Illuminating His Bear by Charlie Richards

Chapter Five

Zhaul watched as some of Congo’s tension seemed to ease from his frame. His smile as he peered at the other burly, dark-haired male caused a sliver of jealousy to stab through his gut. Then Congo’s words registered.

Brother. That’s his brother.

Well, that’s good. Otherwise, I would have had to kick the dude’s ass.

Pushing the uncharitable thoughts to the side, Zhaul watched as Congo seemed focused on all the bear shifters. Other than his brother, they were each slowly finishing up a long and painful-sounding shift. Congo’s concern for each and every one of them was clear on his features.

“Why the hell would you put yourself through that to try to shift?” Congo’s brother asked, frowning at the man. “You knew what would happen.” Then the guy’s attention shifted to Draven. “Thank you for catching on, by the way, vampire.”

Draven dipped his chin in a nod. “I’m sorry you all have been be-spelled in such a way.” He focused on Congo. “You are the alpha?”

Congo nodded. “I am. Congo.” He tapped his own chest. Then he pointed around the group. “My brother, Madagascar. Cousin, Valentine. Those are friends, Shannon, Zion, and Eurik.”

“Good to finally meet you all,” Kontra stated, not bothering to rise. “This is my mate, Tim.” He pointed toward those on the deck. “That’s one of my enforcers, Payson, and his mate, Land. Also, Draven’s mate, Vail.” Then his eyes narrowed. “If you’re homophobes, we’ll find another place for you to recover.”

“That would be counterproductive,” Madagascar rumbled with a snort. His bushy-bearded lips curved into a smirk as he waved between them all. “We’re all gay.”

Zion lifted his hand. “Bisexual, but labels suck, so who gives a shit.”

“Well said.” A very tall, slender male rounded the corner. “I’m Doctor Eli Raetz, and I’ll be checking you out now that you’re all in human form.”

“Checking us out, Doc?” Shannon waggled his brows. “I’ve always had a love for role-play, but this’ll be even better.”

A low growl came from the small, black male who followed Eli.

Smirking, Eli indicated him, saying, “This is my mate, Sam Bailey.”

“Damn.” Shannon sounded so damn disappointed. “Sorry, Sam.” He lifted his hands in placation. “I haven’t gotten laid in…” Shannon paused and frowned, his attention turning to Congo. “How long have we been stuck like this?”

Congo frowned as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Two and a half years.”

Eurik groaned as he rubbed his hands over his face. “Fuck me. Seriously?”

“Afraid so,” Congo confirmed. Then his countenance sobered, and he focused on Zion. “I am so damn sorry about your cousin.”

Zion heaved a sigh as his gaze fell to the ground. “It’s not your fault.” When he lifted his focus to Congo, there was obvious pain in his gaze, but there was no accusation. “There wasn’t a damn thing you”—scoffing, he rolled his eyes—”hell, not a damn thing any of us could do.” Growling, Zion added, “It’s all on those fucking witches.” He focused on Kontra. “Are any of those bitches still alive? I’d really like to tear the throat out of one or two of them.”

Upon his declaration, several others of the bears all snarled their agreement.

Kontra lifted one hand in placation while keeping his other on Tim’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I have absolutely no idea. I’ll ask Famine when he brings the other shifters to us.”

“What would you like to ask me?”

Zhaul gaped as Famine appeared… with a whole bunch of others in tow.

Famine spotted the bears and smiled. “Ah, you got them to shift.”

“Holy shit,” Madagascar cried. “What the hell? How’d he just appear like that?” Then he scrambled back a little, crab-walking. “Is he a warlock, too?”

“Easy, brother,” Congo rumbled, even as he put himself between Madagascar and Famine.

“Relax. Settle down,” Kontra called, rising swiftly and putting himself between Famine, his group, and the bears. “This is Famine, one of the Four Horsemen,” he explained. “He’s just bringing some more shifters for us to look after.” Then he frowned. “At this rate, I’m going to need another doctor.” Swinging around, Kontra called, “Payson, find Yuma and Hunter. We’re going to need another couple pairs of hands.”

When Kontra turned, he scowled as he swept his gaze over the six naked bear shifters sprawled on the lawn.

That was when Zhaul noticed it, too. While all of them were reclining as if relaxing, all six screamed of anxiety. Their features were tense, and they breathed heavily.

What the hell?

Zhaul gripped Congo’s hand, massaging lightly. “What is it?” he asked, concerned. “Are you hurt?”

Sweat beaded on Congo’s brow. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His dark eyes darted around the clearing, which was quickly filling up with people.

“Oh, for fucks sake,” Kontra bellowed, resting his hands on his hips. “This is why I didn’t want that power, Draven.”

The vampire-warlock lifted his hands. “I’m sorry.”

Glancing around the group, Zhaul demanded, “What’s that mean? What’s going on?” He frowned as he continued to watch his lover lie sprawled on the grass as if ready for a nap. “What did you do?”

Kontra let out a growling sigh. “I told them to relax, remember?” Rubbing a hand over his goateed face, he mumbled, “Gotta watch my damn words.” He lowered his hand and focused on the men. “I rescind my order to calm down and relax.”

“Oh, damn,” Madagascar mumbled, flopping back to stare at the sky. “That was… weird.”

Zhaul was quickly coming to realize that, given free will, Congo’s brother was the dramatic one.

