"This is the least I can do to thank you."

  Hmm. It seemed the guy did have manners. That didn't stop Trey from being leery, though. He took a step to the side and gazed at the roasted chicken, the stuffed turkey, the yams, mashed potatoes, and a dozen other trays and bowls sitting before him.

  And the desserts? Trey was dying to dig in to them. They looked more like works of art than food. There was cheesecake, rice pudding, decadent brownies, and other divine treats that tempted him.

  He was starving like crazy, but he was too nervous to eat.

  Aldrin glided his hand through the air again and a large, soft-looking bed appeared. There were mounds of pillows in various sizes and colors, and the green-and-gold blanket was thick. "If you are not hungry, then you should rest."

  "How about I rest in my own bed?" Trey arched a brow as he folded his arms. "I did what you asked, and you promised I could leave once I was done."

  Aldrin grunted as he lay back down. "I'm not at full strength. I might need your further assistance."

  "But you said you'd let me go," Trey argued. "What kind of man goes back on his word?"

  He didn't like how whiney he sounded, but damn it, he wanted to get out of there. Maybe if Aldrin had set them up in some fancy house or luxury hotel, Trey might not be so inclined to leave. But the dust alone was messing with his allergies.

  "I must rest," Aldrin said in a lower tone. "I can't allow you out of my sight."

  "But—" Tears sprang to Trey's eyes as Aldrin feel back to sleep. Just as he'd suspected, he was now Aldrin's prisoner.

  Chapter Three

  Aldrin wasn't sure how long he'd slept, but when he awoke, Trey was curled up on the bed, the covers tucked all around him while most of the pillows had fallen to the floor. He winced as he tried to sit up, and barely managed as his arms shook and sweat gathered over his body. When he was upright, Aldrin sat there staring at his mate's sleeping form.

  He'd known who Trey was to him as soon as the human had entered that exam room, but things were so fuzzy in his head now. The pain had been too much, and Aldrin had barely hung on to consciousness while in the human realm.

  He wasn't even sure how he'd gotten back to the underworld, or how Trey had appeared here. Aldrin rubbed his temples and squinted. The poison Morog had infected him with was slowly killing him, and if he didn't find an antidote soon, he wouldn't survive much longer.

  Only by spells and potions had he'd survived this long. But his quick fixes were working less and less. He should've killed Morog eons ago instead of caging the beast. Aldrin had been a sentimental idiot, and now he just might die because of his bleeding heart.

  All those thoughts disappeared as he stared at the human not ten feet from him. His red hair fanned over one cheek, and one of his hands was tucked under his head. His plump lips were parted as his lashes lay across his cheek like wings of a dragon. They were thick, and long, and Aldrin curled his hand in to stop himself from getting up and touching the young man.

  Aldrin was a scarred monster now. Morog had nearly shredded him to pieces. Who would want such a hideous creature?

  The right thing to do would be to erase Trey's mind and send him home. They hadn't bound their life forces together. No one would know Trey was the Primal Source's mate. He wouldn't be in grave danger.

  Unless I die and the universe ceases to exist.

  Aldrin grunted and scowled as he pushed himself off the couch. He hated being so weak. He was a being of endless power, yet his strength had been reduced to that of a preternatural being, if that.

  For two years he'd been looking for a cure, and had failed. He couldn't count how many times he'd poured through his books and scrolls. Yet here he was, going through them again, hoping he'd missed something.

  "You're awake."

  Aldrin pulled his cloak farther over his face before he turned. Trey's hair was disheveled from sleep, and he had that just-woke-up look. It was the most erotic sight Aldrin had ever seen—and he'd been around since the beginning of time.

  "I am feeling a touch better." He nodded, then gave Trey his back. "Did you sleep well?"

  "I've never slept on a more comfortable mattress. I didn't know I was that tired until I sat on it."

  Aldrin might have added a spell to the bed that would make Trey sleep. He hadn't wanted his mate sitting there staring at the walls for however long Aldrin was out. Besides, after the scare Trey had had, sleep would've done him a world of good.

  "Are you hungry?" Aldrin looked over his shoulder. Trey sat there smoothing his hand over the mattress, his eyelids growing heavy. Aldrin flicked his hand and dismissed the sleeping spell. He didn't need Trey falling into a coma.

