Larsson turned and strode angrily from the room, slamming that door behind him too, leaving Tarr alone in the stifling little cell. Tarr picked up the water bottle and poured some in his bowl to take a cool drink. He was beginning to like this Lycanus 3 a bit more. Maybe the next few days wouldn’t be so boring after all.
The handsome young Lycandidn’t show up again until two days later. Every time the door to the cell room opened, Tarr found himself looking for him, but it was always one of the others. They dealt with him silently, their surly faces showing only their distaste for him, though no one actively abused him in any way. On the second day, the big one they called their leader came in, followed by the handsome Larsson. Larsson stayed outside the cell and refused to make eye contact with him.
Their so-called alpha came in, though and stared down at him grimly. “We’ve contacted your brother on Tygeria and asked
him for an exchange of prisoners. ”
Tarr snorted. “You can forget it. We don’t negotiate, and besides, he’d never give up his own nobyo. It would be unthinkable. ”
“Kyle is not his fucking nobyo. ” Clenching his fists, he took an aggressive step toward Tarr. “And you better hope he negotiates, because we told him that soon we’ll start sending little pieces of you back to Tygeria as an incentive. ”
Though he wasn’t focused on Larsson, Tarr was almost sure he saw him visibly flinch at the words. Tarr’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. Bring it on, dog. My brother is a warrior, like all Tygerians. He won’t be swayed by your stupid threats. ”
The big alpha gave him a feral smile, pulling a huge knife from a scabbard on his side. “Oh, it’s not just an idle threat. I’ll take great pleasure in carving you up myself. We can start right now. ”
“No!” Tarr and the alpha both looked in surprise toward Larsson. The word had been spoken in a loud, harsh growl, and the younger Lycan almost leaped forward to stand between Tarr and his alpha. “Don’t touch him!”
The words were garbled and barely comprehensible because Larsson’s face was already partially transformed into his wolf. The lower half of his face was pushing out with a popping and cracking of the bones, and extra teeth were sprouting from his gums. Thick hair sprang up from his skin and sharp claws pushed out of his elongated hands. His body was growing much larger and more muscular right in front of them. Tarr caught only a glimpse of Larsson’s face as he’d leaped forward to take his belligerent stance between him and the Lycan, but what Tarr had seen caused a shiver of alarm to spear down his spine. At the same time he glimpsed a look of horror on the face of his alpha.
“Larsson!” the big Lycan exclaimed, his eyes huge in his face. “What’s wrong with you?” He took a step toward him, and Larsson backed up to stand directly in front of Tarr, his arms slightly outstretched in an obviously protective stance. He growled again low in his throat and seemed ready to spring on top of the alpha.
“Get away from him! Mine!” he snarled through gritted teeth. Larsson had lowered his head and was snarling up at the other man, who suddenly got a strange and slightly horrified expression on his face.
“Oh gods, Larsson! No! Not Tarr Bonnet!”
Larssonreplied with a low, sinister growl that made the hairs on the back of Tarr’s neck stand up. The other Lycan must have been affected as well, because he quickly put his knife away, held up both hands in a conciliatory gesture and backed up a few steps. “All right, Larsson. Calm down. I won’t hurt him. ”
Tarr was still reeling from what just happened, so he kept quiet as the still-transformed Lycan turned back toward him. Tarr looked deeply up into his eyes and saw something in their depths that gave him a twinge of alarm. The Lycan showed him his teeth and looked as though he wanted to devour him.
“Don’t move,” the alpha said softly. “And don’t stare directly at him—he may take it as a challenge and show even more dominance. Lower your eyesand show him your throat. ”
Tarr bristled and yelled back toward the alpha. “What? And have him tear it out?”
“He won’t do that. Hehe thinks you’re his mate. He wants your submission. Show him your throat, damn it!”
With one more grudging glance up at Larsson, Tarr dropped his gaze and tilted his head up and to the side. “Don’t get any ideas, Lycan. I submit to no one,” he muttered. “I’m only doing this because my hands are chained. ”
Larsson dropped down suddenly beside him, responding to his actions and not his words, he crouched over him and sniffed at him, making a sound deep in his own throat like a soft whine. His long, rough tongue came out and licked Tarr up the side of his neck and nipped his earlobe none too gently. Tarr grimaced as the Lycan whirled back around then to face his alpha. He’d obviously calmed down some, now that he’d seen the other Lycan wasn’t making any more threatening moves toward Tarr, but he was still crouching over him. Larsson’s wolf-like ears fell back along his head and he stared off to the side, though a low growling sound continued in his throat.
“Now what?” Tarr asked softly, and the alpha shook his head.
“I’ll step outside so he’ll calm down. Don’t make any sudden moves. ”
“Easy for you to say,” Tarr said softly, his voice strained. “You don’t have a three hundred pound wolf on your lap. ”
The alpha ignored him and backed out the door to the cell. Larsson’s posture changed almost immediately after the door closed behind him. He slumped forward and lowered his head, and Tarr watched in fascination as a transformation came over him. His body shrank down to its normal size, or at least the one he’d had before, and the extra hair and fur seemed to melt away and be reabsorbed into his body as Tarr watched. Larssonremained slumped over Tarr’s legs for a moment longer before he stumbled to his feet and stood looking down at Tarr, his breathing still rapid and irregular. He looked a little dazed and disoriented before he turned and began striding rapidly for the door. Tarr’s voice stopped him with his hand already on the doorknob.
“What the hells? Don’t think you’re leaving here until you tell me what just happened. ”
Larsson whirled around to glare at him. “You don’t give the orders here, Tygerian. And what just happened is my problem,and I’ll take care of it. ”
“Really? Just how do you propose to do that? From what I know about Lycans, and I admit it’s not all that much, but you justclaimed me as your mate. ” Tarr quirked up an eyebrow at the young Lycan, enjoying the red blush that was lightingup his face. “And Lycans mate for life, as I recall. That does pose some interesting questions, doesn’t it?”
“Shut up. You may be my mate, butthat doesn’t mean I have to like it or even do anything about it. I can conquer this damn thing, and I’ll find a way!”
“How? By staying celibate the rest of your very long life? When all you’ll ever want—” He paused, looking down at himself,“—is me. ” He grinned broadly. “Come back in here, Lycan, and get me out of these chains. I’ll give you all you want. ”
Larsson made a rude, choking noise,turned on his heel and stormed out the door, Tarr’s soft laughter following him.