Even as the others nodded a bit and glanced between them, Zhaul squeezed Congo’s hand. “Are you okay?”

Congo swallowed hard, forcing a tight smile. “Yeah. Uh, I was going to say I’ll be fine.” Then he frowned. “But I don’t know if that’s true.” Then Congo flashed what might have been a reassuring smile Zhaul’s way before focusing on Draven. “Uh, you’re at least part vampire, right?” Congo tapped his teeth. “Fangs.”

Draven nodded as he began passing out blankets, which the newly arrived Yuma and Hunter had brought. “I am.” With a smarmy smile, he added, “But don’t worry. I’m mated. I won’t try to bite you or yours.”

“Not where I was going with my question… or why I tried so hard to shift without command,” Congo admitted while rubbing his thumb over the back of Zhaul’s hand, perhaps needing it to soothe him. When Congo spoke next, Zhaul understood why. “I had a vampire friend for a couple of decades, before he had to switch covens due to lack of aging. When he tranced someone for blood, he could look into their memories.” After another second of hesitation, Congo pressed, “Can you do that?”

Draven’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious. “Yes. I can do that.”

“Brother, don’t,” Madagascar whispered, clutching his blanket to his chest. “Don’t do that.”

Congo met his brother’s worried—hell, pained—expression. His lips turning into a grim line, he murmured, “His beloved said he needed to know the spell in order to figure out a counter-spell. If he’s willing to see, to hear and experience, and can then fix us, I’m willing to relive the memories.”

Madagascar’s jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared. After a sharp shake of his head, he rumbled, “Nothing I say will persuade you?”

With his smile appearing to turn caring, Congo glanced around at what was left of his sleuth. “No.” He refocused on his brother. “The alpha cares for his sleuth. I need to do this.”

“What are you talking about?” Zhaul cut in. He could scent Madagascar’s sadness and frustration but also Congo’s resolve. “What memories are you talking about?”

“Yes,” Draven cut in. “What memories are you talking about?”

Congo smiled at Zhaul, tight lines around the corners of his lips. Turning his attention to Draven, he explained, “When the witches were casting their spells, they were cutting sigils into our backs.” His jaw clenched as he whispered, “Four of us were all strapped over stone altars at a time, and I was in a position to see what was carved into Madagascar’s back.” Meeting Draven’s gaze, he revealed, “I can show you not only what was chanted, but what was cut into our skin.” Grimacing, he added, “We’re shifters, so we healed fast. We don’t have scars.”

Zhaul didn’t like the shudder that worked through his mate.

With his voice strained, Congo whispered, “While there are no visible marks, the power of the sigil still remains, and we are bound by it.”

“Oh, gods, Congo,” Zhaul whispered, wrapping his other arm around his mate’s torso. Although the words seemed so inadequate, he whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly, being experimented on by scientists didn’t seem so bad. While sure, at times it hurt like hell, he hadn’t been forced to do things against his will.

Congo turned and pressed his face against Zhaul’s neck. Inhaling noisily, he revealed he was taking comfort from his mate’s scent. Zhaul held him tightly, offering what little comfort he could.

“You know, I think Death or War might still have a couple of those witches alive in their realm.” Famine appeared a few feet away, and Zhaul turned his head to eye him. When Congo did the same and angry growls sounded from several of the other bear shifters, Famine curved his lips into a cruel smile. “From what I understand about this plane’s paranormal restitution, since they put you in situations where members of your sleuth ended up killed, their lives are forfeit.” His cold smile widened. “And the honor of their demise would be in your hands.”

Hearing Congo’s angry growl mixed with the others of his be-spelled sleuth, Zhaul barely refrained from joining in. Those bitches had hurt his mate. They deserved everything coming to them.

Famine chuckled coldly. “Well, I’ll contact my brothers and see what can be arranged.” Then he dipped his head in a nod and turned away. As Famine moved toward the edge of the property, he called to Kontra, “Thank you, Alpha. I appreciate your assistance.”

Then the horseman disappeared, as did his demons.

With the clearing partially cleared out, Zhaul gaped at who remained behind. Just as Famine had claimed, he’d brought an elephant, a camel, a capybara, a gray wolf, and… well, Zhaul assumed there was a coral snake around there somewhere. Several of Kontra’s people walked among them, talking softly, probably asking yes or no questions, just as they’d once done for Zhaul.

“If you’re willing to relive the memories,” Draven rumbled softly, drawing Zhaul’s attention to where the vampire focused on Congo. “I will experience them with you.”

“Are you certain?” Congo clarified, his dark brows furrowed. “They are not… pretty.”

Draven scoffed softly, his expression understanding. “I bet not, but they are yours, and they could help your people.” His blue eyes glimmered in the afternoon sunlight. “I know that’s what you want the most, and I’m more than willing to do my part to help.”

Congo nodded once. “Thank you.”

Madagascar reached over and gripped Congo’s wrist.

Zhaul could read the love in the brothers’ eyes as they exchanged a poignant look.

Then it passed, Madagascar focused on Sam and his questions about his health, and Congo returned his attention to Draven.

The vampire nodded once, then rose to his feet. “Let’s go somewhere secluded where we can get comfortable.”

Helping Congo to his feet, Zhaul refused to leave his mate’s side… no matter what happened.