  Trey blinked rapidly, then yawned and looked around. As though his mind had cleared, then he glared at Aldrin. "You were supposed to send me home."

  Aldrin had never gone back on his word before. Yet, as he stood staring at the redheaded beauty, he couldn't bring himself to send Trey away. "And I told you I'm not at full strength. I might need you."

  Trey folded his arms and pursed his lips. It was a sexy look for the young man. "You know where I work. Hell, I'll even give you my home address. You can come 'fetch' me anytime you need me. Though I'm not sure how much help I am. You don't even have measurements in that dusty book. Panahasi had to help me."

  "He was here?" No wonder Aldrin was on his feet. Panahasi's blood was the most potent among preternatural, aside from Aldrin's. The demon leader was Life, and his blood had worked wonders in getting Aldrin off that couch. Still, he needed to stay away from Life. He'd been dodging Panahasi for two years, afraid he would drain the man if Panahasi was too close. His blood would be a temporary cure, but sometimes when Aldrin wasn't lucid, he worried he would take from the demon leader until Panahasi was left a husk.

  And that would be very bad for the universe. The cosmos needed checks and balances, and Panahasi and Jaden were a part of those.

  Trey rubbed his throat. "He thought I was someone who wanted to kill you. He choked me out until I told him you hijacked me here."

  "He hurt you?" If Aldrin was at full power, he'd send Panahasi to the void for laying a hand on his mate.

  "I'm fine." Trey gazed at him before looking away. "So you gonna send me home or what?"

  Aldrin slammed his fist against the table. "Why are you so eager to leave my side?"

  "Maybe because I don't belong here," Trey argued right back. "You can't just steal people and expect them to be okay with it!"

  Had Trey seen his disfigured face? Was he repulsed by it? Aldrin snarled as he waved a hand at the wall. A wooden door appeared. He needed to walk the underworld and check on its inhabitants. But mostly, he needed to get away from Trey and calm his temper.

  Before he walked out, he snapped his fingers and the food disappeared from the buffet table before fresh, new food appeared. "Eat," he snarled before he headed out the door.

  As Aldrin walked the halls of cells, he cursed ever meeting Trey. Now he craved someone he could never have, someone who looked at him as though Aldrin was a monster. And why shouldn't his mate look at him that way? Aldrin was indeed what nightmares were made of.

  * * * *

  Trey kicked the leg of the bed, then winced. Too bad it wasn't Aldrin's leg he'd kicked. He didn't want to be a stinking prisoner, and he definitely didn't want any of that delicious-looking food on the table.

  Too bad his stomach disagreed. It rumbled loudly as Trey stared at the wall where the door had vanished. He'd eat, but he wouldn't like doing it. Not one bit. Trey angrily grabbed a plate and piled it high, then sank his teeth into the large piece of turkey.

  Oh God. He'd never tasted anything so good in his life. Not even his mom's Thanksgiving turkey was this delicious, and Trey salivated over her meals.

  He felt like a complete pig as he polished off the food on his plate, then belched, before he reached for the glass pitcher of whatever was in it.

  Trey poured a glassful and took a drink, groaning. The juice tasted like a mixture of exotic fruits as he sucked down every last drop. He stared at the desserts and told himself not to touch them. Trey already spent three days a week at the gym. He didn't need the extra pounds, but the chocolate cake called to him, and before Trey could stop himself, he was eating a slice.

  He'd have to put in extra hours on the weights for that heavenly bite.

  But this wasn't cheating on his diet per se. Trey was stressed and eating a slice of decadent cake was allowed, damn it.

  He forced himself to set his fork down and move away from the table. Now that he was alone, Trey walked the length of the bookshelves as he tried to read the spines. Most were in languages he couldn't understand, and some didn't have any words at all.

  Panahasi had called Aldrin the Keeper. The Keeper of what? He'd also said Aldrin went by many names. Could the scary guy have been any more cryptic? Did Trey really want to know the answer to any of the thousand questions racing through his mind?

