The Sting of the Deathstalker Scorpion

Sometimes, to protect your mate, you need to run
before coming back to fight another day.

From the moment the scorpion Wilder laid eyes
on the sick anti-venom Leif, he knew his life
would be changed. Now, Wilder will have to use
the hands with which he killed so many enemies
to heal the man meant for him.

Since Leif started to come around, Wilder has

always been there to help. While Wilder is known
as ruthless, Leif sees past that to the gentle venom
that takes care of him daily.

When betrayal happens, Leif and Wilder will

have to run with their friends. However, things
are unexpected in the wild and new allies are
found.

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The Sting of the Deathstalker Scorpion

ISBN: 978-1-4874-0008-8

Cover art by Latrisha Waters

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The Sting of the Deathstalker

Scorpion

Venomous Mates, Book Two

Jackie Nacht

Dedication

There are three people that I owe a great deal of

gratitude for getting venomous mates series off to a

good start.

To Will—Without you tagging me in all your scary

spider and snake pics, I would have never thought

about writing about the things I fear. Your delicious

evilness sparked a thought that turned into a series.

Thank you.

To T.A. and Steph—Thank you for your patience and

listening to me when I ran into a brick wall in the

beginning. I cherish each of your friendships and look

forward to many more times where we can hang out

and have some fun. Hugs.

Chapter One

his was messed up. And in a world where
everything was already fucked up, that was

saying  something.  Wilder  was  bone  tired  as  he
checked on his leader and best friend, Kalder, after
the fight  on the roof. The king cobra  had taken a
lethal  dose  of  stonefish  venom  injected  into  him.
With  his  anti-venom  mate,  Reese,  giving  him  his
blood,  Kalder  seemed  to  be  healing.  However,  it
wasn’t pretty.

Kalder’s body burned with fever and trembled

while  Reese  held  onto  him,  murmuring  softly  to
Kalder.  The  four  anti-venoms  that  had  recently
come into their  lives  had completely turned their
hard, cold lives upside down.

Wilder, Kalder and Cash had once thirsted for

power. Hell, Cash, the octopus that seemed distant
to the anti-venom, might still, but for Kalder and
Wilder, the only purpose they now lived for was
protecting what was theirs.

Sighing, knowing that there wasn’t much more

he could do at the moment, Wilder turned and left
Kalder’s room, making his way to his own anti-

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venom mate, Leif. With the chaos on the roof, Leif
had  not  let  on  that  he  had  taken  a  blow  to  the
head.  The  knot,  which  Wilder  had  seen  growing
before  his  eyes,  made  him  want  to  bring  the
spiders back to life just so he could kill the fuckers
all over again.

Approaching his door, Wilder opened it and

stepped in as quietly as possible. Leif was so damn
small in his bed as he slept. Dark red hair peeked
from  a  pile  of  covers.  Pale  skin  marred  with  an
ugly bruise from when Leif had taken a hit during
the attack. It had been twenty-four hours since the
attack,  and  Wilder  had  kept  the  anti-venom  up,
fearing he had a concussion. Finally, Leif was able
to  get  some  sound  sleep  after  Wilder  had
constantly checked up on him all night long.

Wilder walked over and sat on the stool next to

his  bed,  rocking  back  and  forth  as  he  held  the
hand  of  the  healing  anti-venom.  Concerned,
Wilder  then  began  tucking  the  blankets  around
the  thin  frame  as  strange  emotions  continued  to
wash over him. This had been going on since the
moment he had held the emaciated anti-venom in
his  arms  just  weeks  ago.  Fuck,  he  was  still  thin
and  weak.  Leif  couldn’t  handle  any  more  attacks
like he’d just experienced on the roof.

He didn’t know why, but from the moment he

saw Leif being carried in with the other anti-
venom, Wilder felt a need to take care of this

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

smaller man. Which was fucked up since Wilder
was in the middle of a turf war in Venom City.

Currently, Wilder’s group led Mission

Territory.  Venom  City  was  a  constant  battle  for
territory and control. Venom City, as a whole, had
four  territories—Mission,  Pacific,  La  Jolla  and
Fiesta  Island.  His  best  friend,  Kalder,  and  Killian
were their leaders in Mission Territory. Just a few
weeks  ago,  Kalder’s  brother,  Killian,  had  been
killed,  and  now,  the  sole  leadership  was  upon
Kalder’s shoulders.

Reef, a stonefish, was the leader of Pacific

Territory; Magnus, a box jellyfish, controlled
Fiesta Island; and Veronica, a beautiful viper, led
La Jolla Territory. It was a constant battle for
control of the whole city. They didn’t want just a
piece of Venom City; they wanted it all, including
Wilder and his friends.

