Smoke & Mirrors

  Dex eyed him. “Did I slip and knock myself out? Is that why you’re saying that? Did I make an ass out of myself and knock myself out and you’re trying to make me feel better? It would explain why I don’t remember.”

  “I… I infected you.”

  Dex stared at him. “Say that again?”

  “I infected you.”

  “No, still not making sense.”

  Sloane got up with a frustrated growl. He paced beside Dex’s bed and ran his fingers through his hair. He had to tell Dex, get it over with. “When I marked you, I infected you with my fucked-up DNA. The First Gens on the list, the ones with anomalies in their blood. Our DNA has a mutation strong enough to alter Human DNA. That’s why those couples are all dead. Someone realized what was happening and killed them. They know. Fuck, Dex, they know, and they’ll be coming for us next.”

  “Let me guess. This is all coming from Shultzon?”

  Sloane nodded.

  “And you believe him.”

  “We all believe him.”

  Dex sat up with a groan. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Dex, you were strong. Stronger than me.”

  “Adrenaline.”

  “Enough to put up a fight against six Therians?”

  Dex thought about it. “Lots of adrenaline.”

  “Dex, you hissed.”

  “People hiss all the time.”

  “Not like Felids, they don’t. Your canines grew out. They were like mine. I saw them with my own eyes.”

  Dex opened his mouth to reply, then shut it. “I got nothing.”

  He bit his bottom lip, and Sloane stopped in his tracks. All the pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together in Dex’s mind.

  “That’s what I’ve been feeling? The sharpened eyesight, the strength. That was why I was able to get out of Wolf’s zip ties.”

  Sloane nodded. “Dex, your DNA has changed. That’s why you’ve been having seizures. The tests they ran before were inconclusive because your body thought it was being attacked by my mutation. You had another seizure, a really bad one. You… died. Or at least it appeared that way.”

  Dex gingerly lay back down. “I died? I don’t remember any of it.”

  Sloane resumed his seat on the edge of Dex’s bed, and Dex placed his hand to Sloane’s cheek.

  “You must have been terrified.”

  Sloane nodded. He closed his eyes and turned his face to kiss the palm of Dex’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t.” Dex leaned forward, drawing Sloane to meet him halfway, and kissed him. “It’s not your fault.”

  Sloane shook his head. “How could it not be? It’s my blood that’s done this to you. Who knows what will happen to you, and I’m the one responsible.”

  “We’re responsible,” Dex corrected. “I asked you to mark me, remember? It was something we decided together.”

  “Yeah, but you couldn’t possibly have known what would happen. My blood was infected.”

  “Sloane, I love you. I don’t regret a thing. Whatever happens, we’ll work through it together, okay? You’re a part of me. Always. How could that possibly be a bad thing?”

  Sloane brought their heads together and sighed. Dex didn’t hate him. No matter what they went through, Dex continued to surprise Sloane. He couldn’t help his smile. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  They stayed that way for some time before Sloane reluctantly pulled back. “There’s… something else.”

  Dex squeezed his hand. “Tell me.”

  “Okay.” Sloane let out a steady breath and told Dex everything. From everything Wolf had said to TIN allowing Wolf to take Dex. “Everything that’s happened has happened because TIN’s allowed it.”

  Dex was quiet as he stared down at nothing in particular. He was quiet for so long, Sloane was starting to get worried.

  “Babe?”

  “They kept you safe.”

  Sloane blinked at him. “Yeah, but Dex, they let Wolf take you.”

  “Yeah, but when Wolf came back for you, they saved you.”

  Why was his partner so damned stubborn? Why couldn’t he see? He should be livid. Sloane was upset, but after what they’d been through, he pushed that aside. With a small smile, he squeezed Dex’s hand.

  “Yes, sweetheart. They kept me safe.”

  “Okay.” Dex gave him a nod.

  “Okay?”

  “Yeah.” Dex’s pale blue eyes were intense. “Sparks was right. I would have wanted you safe. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still assholes, but they saved you, and I won’t forget that.”

  There was no point in arguing with Dex. Not about this.

  “Sorry for intruding.” Sparks walked into the room, stopping by the bed. “The results from the Genetic Map Comparison have come in, confirming that Dex’s DNA is no longer Human.”

  Dex squeezed Sloane’s hand, and Sloane squeezed back. Whatever happened, whatever came their way, they would work through it together.

  “According to the test results, there are now similarities between Sloane’s DNA and yours.”

  “What does that mean?” Dex asked.

  “Your DNA contains both Human and jaguar Therian DNA. Dex, you’re somehow carrying strands of DNA from both species, making you a Human-Therian hybrid. The very first.”

  “So what now?”

  “You go back to work.”