  He stopped and stared at the wall when the door reappeared. Aldrin stumbled in and grabbed the table of dusty books with one hand as he sucked in loud gulps of air.

  Trey told himself not to help Aldrin. The bastard had gone back on his word. But…damn it. He couldn't just stand there while Aldrin struggled to stay upright.

  "You shouldn't go jogging." Trey slid an arm around Aldrin's waist. Under his palm he felt how ripped Aldrin's abs were. It was like gliding his hand over fleshy bricks. "Running marathons in your condition is suicidal."

  Aldrin leaned his full weight into Trey, making Trey nearly topple over. "He is loose."

  Trey furrowed his brows. "Who's loose?"

  "Graygon." Aldrin curled his arms around Trey, and the room faded. Trey couldn't breathe as it changed into a large patch of grass with a gazebo in the center.

  He knew exactly where they were. They stood in Brac Village, across the street from the diner. "Why'd you bring us here?"

  Trey should've been happy he was home. He'd wanted out of that musty dungeon, and here he stood, sucking in fresh air with a heavy Aldrin clinging to his side. The clinic was a block over. Trey needed to get to his car. There was no way he could drag Aldrin home on foot.

  He decided to question his insanity later as he tucked Aldrin behind the gazebo. "Stay right here. I'm gonna go get my car and I'll be back for you."

  Aldrin closed his eyes, as though he trusted Trey at his word. Trey glanced around, then shot across the street, wincing at the fast pace. He might hit the gym, but he was definitely out of shape.

  He reached the vet clinic, thankful no one was around to see him. He pulled the handle on the car door, then cursed when he remembered he'd locked it when he'd gotten inside earlier. His jacket lay there on the seat, along with his cell phone.

  And his car keys were there, too.

  "Shit." Trey slapped the closed window like that would help. He had no idea why he felt such an urgency to get Aldrin to safety, but his heart thumped wildly as he looked around for a solution to his locked car.

  "Not gonna do it." Trey looked down at a large rock half-hidden by shrubbery. He bit his lower lip and wrung his hands, cursing the fact he would break his car window to get inside.

  "Damn it," Trey huffed as he picked up the rock. "You're gonna owe me for this, Aldrin."

  Trey took a few steps back, clenched his eyes shut, then whipped the rock at his window. He gave a short cry when the rock bounced back and whacked him in the chest. Trey opened his eyes and rubbed the pain, then rolled his eyes when he saw that the rock had merely cracked the window.

  Picking the rock back up, he moved closer this time. Trey whacked it against the window, and this time it shattered.

  "I'm sending you the bill," he grumbled although Aldrin wasn't there.

  Trey used his jacket to wipe away the glass from his seat, then got in and took off toward the gazebo. He parked at the curb, and looked around before he hurried from his car to fetch Aldrin.

  The guy was still on his side, his eyes closed, his chest barely moving. Trey pressed his fingers to Aldrin's neck, though he hadn't the first clue what he was doing. He'd never felt for a pulse before and wasn't sure if he was off the mark or if Aldrin was dead.

  "I hope I'm not dragging a corpse home." Trey grunted and pulled Aldrin across the grass, then struggled to flip him into the backseat. By the time he had Aldrin securely in his car, Trey was ready for another nap. He was soaked in sweat, and his muscles hurt.

  If Aldrin was gonna keep passing out like this, he could at least concoct some potion so Trey would have He-Man strength. When he got back into the car, Trey looked at his phone. Only ten minutes had passed since he'd been kidnapped from his car? Really?

  He pulled away as he dialed the clinic.

  "Dr. Elliot Beckett."

  "I'm sorry I took off," Trey said as he made a U-turn and headed toward his house. "I…uh…had a boiling stomach and thought it best to go home."

  "You had me worried," Dr. Beckett said. "And why didn't you pop your head into my office and tell me before you took off?"

  "I didn't want to take any chances. It must've been that Chinese food I ate last night."

  "I thought you hated Chinese food?"

  Crap. "I'll call you as soon as I feel better." Trey hung up before the doctor caught him in another lie.

  Now all he had to do was sneak Aldrin past his parents, and then Trey could figure out what to do with him.

