"Now, Jaynell, if you don't mind," Professor Firestorm said.

Jay looked at the room again. "I don't know that it 66 *

would be a good idea to call my avatar in here, Professor."

Professor Firestorm stared at Jay for a moment as if trying to read his mind. A fruitless gesture since Jay's mind shields were stronger than steel.

"Let's take it outside then," he said after a long moment.

"Thank you, sir."

Frank smirked. "I bet he doesn't even have one."

Jay could've told him it wasn't a matter of having an avatar. It was a matter of controlling it. Some creatures weren't so comfortable to call.

The group went outside. Jay made sure they were on an area that was covered with flagstones and not too many people were around.

"Well, we're ready for your avatar." Frank said. "If you can even call one."

Jay pulled out his key ring.

"What are you going to do, key us to death?" Frank laughed along with the earth wizards.

Shaking his head, Jay pulled a small stone in a metal cage off of the ring and slid the rest of them back into his pocket. Closing his hand around the stone, Jay focused his energy.

Concentrating all his energy, Jay said, "Gideon, come to me."

67.

The ground shook beneath their feet. The air went from still to rushing like a whirlwind around them. A loud boom crackled the air, and everyone but Jay was knocked from their feet as a three-headed dragon landed on the flagstones before him.

Jay greeted the beast. "Good afternoon, Gideon."

Jay didn't turn around to see who was screaming. He needed all his attention for his avatar. Gideon has been Jay's avatar since he was ten, but the dragon was still highly dangerous. Jay still had an acid mark on his shoulder from the last time he'd called his avatar and didn't greet it right away.

Greetings, Master Gideon's words filled Jay's mind. He didn't know if other avatars talked to their masters, and he was cautious at this point in asking his fellow students. There were things he knew that others didn't and to keep bringing it up would alienate the few he was interested in becoming friends with.

He wondered how the dragon would deal with a wolf.

By barbecuing him, Gideon whispered in his mind .

"Not this one. He's mine."

Jaynell was surprised at how certain he was of that.

It was as if all his doubts and concerns vanished beneath the need to protect his man. Clarity took over his mind, and an image of him and Thomas standing in a clearing 68 *

surrounded by wolves flashed before him. The picture was so clear and bright that for a moment he thought he could feel the other man's touch.

Warm breath snapped him out of his vision, and he looked up to see Gideon's three heads aligned and examining him.

He's your mate.

"Yes, yes he is," Jaynell said. For the first time, he realized it didn't matter how much time passed or how long he knew him. Thomas was his mate.

The sounds behind him finally broke through Jay's concentration.

"Would whoever's screaming please stop. You're going to spook Gideon."

There was the sound of a slap, then silence.

"If you could please release your avatar, Jaynell,"

Professor Firestorm said in a shaky voice. "I think you've proved you can call it."

"Yes, Professor."

Keeping a hand on two out of three heads, Jay closed his eyes and focused on banishing his dragon.

Most wizards had to work to call their avatars. Jay always had to work harder to banish his.

Gideon rubbed his scaly head across Jay's chest, removing a layer of skin beneath his shirt.

69.

"Ouch." Jay laughed, shoving the dragon away.

I will go and guard your mate, the dragon announced right before it disappeared.

Generally, avatars were more of a spiritual guardian of wizards that came when they conducted battles or strong spells. Unfortunately, with his amount of power, his avatar was always solid. Usually Gideon lived at the manor. Now, apparently, he was looking for a new place to nest. Shit. He wondered how Thomas was going to take the unexpected visitor.

"That's quite an impressive avatar you have, Jaynell," Professor Firestorm said. "I don't think I've ever seen one that large before."

Jay turned to speak to the professor and was shocked to see Frank lying on the ground.

"What happened to him?"

Mallory gave him an angelic smile. "You said you wanted him to be quiet."

Jay liked that girl more and more.

"Well, class, I think that wraps up our studies for the day. Everyone practice calling their avatar. Except you." The professor pointed at Jay. "I don't want to start a panic on campus. If you need to practice calling your dragon, warn me, and I'll have the athletic field cleared."

"Yes, sir," Jay said. He was relieved the class was 70 *

over. The excitement of the last few days was getting to him. All he wanted now was a nap.

Halfway across campus a long shadow crossed his path. Looking up, he saw Thomas' brother approaching.

Great. Just what he needed, another complication.

The alpha wolf stood before Jay and crossed his arms.

"Would you care to explain to me why my pack house is infested with gnomes?"

At least he didn't yet know about the dragon.

"Do you not like gnomes?" When in doubt, work the innocent angle. More than one person had told him that he did angelic really well.

The big alpha took a deep breath like he was working hard not to reach over and strangle Jay.

Jay flashed him an innocent smile.

"It's not a matter of not liking gnomes. I have nothing against gnomes except that they've invaded my house. They said you sent them."

"They needed a place to go. You should have lawn workers coming soon."

James' eyes glowed, and Jay wondered if the alpha was going to shift right there on the school lawn.

"Why are they at the pack house?"

"Because my mate is there, and I thought it was a 71 *

big building that needed a lot of care."

"You claimed Thomas as your mate?" James frown changed to a brilliant smile. "Have you told him yet?"

Jay shook his head. "Not yet. I just realized it a moment ago."

"We need to celebrate," James said.

Delighted the gnome issue was dropped for the moment, Jay readily agreed. "Whatever it is you guys do is fine with me."

"We usually have a big party where we invite both of the pack members' families."

A hollow feeling gripped Jay's chest. "I don't have any family."

"You can invite your roommates. They can represent the wizard side of the match."

"I'll ask if they're interested."

James laughed. "Trust me. We don't open our home to otherkin often. They'll be thrilled."

The two men smiled at each other. James' phone rang at the same time as Jay's.

Jay reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell.

Thomas' name flashed on the caller ID. Pleased, Jay snapped it open. "Hi, honey."

There was a pause on the other end as if Thomas wasn't sure how to take the greeting. "Hello, love. Is there a 72 *

reason a dragon has nested on our roof?"

Oops.

"Um. That's Gideon, my avatar. When I told him you were my mate, he said he'd go and watch over you. He doesn't mean any harm."

"He has three heads."

"Yes. Yes he does."

"Is there anything else that's going to appear? So far we've had gnomes and a dragon."

"No. I think that's about it."

"Okay. Don't think I didn't hear you say we're mates. I plan to do something about that." Thomas' voice turned deep and seductive.

"Does it involve you, me, and copious amounts of lube?" Jay asked with a smile.

Thomas laughed across the line. "I didn't know mind reading was one of your skills."

"It's not. I just have advanced intuition and an active appreciation of your body."

"You can appreciate it in person later tonight. I'll swing by your dorm and pick you up at five."

"It's a date."

With a wide smile, Jay closed his phone only to meet James' cold, hard gaze pinning him in his spot.

"A dragon?" He was holding a phone of his own, 73 *

and Jay knew James wasn't taking the news of a three-headed dragon as well as his mate.