Page 42 of Nugget

“Where is my mate?”

“Stryker’s your mate?” Dean asked surprised. “Really?”

“Yes, I told him this afternoon. He said he needed some time. I was giving him that time. I guess that was when your familiar and River kidnapped him.”

“We didn’t kidnap him!” Noah and River said in unison.

“He said he needed to think. I just fulfilled his wish. Stryker promised not to leave the property,” River said.

“You took him to another realm,” Gavin pointed out. He was really trying to control his temper. At least he knew Stryker was safe. Well probably safe. There was no telling with River and Noah. This was why Gavin had been worried.

“True,” River said. “I left the pixies to watch over him!”

“The pixies?” Rainier growled. “They’re as mischievous as you!”

“But they’ll watch out for him.”

Gavin shook his head. “Where is he?” he demanded.

River swallowed hard. “Uh, fae land.”

“Fae land?” Rainier repeated.

“That was what Stryker called it,” Noah offered.

This was ridiculous! “Take me to my mate!” Gavin ordered.

“I’ll take you,” Rainier said. He shook River. “He wasn’t at the house. Where is he?”

River huffed. “Behind the waterfall.”

Rainier shoved River down the steps. “Go wait for me with Anton. I will be back after I drop off Gavin.”

“And you.” Dean pushed Noah toward the house. “Let’s go give Lucifer a call. You want to talk to Cary so bad, then you can spend time with him.”

“Oh man! Luci is going to give me his disappointed face,” Noah whined.

“And probably a lecture,” Dean agreed.

Gavin turned to Rainier. “Can you please take me to my mate?”

“Come on.” Rainier waved toward the woods. Where the portal to the fae realm was located. “I’m sorry about this.”

“I knew Stryker and River together were going to be trouble. I just thought we’d have more time to come up with a plan to keep them under control.”

Rainier laughed. “I like River on the naughty side. This is crossing a line though.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. Stryker can be very convincing,” Gavin said.

“He’ll be punished. And I’m sure he’ll enjoy every minute of it.”

“Good.” He chuckled. Gavin had his own plan for his boy.

“If I open the portal, you can enter. Go through the house and ask Gerald if you need anything. You can shift and find the waterfall?”

“I’m good once you open the portal,” Gavin promised. His entire focus was getting to his mate. If Stryker was scared enough to go to another realm, Gavin had a lot more explaining to do.

Stryker had a choice. Gavin should have explained that better. Stryker could refuse their mating. Hell, they had time. They could date and get to know each other. Just because they were meant to be didn't mean there weren’t other options.

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