Two Spirits (11 page)

Tekoa arrived, supervised as the weapons
were bagged and pictures taken of the scene, then came into the
cabin alone. "Let's do this at the kitchen table."

They sat.

"I was taken out early on," Tenino joked,
the near loss still strong enough to fist Trey's heart and send icy
ache streaking through it. "Trey will have to tell you what
happened. What really happened out there."

"Okay, let's hear it."

Trey took a deep breath and told Tekoa
everything, from seeing the old man on horseback to being offered
the cup, heat creeping up his neck and into his face at how it all
sounded, except…

It'd really happened. He'd stabbed his
fingers through the holes in Tenino's bloody jacket and shirt when
he'd helped him strip out of them. He'd smoothed his hands over
Tenino's flawless chest in the shower.

Tekoa turned his head to look at Tenino. He
lifted a hand and cupped his ear, his eyebrows rising.

Tenino laughed. "Okay, you called it in the
office. Trey's showing up was like Marisa's dropping into Ukiah's
life and Clay and Jessica showing up in yours."

"And… I'm not hearing the words."

"You were right."

Tekoa's smile was a flash of lightning. "And
there you have it, music to my ears. And a song I'm used to
hearing."

Tenino snorted. "That last is still wishful
thinking."

Tekoa shook his head. "Time will prove me
out. Now to translate what actually happened into official
statements that those not of The People can understand and accept
as truth."

They did that as the coroner drove away. And
a few minutes later, Tekoa said, "That should do it." He looked at
Trey. "Any idea how she found you? You make any phone calls? Tell
anyone where you are? Turn on your cell?"

"Didn't bring my cell phone. Didn't know my
destination until I got here and didn't use Tenino's phone."

"Only possibility is a tracking device,"
Tenino said, gaze going to the duffle.

Trey's eyes dropped to the bank on the floor
between the chair legs. "The pig. I thought she'd missed it because
one of my shirts was covering it. She knew it mattered to me."

Tenino launched from his chair and retrieved
it. "She figured you'd run or be put into protective custody after
she trashed your house and she counted on your taking the pig."

He flipped it so it was belly up. "Need your
knife, Tekoa."

Tekoa fished out a Swiss Army knife, flicked
it open to a screw driver and handed it over.

Tenino popped the rubber stopper up and off,
then righted the pig.

Dollar coins spilled out first, rolling and
bouncing and clinking on the wooden table. And then a GPS tracking
unit dropped out of the bank.

"Damn," Tenino said. "I held the thing in my
hands and missed the possibilities."

"Hard to feel threatened by a yellow pig
with purple flowers," Tekoa said, bagging the tracking unit.

He left the cabin, driving away just as the
storm's violent edge reached them. Lightning flashed, splintering
the sky above. Thunder pealed and clapped.

Tenino closed the door and turned toward
Trey. "Alone at last," he said, filled with a need as powerful as
the storm.

Reaching for Trey, he pulled him forward.
"You know you drive me crazy."

"Me? I'm not the one who died."

Trey's voice caught. He trembled, and Tenino
crushed the lingering fear with a kiss meant to leave no room for
anything but lust.

Tongues battled. Hands roamed, tormented,
teased.

They left a trail of clothing between the
front door and the fireplace.

They sank onto the thick rug. Rolled.
Wrestled. Built the passion with rough and tender caresses, with
wet tongues and heated lips, with the sting of teeth and scrape of
nails.

Fuck. This would never get old and he'd make
damn sure that it was the same for Trey.

The storm raged outside, issuing the ancient
call first answered by his ancestors. "Now," he panted and guided
Trey onto his hands and knees, paused long enough to fish the lube
from his jeans, to prepare the way until Trey was rocking backward,
his voice and body shouting his willingness.

It was ecstasy, a joining of flesh and
spirit as Tenino slid into Trey, his dick free of any barrier. He
reached around, gripped Trey's cock, loved the way Trey moaned,
pulsed in his hand, gave himself completely over to a passion he'd
denied before arriving in Hohoq.