  “What? You expect me to just go to work tomorrow like nothing’s happened? I died! My DNA has been mutated. What—I don’t, I can’t even….” He lay back with a sigh. “My brain’s broken. Fine. What do you want us to do?”

  “Tomorrow, you’ll go to work. Leave the rest to us.”

  Sloane and Dex exchanged glances with Dex speaking up first. “I’m going to end up bleeding, aren’t I?”

  Sparks arched an eyebrow at him.

  “Yeah, well. Let’s try and not get me killed. Again.”

  If their only chance to get to the bottom of this, to get some peace, was to play TIN’s game, then so be it. Sloane stared down at Dex’s hand in his for some time as TIN medical specialists came in and out, examining Dex, checking his vitals. Dex didn’t remember what happened or what Sloane said when he’d flatlined, but Sloane remembered his words all too clearly. As soon as this was over, it was time for a new beginning.

  “SO WHAT have we got?” Tony asked as he finished strapping himself into his seat across the bench inside Destructive Delta’s BearCat.

  “Bunch of drunken frat boys streaking Therian style,” Sloane replied, checking through the notes on his tablet.

  “Dumbasses,” Ash grumbled. “Every freaking year.”

  Tony nodded. “Ash, Hobbs, Sloane, Cael, you know the drill. Round up those youths. Put the fear in them so they don’t do it again. Theta Destructive and Beta Ambush will meet us on scene with agents in their Therian forms. I’ll be in the truck running surveillance. Anyone needs anything, let me know. Rosa, Letty, Cal, Dex, let’s get it done before we get too many spectators.”

  Dex and Sloane were the first ones up. The privacy screen came down, and Dex helped Sloane quickly get out of his uniform to assist him with his shifting. Sloane cupped Dex’s face, his words hushed so the others wouldn’t hear.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, this feels weird. Going out there like nothing’s happened. Not telling my brother, my dad, our friends. And then this call coming in the second we clocked in this morning?” Dex worried his bottom lip with his teeth. His heart was pounding. “I don’t know, Sloane. It feels… off. Something’s off. I can feel it.”

  “Let’s get this done with, and then we can talk to your dad, okay? Just be safe. I think it’s time.” He brought their heads together, and Dex let out a steady breath. With a quick kiss, Sloane began to shift.

  At his feet, Dex kept Sloane’s Postshift Trauma Care kit. At one point Dex thought he’d never get used to all the weight of his equipment. At times it had slowed him down, but these days he barely noticed it. He’d
been getting lighter on his feet, faster. Feeling healthier and stronger. He’d put it down to all the training he’d been doing and Sloane’s influence. Not that Dex had stopped eating his tasty unhealthy snacks, but he certainly ate less of them. It was hard to ignore Sloane’s sexy sweet talk about wanting Dex to be with him as long as possible. These days, Dex chose healthier options when he could, providing what he was eating didn’t taste like cardboard or grass. He was definitely more aware of what he ate. He refused to compromise on the gummy bears and Cheesy Doodles, but everything else was fair game. Now that he knew what had been happening inside him, it was likely his change in metabolism was linked. His increase in appetite. The ability to pack away more food than should be possible for a Human. His body burning through the calories…. All Therian traits.

  Sloane’s screams turned into roars until he was finally done with his shifting, his ears twitching before he let out a fierce yawn, revealing lethal fangs. Would Dex end up shifting? He didn’t think that was possible, but the impossible seemed to be happening quite often lately. Sloane stretched his long Felid body, his butt in the air as he flexed his toes, extending his claws. Dex scratched Sloane’s butt, chuckling when Sloane pushed his butt up against his hand.

  “You hussy,” Dex teased.

  Sloane let out a huff before he padded out from behind the privacy screen so Ash could shift. Dex followed him and took a seat on the bench. Sloane thumped his tail against the floor as he waited impatiently to be let out. Felids hated being confined. As soon as Ash shifted, Letty opened the truck’s doors. Two Felids in the back of the truck made things crowded enough without Hobbs’s big tiger butt taking up what space remained. So Letty, Ash, Sloane, and Dex hopped out of the truck to wait for the rest of their teammates. In the distance Dex heard a cacophony of Felid roars and wolf Therian howls. Once the rest of their team joined them, Dex crouched down in front of Sloane and bumped their heads together.

  “You be safe.”

  Sloane huffed and pushed his wet kitty nose against Dex’s, making him smile. He knew what was coming, so he just scrunched up his nose and took it like a man. Sloane’s sandpapery tongue licked Dex’s cheek. At least he didn’t lick him in the ear again.

  Close by, Seb was in his Therian form, along with Taylor and several of their Defense agents. Sloane roared, and everyone took off after the dozen or so young Therians using the streets of New York as their personal playground. It happened more often than people realized. It had even become a secret form of initiation in some frat houses. Run through the city in your Therian form and avoid getting caught by the THIRDS. Destructive Delta had the highest track record for rounding up pledges and scaring the shit out of them so there were no repeat performances. Dex had a sneaky suspicion his Therian teammates enjoyed putting the fear into the students a little too much. Ash certainly did.