  * * * *

  Maverick sat across from Tank in the diner booth. Had he really just seen that short redhead drag a cloaked man into his car? He stood, ready to go outside to see what was going on when his mate, Cecil, walked into the diner.

  He had Khaos with him, and the little boy smiled up at Maverick. "I'm starving."

  Maverick lifted Khaos into his arms and walked him back to his booth, Cecil at his side. Then he remembered the redhead.

  He looked out the window, but the silver car was gone. After breakfast he would hunt that Nissan down and find out what the hell was going on.

  Chapter Four

  Trey sat at the curb a few houses down from his. His mom and dad always went grocery shopping on Monday mornings. It was like a ritual for them—a ritual Trey was thankful for, though the times varied when they left.

  Strumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Trey fidgeted in his seat as he waited for his parents to leave. An hour later, he nearly shouted for joy when he spotted his mom walking out the front door, her flowery purse dangling from her arm. She brushed her long, red-and-gray hair from her face when the wind picked up and tossed the strands around.

  Trey's dad came out next. He had on a light jacket, his gray hair slicked back, and grabbed his wife's hand and stole a quick kiss before they got into the car.

  God, how he loved them. His parents were in their early sixties, and Trey prayed they stuck around for a very long time. They were the sweetest parents, even if they did freeze him to death on a daily basis.

  They hadn't even batted an eye when Trey had come out to them. His mom had baked him his favorite cookies, and his dad had given him a lecture about safe sex.

  That was a conversation Trey could have done without. He never wanted to hear his dad use the words condom and lube again in a sentence for as long as he lived. Thank fuck his mom had stopped his dad from using a banana to demonstrate how to properly use a condom.

  Trey's dreams were already bizarre enough without that image infiltrating them.

  As soon as their car disappeared around the block, Trey pulled to the back of the house. He got out and unlocked the back door before going back to his car.

  Now how the hell was he supposed to get Aldrin out of the backseat? Trey yanked on his legs, then went around and opened the other door to pull on Aldrin's arms. It was like trying to move a slab of concrete.

  "Come one, help a little," Trey grumbled.

  As if he'd heard Trey in his sleep, Aldrin woke and appeared groggy as he scooted out of the car. He leaned against the trunk, and if Trey hadn't known what was going on, he would've sworn Aldrin was drunk.

  "Let's get you inside." Trey grabbed him around his waist and battled to get Aldrin to move up the steps. There were only three that led to the back patio, but Aldrin kept missing the first one.

  "Step up, not over," Trey said when Aldrin slid his foot across the wood.

  "Graygon." Aldrin's eyelids fluttered open for a fraction of a second before they slid closed.

  "We'll worry about him later. Right now I need to get you inside before the neighbors see you and call my parents."

  The statement made Trey feel like he was back in high school trying to sneak a boy home. Not that he'd ever done anything like that. Brac Village was full of gay couples, and one would think living in such a progressive town would've made high school a breeze.

  Not in the least. Teenagers were angst-ridden, hateful creatures who got a thrill from making others miserable. That would never change. Add the fact Trey was overweight and had a head full of red hair, and you had a recipe for four years of torture.

  Trey prayed he never ran into Michael Gilmore again. The star quarterback had made it his mission in life to bully Trey, and Trey couldn't have graduated fast enough.

  That had been seven years ago, but some things just stuck with a person, no matter how many years had passed.

  Aldrin finally made it up the steps. He tapped his feet out in front of him like he was walking a tightrope and imminent death was below.

  It took Trey nearly half an hour to get Aldrin inside and to his bedroom. By the time he dropped the man onto his bed, Trey had a tweak in his lower back.

  Still, he hurried outside, closed his car doors, then locked the back door of the house before he walked to his bedroom. When he cleared the doorway, he gasped.

  Why the hell was Aldrin lying naked on his bed? Trey quickly closed his door. No one was home, but he felt like he'd get busted any second.

  "What the hell did I get myself into?" Trey wasn't sure, but he was too busy concentrating on Aldrin's body to care. Long, jagged lines covered his back, buttocks, and upper thighs. If Trey didn't know any better, he would say they looked like claw marks. Scars aside, Aldrin had the most gorgeous body Trey had ever seen.