Wilder glanced down at the wounds on his

arms.  He’d  barely  survived  the  attack  on  the
rooftop.  It  was  savage,  and  he  had  yet  to  change
out of his bloodstained clothes, being so concerned
that  Leif  had  taken  a  hit  to  the  head  during  the
attack.

Sure, others might have had a blow like that

and bounced back, but Leif was different. The guy
had just escaped starvation. Wilder knew that just
going to the picnic tired Leif out, let alone being
attacked. But Leif wanted to see his friends, and
Wilder couldn’t refuse the man anything.

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Fuck! He should have just listened to instinct.

Wilder  didn’t  want  anything  to  do  with
preventing Leif from healing. Wilder remembered
all  those  weeks  ago  when  Leif  first  opened  his
eyes. He expected fear and rejection. What he got
surprised the hell out of him. Wilder thought back
to  the  moment.  He  had  been  sitting  in  the  same
spot just weeks ago.

Wilder gently set the soup down on the table with a

shaky hand, careful not to spill a drop. He knew that the
small man lying in his bed needed every precious drop.

His scorpion’s tail swayed as he watched the

beautiful redhead’s erratic breathing. Dark circles
pooled under his eyes, and Leif was ghostly pale. Death

was upon him, and even though Wilder had just met
him, he knew he couldn’t lose Leif.

Wilder leaned forward and placed his hand behind

Leif’s head, angling it slightly up. “Leif, I need you to

wake up so I can give you some broth.”

Leif moaned and his head rolled. Wilder, never

known for being gentle a day in his life, sat up and
adjusted Leif until the smaller man sat across his lap on
the bed, Leif’s head resting at his elbow.

Leif’s eyes fluttered open, and the green gaze

captivated Wilder. He tried to give Leif a reassuring

smile, but the man looked over his head and panicked
when he got a look at Wilder’s scorpion’s tail. Leif

began a pathetic attempt at escape, but Wilder held onto
him, fearing Leif would hurt himself.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“Shh, shh, settle down. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Wilder tried to catch the thin, flailing arms. One
clipped him in the jaw. If it had been anyone else…

Blowing out a breath to calm himself, Wilder grabbed
the offending arm and pinned it.

“Scorpion.” Leif’s wide-eyed gaze never left his tail.
Wilder dropped his tail and rested it on the bed

behind him so that it was out of sight. “I’m not going to
hurt you. If you calm down, I can give you this broth

that’s getting ice cold over there.”

“Food? You have food…for me?” Leif’s shocked

expression said it all. Venom and anti-venom had

always been at war since the toxins went airborne.

When the toxins rained down, most people were

immediately killed by whatever was in the gas. Others
were mutated, making them human with the

characteristics of a venomous creature. Strangely and
with no one to explain why, since all the creators had

died in the beginning, only one creature’s DNA would
latch onto a person. Wilder was the third generation in
his family to come out of the mess with the venom and

characteristics of the deathstalker scorpion.

Then, there were some who walked away

unscathed—the anti-venom. At first, the anti-venom
sought to destroy those who were altered. The first

couple of years were a bloodbath until the strongest
survived. Anti-venom were slaughtered, and the few

anti-venom that survived were considered good for one
thing—their blood could help counteract poisons or
prevent death. Most venomous creatures still held

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hatred for the anti-venom kind even though three
generations had passed since the world had changed.

Looking down at the anti-venom now, he knew why

his friend Kalder never saw Reese, another anti-venom
and one of Leif’s friends, as an enemy either. They were

just a group of young men that desperately needed help.

Wilder blew out a breath. “I know you have no

reason to trust me, but yes, the food is for you.” Wilder
reached over to the table and grabbed the bowl of broth

and spoon.

Wilder held the spoon out, and Leif’s body shook as

he leaned toward the offered broth. Full lips wrapped

around the spoon before an appreciative moan resonated
from the thin man.

Wilder pulled the spoon back and scooped up more

broth, entranced by the sight and sounds coming from

Leif.

Squirming in his perched position on the bed, Wilder

tried to figure out the damn foreign feeling inside him
as he helped Leif sip one spoonful at a time. He was the
hunter and killer for the group. Just the week before,

he’d tortured a sea snake for daring to kill Kalder’s
brother Killian. He was too tainted to be doing this shit.

Wilder paused and gripped the spoon, bending the

handle. For a moment, he thought of dropping the bowl

and just getting the fuck out of there, but the heavy
breathing from the man in his lap caused Wilder to

turn and focus on Leif. A little bit of broth had dribbled
down the man’s chin, and Wilder watched as Leif’s
tongue peeked out to lick it away.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“What am I going to do with you?” Wilder shook his

head. This world was too damn hard for someone as
small and young as Leif.

