Recovery

Constellations

Tim

Tim followed Ryker through the apartment door, immediately smelling the presence of the other man's mate, even before he noticed the boots beside the door and the sound of the shower running. The washing machine was running in the corner and there was a pile of books, papers and a briefcase on the counter.

Ryker glanced around before giving a singular look of longing in the direction of the bathroom then turning into the kitchen with a sigh and opening up the fridge. "You want a bottle?"

"Sure." Tim offered carefully, turning to follow Ryker, who shoved a freshly opened bottle of blood into his hand and started guzzling his own.

A few moments later Daryl walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around his hips. Tim paused mid swallow, his brows raising as he took in the chiseled body of whatever Ryker's mate was. He looked and seemed human, but the smell of him was even more intoxicating than last time.

It was as if Daryl's powers were growing, whatever they were.

"Daryl. I'm glad you're home." Ryker said after a few moments, cutting Tim a glare. Ryke's words drew a look of surprise and a half grin to the man's face until Ryker kept talking. "Tim needs help with his tattoo..."

Daryl's disappointment was a flash that was quickly replaced by confusion, before the man blinked and slowly shook his head. "I.... don't know how to tattoo."

"Ryker says that there's a constellation on it. Said you might know enough about them to tell me what it is." Tim offered carefully, hopefully after having remembered to swallow his mouthful of blood.

There was a pause, then Daryl nodded and delivered Tim a charming grin. "Of course. Give me a moment. I have a couple books."

"Sure. Thanks." Tim watched Daryl walk away until Ryker stepped in front of him with a growl.

"Like what you see?" Ryker narrowed his eyes, still glaring at him.

Tim snorted and turned away, taking another drink and pacing to the window to look outside. "Calm down, asshole. I'm not into that."

Ryker didn't respond but remained sulking in the kitchen as Daryl changed upstairs and muttered to himself about looking for the books he needed.

It wasn't long before Daryl was back, placing two large books on the table as he turned to Tim. "Ok. Let me see the tattoo."

Tim turned to find the cowboy standing there in a pair of well worn flannel pants, and that was about it. Tim nodded and put his bottle down pulling off his T-shirt and turning so that his back was to Daryl.

The man stepped up to him, his fingers brushing at various points of Tim's back before Daryl stepped away. Tim turned to look at him, frowning when he saw that the cowboy was on his phone. "What?"

"They're incomplete." Daryl shook his head slowly, "And they're not from anywhere near here."

Tim felt his heart sink. Was it a game? Had Urdu wanted to toy with them before she'd left? Why would she tattoo incomplete constellations on his back? "Oh."

What had he even been hoping for, anyways?

There was a flash of power and the smell of roses then Sam was standing beside him. She offered Tim a smile and kissed his cheek before turning to look at Daryl. "Cowboy."

For whatever reason, it was Isthar talking then, the goddess residing inside Samanthat who'd been just as devastated as the rest of them when Urdu had left. Daryl gave the goddess-Sam a lopsided grin that even made Tim half aroused before he scowled at the man when he realized that alluring had been unconsciously aimed at Tim's mate. Not that Daryl noticed Timothy's irritation. They'd really have to start investigating just exactly what the Hunters had done to the cowboy to make him this... whatever he was now.