  Dex readied his tranq rifle in case anyone decided to get unruly. It rarely happened, but occasionally a frat boy wanted to show off or act the tough guy. If the claws came out, their ass would get tranqed. The area was mostly residential, which meant rows of houses and parked cars. There was nowhere for the kids to hide or escape to. Dex followed Sloane, keeping just enough distance between him and his partner so as not to endanger himself if Sloane engaged with one of their perps. Not long ago Dex had to push himself to keep up with Sloane when he was in his Therian form. Now he could do it without getting out of breath. Letty kept asking him to share his secret, but he didn’t have one. He couldn’t explain it, other than his change in training and eating habits. Now he knew better.

  Sloane and the rest of Destructive Delta’s Therian agents rounded the corner of E Fourteenth Street and First Avenue, while Seb and his agents headed down the Fourteenth Street Loop to cut them off. The students weren’t stupid. They darted into Stuy Town, the many apartment buildings and dense greenery offering plenty of hiding spots. The chase was thrilling, and Dex’s heart raced. The wind in his face, the almost weightlessness, his quarry up ahead. It was exhilarating.

  It didn’t take long to round up the college kids. Cael and three other cheetah Therian agents ran circles around the Felid and wolf Therians, tripping them up while the tiger and jaguar Therian agents scared them shitless. Most of them, when faced with Sloane or Seb, threw themselves onto their bellies or their backs in submission. No one wanted to mess with a jaguar Therian’s bone-crushing jaws or a tiger Therian’s razor-sharp claws. Ash did what he did best, plowed through the other Felids like a bowling ball knocking over pins. Dex thought it was hilarious. The smaller Therians darted out of the way or sprang into the air like someone had set their tails on fire.

  Theta Destructive and Beta Ambush herded the college kids toward Theta Destructive’s truck on the Fourteenth Street Loop, and Sloane trotted over to Dex so he could rub his head against Dex’s leg. Dex gave him a scratch behind the ears.

  “Good work, partner.” It always felt good when they got a job done without incident or having to resort to force. They were nearing the end of Stuyvesant Walk when Sloane roared and took off. What the hell? Dex readied himself when Taylor rounded the corner at full speed, his ears flattened back against his head and his fangs bare. Shit. Was someone chasing him? Dex was about to call it in when Taylor launched himself at Sloane, swiping at his neck with his claws.

  “Taylor!”

  Dex lifted his tranq rifle and aimed, but he was afraid of hitting Sloane. The two fierce Felid Therians thrashed and rolled on the ground as they clawed and snapped their jaws at each other.

  “Taylor, what the fuck are you doing!”

  Dex’s shouts went ignored as Taylor came at Sloane with everything he had. Despite being a leopard Therian and smaller than Sloane, he was still fast and powerful. Both Felid Therians sported nasty gashes, the ground beneath their paws sprinkled with droplets of blood. Oh God, Taylor had lost his fucking mind!

  Chapter 11

  HE HAD to do something.

  Dex went to tap his earpiece when Taylor darted away from Sloane and leaped at Dex. Before he could shoot Taylor, he was on the ground with Taylor standing over him, one clawed paw close to Dex’s neck. He sniffed at Dex, rubbing his muzzle against Dex’s hair. Dex wasn’t stupid. It might be Taylor, but his feral half was calling the shots here, and if Dex wasn’t careful, he’d be dead.

  Sloane hissed and circled them. He bared his fangs at Taylor, his ears flattened against his head. Sloane was clearly afraid Taylor would hurt Dex. It was the only thing keeping him from pouncing. Slowly, Dex edged his gloved hand toward his rifle, but Taylor hissed at him. With his attention on Dex, Sloane attacked. The noise was deafening, both apex predators roaring, hissing, and battling fiercely. Taylor aimed for Sloane’s throat with his claws, and Sloane tried to warn Taylor away by hissing and baring his fangs. If he got those jaws around Taylor’s head….

  Dex scrambled to his feet and tried to run when Taylor’s claws tore through his pant leg. Dex winced and cried out for help, knowing his Felid teammates would hear him. Dex rolled and kicked at Taylor, his boot striking him in the face. Taylor’s claws were good and snagged on Dex’s pant leg, making it impossible for Dex to pull away. Taylor tried to drag him closer, and in the distance, his friends roared.

  “Hurry!”

