Page 31 of Tempest

He had it narrowed down to two when he felt someone moving closer to him. Glancing up, he found the young guy from the research area grinning at him. He was maybe only a couple of inches taller than Ore, his loose curls styled in a way that looked effortless. What grabbed and held Ore’s attention, though, were his striking violet eyes. They were beautiful.

And full of humor.

“You’re new,” the guy said, propping an elbow on the shelf next to him and planting his head on his fist. “I didn’t think they got new people here.”

Ore inhaled subtly, surprised to find not only was the man human but there wasn’t a trace of magic on him. “I’m just… visiting.”

Dark, perfectly shaped brows arched at him. “Visiting who?”

“Um. Who are you?”

“Oh shit.” The guy laughed, slapping the shelf he was leaning on and straightening. “Sorry. I’m Robbie Amato.”

Ore cocked his head. “I didn’t realize Alpha Amato had a mate.” The lion’s scent was barely perceptible to his nose, but it was there. “I’m Ore. I… Well, it’s hard to explain actu?—”

“Wait, hold on.” Robbie stepped closer and waved his hands. “We’re going to get back to you in just one sec, but I need to have a little freak-out first over the fact you thought I was mated to my uncle Liam.” Robbie shuddered exaggeratedly, turning in a tight circle and shaking his arms out. “Ew, ew, ew.”

Ore couldn’t hold in his laughter. “Sorry. I just assumed.”

“Since I’m human?” Robbie nodded. “You really are new here. My dad is Uncle Liam’s older brother, but they’re technically onlystepbrothers.”

“So your dad is human too?” He hoped Cash wasn’t about to pop up and catch him talking to someone about Liam’s family again. If he did, Ore would be able to at least defend himself since Robbie had approached him. He was just an innocent bystander.

“Yup. My mom is too, but I don’t actually know her.” He shrugged like that wasn’t a big deal, but Ore didn’t really buy it. He didn’t say anything though, figuring that’d be a fantastic way to end a conversation that could potentially get him some answers.

“Fern was just telling me a little about your dad’s new mate,” Ore said, subtly checking to make sure there was no sign of his big, scowly panther. “About what happened to him before he met your dad, I guess.”

Robbie’s face wrinkled in confusion. “Why?”

“She thinks I might have been at the same place he was,” he admitted. “That’s why I’m here, actually. When I got here?—”

“Oh my god, wait.” Robbie held up both hands, nearly slapping Ore across the face. “Whoops, sorry. But you can’t just drop something like that and expect me not to react! You were held by those people who made Caden fight like a damn gladiator?”

Ore’s jaw dropped. “What? Seriously?”

“I thought you just said you were there too!”

“I can’t remember anything,” he explained quickly, setting his books aside. “I flew into the territory about a week ago, and when I woke up, I had no memory of who I was or what had happened to me. I only knew my name and that I was an eagle shifter.”

Robbie’s violet eyes went huge at his speedy explanation. “Holy shit. You don’t remember anything about your life or family?”

Twisting his lips, Ore shook his head. “Nothing. Fern and Pops say it’ll come back, but nothing yet.”

“That’s crazy,” Robbie whispered, studying Ore like he’d told him he could sprout a second head. “Why does she think you were in the same place Caden was then?”

He shrugged. “I guess because she thinks this virus they gave me that almost killed me was done by someone experimenting? She didn’t really get a chance to explain before we were interrupted.”

Robbie grabbed onto Ore’s arm and gave it a shake. “Oh fuck, that’s right. He told my dad they would bring him into a roomand experiment on him. My dad only gave me the bare minimum of details about what happened, but I sweet-talked one of his men into telling me more. They injected him with a bunch of different stuff, but none of it took, I guess. He’s perfectly healthy now.”

“Now?”

Robbie shook his head. “Whole other story. I’ll tell you later.”

Ore smiled. He liked the idea of them talking more, maybe even becoming friends. Other than getting interrogated by Alpha Amato, no one had exactly been outright hostile to him, but Robbie was the first person his age who seemed actually interested in getting to know him. Well, other than Cash, but his interest wasn’t friendship based.

At least Ore hoped not.

“I am kind of surprised Uncle Liam is just letting you wander around by yourself though,” Robbie added. “Everyone is usually pretty—” He leaned closer and whispered. “—uptightabout strangers.”

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