"There's no going back," Tenino said,
remaining still, fighting the urge to thrust.

"I don't want to. I'll miss my students but
there will be new students in a new school. I'm ready to leave home
for good."

Tenino's heart soared. He kissed Trey's
shoulder, his neck. "You've got a new home now."

"Wherever you are, that's home. I'm done
with hiding. I'm done with pretending."

"Damn straight."

"Straight doesn't exactly describe it," Trey
said on a laugh that had his ass clenching on Tenino's cock and
driving pleasure into the shaft.

It was impossible to remain still. Tenino
thrust, and thrust again. Slid in and out, fought for breath, for
closeness, for the merging of two into one, for the ultimate
release, his soul already in flight at having Trey in his life.

Mine
, he thought,
and I'm
his
.

He pushed deeper. Thrust faster, Trey's
shuddering breaths and satisfied moans swelling his heart, swelling
his balls, sending him careening toward fulfillment, and it came as
semen jetted through his cock, through Trey's. And was heralded by
the roar of rain as spirit sheared from flesh with a clap of
thunder.

They became pure energy, power gathering and
taking the form of brightly feathered Thunderbirds, their wings
outstretched, riding the thermals in the valley they'd seen earlier
through human eyes.

This is real
, Trey said, his mental
voice awed, humbled, excited.

As real as the cup you accepted and the
blessing you drank.

Tenino touched Trey's feathered back with
his talons.
You asked what the Thunderbird meant to me. Now you
know the full truth. In the eyes of The People, you're one of us.
My partner and lover.

My partner. My lover. Desire stirred in Trey
and he became aware of his human form lying on the rug in front of
the fireplace, Tenino curled around him in a silent embrace.

Thunder rolled toward them. Lightning cut
through gray and black clouds as if ahead of them other
Thunderbirds flew in the storm. Trey faltered and the powerful,
winged shape became less substantial.

We can go back,
Tenino said.
We
have a lifetime to fly together.

No. I'm ready for this. I want this.

His heart felt Tenino's smile and returned
it, and together they flew forward, their wings moving in sync,
their hearts beating in unison, two spirits made whole and forever
joined.

# # #

Thank
you!

Thanks for reading
Two Spirits
. I hope you
enjoyed it!

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Some of my other works are…

Inked Magic and the sequel, Inked Destiny: A ménage
set in modern-day San Francisco where a changeling tattoo artist
has come to the attention of two very compelling men—the son of a
mob boss and an Elven lord.

Ghostland series: Set in a post-apocalyptic world
where supernatural beings no longer hide their existence, and where
angels and Djinn are heading for the ultimate battle over who will
control Earth.

Supernatural Bonds series: Witches, Weres, faeries,
elves, dragons, Drui and demons, there's something for everyone as
each heroine meets her perfect hero—or heroes.

Fallon Mates series: To avoid extinction, there's
only one hope for the winged inhabitants of the planet Belizair.
Come to Earth and claim the perfect, genetically-matched mate, the
catch—it has to be done in pairs, a feather-winged Amato must share
a lover with a suede, bat-winged Vesti.

Crime Tells: Where mystery, family, and finding love
while working as private investigators come together in a
contemporary world.

The Angelini: In a modern day world where vampires
and Weres exist, the Old Magic is returning, and the Angelini, who
always take at least two mates, guard mankind against the predators
hidden among them.

And there are more, stand-alone stories. Information
on them can be found at:
http://www.jorystrong.com
.

* * * * *

About the
Author

I've been writing since childhood and have never
outgrown being a daydreamer. When I'm not hunched over my computer,
lost in the muse and conjuring up new heroes and heroines, I can
usually be found reading, riding horses, or walking dogs.

My stories have won numerous awards and been national
best sellers. I live in California with my husband and a menagerie
of pets.

I love connecting with readers! Visit my
website at
http://www.jorystrong.com
or contact me at
[email protected]
. I can
also be found on
Twitter
and
Facebook
.