  Dex tried to tear at his clothes as Taylor used his free paw to fend off Sloane, both of them twisting and hopping. Fuck, they were practically fighting on him. They’d either end up crushing him or clawing him if he didn’t get the hell away from them. Remembering his knife, he grabbed it from his thigh rig. He reached down to cut through his pants at the very moment Sloane swiped at Taylor, his claws tearing through Dex’s sleeve and his skin. Dex cried out in pain, his knife hitting the ground when he let go to throw his hand over his bloodied arm. Sloane’s wail reached their Therian friends, and Dex sucked in a sharp breath as he grabbed the knife again and sliced at his pants, freeing himself. He rolled onto his stomach and used his good arm to drag himself away. Ash, Seb, and Hobbs launched themsel
ves at Taylor.

  Dex’s arm stung like hell, and the blood plastered his uniform sleeve to him. He was losing blood, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. If he could survive torture, he could survive this. What a clusterfuck. He reached for his com, then stopped. If he told their sarge, Sparks would end up hearing about it, and who the hell knew what she’d do? Dex had been afraid Taylor would challenge Sloane, but a part of him thought the guy would never actually go through with it. Taylor was scared of Sloane. Always had been. A furry head bumped gently against Dex’s, the chirps making him smile.

  “Hey, Chirpy.”

  Cael’s chirps changed. They weren’t the usual chirps used when admonishing Dex or when Cael was happy. These were high-pitched and frequent, sounding the alarm and calling out for help. Sloane appeared at Dex’s side, hissing at Cael, who chirped angrily at him, his ears flattened, but Sloane wasn’t listening. He hissed and roared, forcing Cael to shrink away from Dex despite his reluctance.

  “Don’t,” Dex pleaded with Sloane, who rubbed his head against Dex’s head, then his face, followed by his shoulder. “It’s Cael, okay? Don’t push him away.”

  “Dex!”

  Rosa came running with Letty on her heels. Managing to look behind him, Dex saw Seb, Ash, and Hobbs nipping at a limping Taylor, herding him toward the empty cage at the back of Beta Ambush’s BearCat. Sloane curled around Dex, his painful wails bringing a lump to Dex’s throat. He’d never heard Sloane make that sound before. As if his partner was in physical pain because he’d hurt Dex.

  “I know you didn’t mean it, babe. I know.”

  Rosa ran over with her medical kit when Sloane hissed and bared his fangs at her, and anyone else who tried to get close to Dex.

  “Babe, it’s okay. I need Rosa to help me. Please.”

  Sloane let out a soft mew, bumping his face against Dex’s before lying on his belly, his side pressed up against Dex. Tony’s concerned voice came over Dex’s earpiece.

  “Dex? What the hell is going on? Why is Taylor bloodied and in the back of his own truck?”

  “He, uh, was being a dick. We did it for his own good.”

  “Explain.”

  “It’s fine.”

  The line went quiet, and Dex let out a sigh of relief. He’d explain everything to his dad, but now was not the time. Rosa got on her knees and quickly removed all the supplies she needed from her medical bag. Dex sat up so she could get to his arm better. Letty offered him support, and Sloane crawled over until he was once again pressed up against Dex’s side.

  “What the hell happened?”

  Shit. So much for hoping his dad had let it go.

  Tony crouched down beside him, inspecting his arm. “Jesus, Dex. Did Taylor do that?”

  He looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel. Sloane let out a low wail, and Tony turned his attention to Sloane, his eyes wide.

  “You did that?”

  Sloane flattened his ears back against his head and opened his mouth, but there was no hiss. Like he was trying his hardest to explain.

  “It was an accident,” Dex assured his dad, sucking in a sharp breath as Rosa used the Therian-strength disinfectant wipes to clean his wounds. There was no point in trying to bullshit his dad. “Sloane and I were heading back to the truck when Taylor attacked Sloane.”

  Tony’s brows furrowed. “What? That makes no sense. Why would Taylor—” Realization dawned on him, and he cursed under his breath. “He challenged Sloane. Damn it. I thought the talk we had back at HQ had gotten through to him.”

  Dex nodded. Taylor challenging Sloane was better than the alternative theories. Like the one where Taylor may have been sent to kill them.

  “Damn it, Dex. I warned you about this. You could have been fucking killed!”

  “But I wasn’t. It was an accident. Sloane was going for Taylor, and I got in his way.”

  Tony pressed his lips together before coming to some sort of conclusion. “We need to report it. Taylor needs to answer for this.”

  “No. Please.”

  “Boy, are you out of your damn mind?” Tony thrust a finger in the direction of Dex’s arm. “You almost lost a fucking arm.”

  “Sarge—Dad, please. If Sparks finds out about this, it won’t just be Taylor who gets punished. You really think she won’t consider that I might be a liability? I’m the only agent at the THIRDS who’s marked. What if she tries to give me a fucking desk job, or worse? Please. We’ll deal with Taylor. This is all new for us. We’re still learning.” They needed time. Time to get to the truth.