"Guess so."

Kevin could feel the avatar draining his magic as he knelt before the beast. Focusing on the gargoyle, he imagined Jay's face, his aura and his power. "Find him."

Before he could get a sense the avatar understood what he'd said, the creature vanished.

"Damn."

"Did you send him? Is he finding Jay?"

Kevin shook his head. He could feel a migraine coming, beating against his brain. "I think I'm just too tired.

I lost control. I don't have enough power to hold him for long. Jay told me to build up my connection slowly. He stayed longer the other day when I summoned him."

Thomas growled. "We don't have time for a buildup. They could be out there torturing my mate."

James wrapped an arm around his brother in a show 95 *

of support. "We will try everything we can. Jay is a powerful wizard. Either we will find him or he will awaken."

Kevin didn't want to think of the things they could do to an unconscious wizard. Draining him of power was the kindest thing he could think of. He certainly wasn't going to mention any of it to Jay's despondent mate.

"I'm going to send out messengers with scent cards to all the local packs to keep an eye out for Jay."

"What's a scent card?" Dean asked.

"We rub some papers against clothes or other belongings of Jay's and pass them out. Pack members will smell them and know who they are supposed to track."

"I'll take them and give them to the others," the gnome announced. "We want to do what we can to help."

"We'll help make cards," Dean offered, and his brothers nodded their agreement. Everyone wanted to see Jay returned unharmed.

Kevin's head throbbed from the magical draining. "I need to lie down." Before the words left his lips, James lifted him up and carried out of the library.

"I can walk." The words didn't even sound convincing to him. He was a failure. Jay depended on him to save him, and he failed.

James adeptly opened the door, walked in, kicked 96 *

the door shut behind him and lay Kevin on the bed.

"Shh, I know what you're thinking. You didn't fail your friend, and Jay wouldn't think that of you."

"I did. He showed me how to call my avatar, and I failed him."

"We don't even know if your avatar can find him."

"He can. I know he can."

"Get some rest. You can try again in the morning.

Right now, we have wizards, gnomes, and werekin looking for him. It's the most concentrated hunt ever. I don't think your one gargoyle will make a big difference."

Kevin knew James was trying to make him feel better, but somehow it did the opposite. Closing his eyes, he turned away from the alpha. He felt the wolf hovering for a bit as if aware he'd made a mistake but unsure how to fix it.

An awkward pat touched his shoulder. "Get some rest, love. I'll check on you later."

Kevin nodded, but didn't say anything else. His head pounded and his heart hurt. Maybe James was right; after some rest he could try again.

97.

Chapter Eight.

James sat in his office answering the hundredth call of someone who was certain they'd seen Jay. After writing down the information, he tossed it with the others. He had gnomes all across the city investigating rumors. So far none of them had panned out. His eyes blurred, and his head felt like cotton.

He longed to join his mate in bed.

"Why don't you get some rest? It doesn't look like we'll find my mate tonight."

Thomas looked ragged and worn. His strong, vibrant brother only a shell of the powerful wolf he usually was. The wizards didn't understand Jay wasn't his real focus. As much as he liked the young wizard, his brother was his main concern. If Jaynell wasn't found soon, Thomas might not survive the loss of his mate.

"We'll find him, brother; you have my word on it."

Everyone agreed the wizards couldn't teleport Jay far, and they were turning the town inside out to find him.

Thomas nodded. "I just wish he'd wake up."

If Jay woke, Thomas could find him through their link. "Nothing?"

"Nope. I occasionally feel as if he's trying to reach me, but nothing more than blurry thoughts and images. If I 98 *

even got one clear picture, I'd have him back."

"Yeah, I know." James walked around his desk and hugged his brother. "Try and get some rest. Maybe he'll come to you in your dreams." Besides, it looked like his brother hadn't rested in days.

"Okay."

Even though he agreed, James doubted his brother would sleep a wink. He knew if Kevin went missing there wouldn't be a stone left in the city unturned. Thinking of his mate had James bidding his brother goodnight and heading towards his room.

Kevin lay, still as death, upon the bed. James's heart went out to his mate. He knew the wizard felt guilty about not finding Jaynell. Pulling off his clothes, he wrapped himself around his mate and fell asleep.

He woke hours later to the feel of a hot mouth devouring him. His body, of its own accord, lifted to get closer to the warm suction.

Kevin's fingers gripped his hips, pinning him down.

The alpha in him wanted to snarl at the captivity, but the man in him enjoyed letting someone else do the work, letting the pressure of always being in charge fall away, 99 *

letting someone else take care of him.

With a howl, he came in his lover's mouth.

Kevin's bright brown eyes blinked up with him as his lover licked his lips with satisfaction. "Good morning, mate," James said, after clearing his dry throat.

"Morning."

"Want me to take care of you?" James motioned towards Kevin's body.

"Nope. Already taken care of."

James laughed, pleased his mate found their coupling as exciting as he did.

Kevin's eyes lost their glow. "Let's take a shower and get some food. I want to try and call the gargoyle again."

Nodding, James followed his mate to the bathroom, pleased he had the foresight to install an extra large tub.

The mood in the dining room was grim. From the wizards' and werekins' faces, James knew Jaynell hadn't been found.

"Any closer?"

The triplets shook their heads, and the other werekin in the room looked glum.

100.

Sighing, James took a seat and piled food on his plate he knew he wouldn't taste. Looking over, he saw Kevin moving his meal around but eating little.

"Eat up, love. We'll try your avatar mojo in a bit."

He got a slight smile over that. "Mojo?"

"Wacky, wacky magic?"

Kevin laughed.

Conversation was minimal. No new leads appeared regarding Jay so no one had much to offer in the gloom.

Thomas looked worse than before.

After a few more bites, Kevin stood up, shoving away from the table. "I'm going to the library."

"Maybe we can connect our magic," Dean said, standing up.

"How?"

"We can sometimes merge our power. What if we do it with you? If we can boost your power base, maybe you can keep your gargoyle solid enough to do some good."

"It's worth a try."

Kevin thought anything was worth a try at this point. He wanted Jay back. The other wizard had been nothing but kind to him. Jaynell never talked down to him despite being more powerful, and had been a good friend in 101

the short time they'd known each other. The thought of him in the hands of some unknown entity made him sick with worry. If he didn't save Jay, what was to stop these people from stealing others? Memories of Lisa's body had him rushing up the stairs. He hoped they wouldn't be too late.

"You can't keep me here forever." Edward's voice reached him as soon as he opened the library door. Damn, he'd forgotten about that idiot. Someone must have thought the library was a good place to keep him for the day.

"Shut up." Kevin didn't have patience to deal with him this morning.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?"

Kevin glared at the other wizard. "Who am I? I'm the one who can have you disappear if you don't shut the hell up. I need to call my avatar, and I don't want your whining to distract me."

Edward curled his lip in disdain. "You don't have enough power to call an avatar. You're a two-bit wizard at best."