After seven years of being on the move, Arlo Barman wants nothing more than a place to call home. But unbeknownst to him, Arlo is a caladrius healer, so staying in one place has never been an option. The compulsion to separate himself from those he's healed is all-consuming and leaves him little choice but to pack up yet again. Nash Silver is the only werewolf in his small coastal town. Living undetected in a human world is imperative for his kind, and he and his small circle of friends -- a vampire and a psychic -- have done so for decades. But Nash's anonymous existence is jeopardized when a man with an enticing scent moves into town. From the moment Nash lays eyes on the stranger, nothing is more important than being close to him. Not even guarding his secret. Arlo isn't interested in a relationship or even a date, his past has taught him nothing good comes from it, but the rather pushy local popping up everywhere he goes has his heart somersaulting. If he's heart is somersaulting or not doesn't matter, because when Nash gets injured, Arlo is the only one who can save him. Having used his powers, Arlo has to leave Nash and the cozy town he wanted to make his home, but can Nash survive being separated from his mate?

Black Bird

“Hey, hey, I thought we were calming down.” Ellis touched his arm, again trying to get Nash to focus on him instead of Gilbert. Nash recoiled, Ellis’ hands on him were wrong.


“Wearen’t doing anything, and I won’t calm down until Gilbert gets the fuck out of here.”


“Last I checked this was my property.” Gilbert scowled at him.


Arlo fought a new wave of nausea and crawled forward. His insides cramped and he needed to retch again, but this was his chance. They were arguing, and if he only could crawl in behind the small barn less than ten feet away, he could hide in the shadows.


That guy, Gilbert, he was…dead. A shiver went through Arlo. He couldn’t cure death, but the curse inside of him wanted to, it reached for him every time Arlo allowed his shields to drop, but it was no use.


He moved his hands, the ground wet against his palms, and proceeded on his knees. A hiss sounded behind him—not Nash, at least he didn’t think so.


Chapter 28