you?” Sloane closed his eyes, his head pressed against the wall. “How could you stand there and do nothing?”

  “Nothing? You think I stood there and did nothing? You think your home was ripped apart because I did nothing?”

  “Then tell me.” Sloane turned enough to look at her. “Please, give me something, or we’re out of here. For good.” If Dex hadn’t just died, Sloane would have taken his hand and walked out of there. Fuck TIN, fuck Sparks, fuck Wolf, and everyone else involved in this shit. Sparks released Sloane, and he turned, rubbing his neck.

  “The destruction in your home wasn’t simply a result of Wolf searching for the file. It was a result of him coming back for you.”

  Sloane stared at her. “What?”

  “Do you honestly believe Wolf would have taken Dex and left you behind?” She let out a harsh laugh. “For fuck’s sake, Sloane. You are everything to that boy. You think if Wolf wanted information out of Dex, he wouldn’t take the one thing that would guarantee that?”

  Sloane shook his head. “But, Wolf threatened Dex he’d bring me and Cael in. It’s what set Dex off before he escaped.”

  “Wolf was bluffing. He’s damned good at it too. There was no way for Dex to know the truth. How could he? Yes, we let Wolf take Dex, but when he came back for you, we got in his way. He could either lose to us, and risk his plans for Dex, or leave you behind, and bluff his way through that particular threat. His contract was to kill Dex in the end, and had you been there, he would have tortured and killed you too, Sloane.” Sparks walked up to Dex’s bedside. She placed a hand gently to his brow. “We would never have let Wolf kill him.” She looked up at Sloane, and he was taken aback by the tenderness there. “We both know he would have wanted you safe.” She turned her attention back to Dex. “I wasn’t certain he’d be able to shoulder the weight, but he’s far more resilient than I anticipated.” She smiled at Sloane. “I’m not one to believe in fate, Sloane, but you and him? It was meant to be.”

  Sloane took a step closer to the bed, then stopped. He didn’t trust himself around her. Didn’t trust he could stop himself from taking another swing at her. “As touching as that might be, it doesn’t change the fact that you allowed Dex to be kidnapped and tortured.”

  “Whatever you might think of us, Sloane, there are reasons for everything we do. You don’t have to trust us. You don’t have to agree with what we do or how we do it, but if we didn’t exist, you would be living in a far different world. And before you go thinking that world would be a better one, know that you’d be wrong.”

  Before Sloane could say anything, she walked out of the room. This wasn’t the end of this. Not by a long shot. Dex was awake quicker than Sloane expected, and Sloane was at his side, offering comfort, his hands gently touching, needing to feel him. He’d been so damned terrified. Dex turned his head and smiled at him.

  “Dex, do you remember…. Do you remember what happened?”

  Dex closed his eyes, his brows furrowed together. “I remember Shultzon saying something about you killing me, and I… I got pissed. Not pissed. It was more intense.” He opened his eyes, his worried gaze on Sloane. “Like this violent rage was rising up from inside me. I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands.” Dex swallowed hard. “I should have been scared or shocked, but I wasn’t. I was just… angry. It was like I wasn’t myself.”

  “Probably because you weren’t yourself.” Sloane stood and walked the room, wondering how he was supposed to tell Dex of what he’d done to him. Whatever happened, whatever Dex went through, if Dex… hated him, it was his fault.

  “Sloane, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”

  “That would make two of us.”

  “Please, come here.”

  Reluctantly, Sloane walked over. He took a seat on the edge of the bed beside Dex.

  “Why am I in here?” Dex asked, taking hold of Sloane’s hand.

  “Dex, it took six Therian TIN operatives to restrain you.”