“Keep me,” Leif murmured.
“Now, why would a little anti-venom want to play

with a scorpion?” Wilder smirked down at Leif;
however, his heart felt like it was beating out of his

chest. No one wanted him. He was the freak amongst
freaks.

“You’re kind,” Leif murmured.
Wilder tilted his head back and laughed. “You have

no clue. I kill on a daily basis.”

“Not me,” Leif whispered.
That sobered Wilder up. No, he didn’t, and for some

reason if a knife was held to his very own throat, he
knew he wouldn’t be able to harm a hair on Leif’s head.

“No, not you.”

“See. You have a little sweetness in you.” Leif

smiled for the first time, and if Wilder hadn’t been
sitting, it would have knocked him on his ass.

Snorting, Wilder said, “If you say so.” Then, he got

back to business of feeding Leif.

Coming back to the present, Wilder stared

down  as  he  remembered  that  first  conversation.
Well,  Leif  got  a  very  good  dose  of  just  how
ruthless  Wilder  could  be.  He  still  hadn’t  even
bothered  to  clean  the  blood  or  gore  off  his  tail
from  when  he’d  impaled  his  enemy  on  the  roof.

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All his thoughts were focused on getting Leif back
to rest and heal.

A knock sounded at the door. “It’s open,”

Wilder called.

Cash stuck his head in the door. The man was

infected with the toxin of the blue ring octopus,
and even on his beautiful face, the signature blue
circular markings of a poisonous cephalopod were
visible. Sought after by the leader of the Pacific
Territory, Cash had fled and found sanctuary and
friendship in the Mission Territory.

“How’s he doing? The funnel web spider got a

pretty  good  blow  in,  huh?  Do  you  want  me  to
check  him  out,  or  do  you  need  me  to  bring  you
anything?”  Cash  asked  while  stepping  in  and
closing the door softly.

“He’ll need to eat.” Wilder murmured.
“I can prep something for both of you in a few

minutes.” Cash stepped closer, brushing his wet
blue hair back. The octopus must have already
showered.

“How’s Kalder?” Wilder should’ve been

looking after his leader, but he just couldn’t bear
to leave Leif’s side.

“Memphis and Tucker are watching him. He’s

in rough shape, but Reese’s blood is turning him
around. He’ll be better in a matter of days.” Cash
came over and sat down on the edge of Leif’s bed.
Wilder tried not to let his friend being so close to

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Leif bother him, but it did. He didn’t want anyone
near him or touching him, especially on a bed.

Then the words sunk in for Wilder. “Wait?

Memphis and Tucker?”

Memphis and Tucker were two young guys,

barely twenty years old. Okay, so he wasn’t much
older at twenty-four, but these guys were green
and they were protecting Kalder when he was
down?

Tucker was infected by poison dart frog DNA

and had bright red skin. He’d had a tragic past
when his sister died in his arms from the poisons
excreted from Tucker’s skin.

Memphis was infected by the black mamba

DNA.  Even  though  Memphis  was  stunningly
beautiful in the face, his entire body was covered
with the olive-colored scales of the snake. He was
lean  with  soft  muscles,  and  as  he  got  older,  he
would  be  able  to  use  his  wicked  speed  to  take
down the enemy before they even knew it.

Cash shrugged. “I trust them the most. You

need to take a shower.” Cash’s gaze strayed to his
bloody scorpion’s tail.

“I’m not leaving Leif.” Wilder leaned forward

and grabbed Leif’s hand, bringing it to his lips and
kissing it softly. He wanted this man healthy and
whole.

Cash tilted his head, staring at Wilder in

confusion. “I’ll watch over Leif. He wakes up and
sees you like that, he’ll be scared.”

Jackie Nacht

Wilder wanted to tell Cash just how fucking

wrong  he  was.  Leif  was  the  only  one  who  had
never  feared  him.  However,  Wilder  did  want  a
shower, and he trusted Cash with his life as well
as Leif’s. He wouldn’t forget that it was Cash and
his  expert  bow  that  had  helped  Wilder  keep  Leif
from harm on the roof yesterday.

“I’ll be a few minutes.” Wilder stood, making

his way to the en suite that was a few feet away.

“Take your time.” Cash waved his hand at him

as he sat on the stool next to Leif.

Wilder made his way into the bathroom and

glanced at himself in the mirror. No wonder Cash
told  him  to  shower.  His  body  and  clothes  were
still  covered  with  the  blood  of  his  enemy.
Stripping,  Wilder  turned  on  the  water  and
climbed in the large shower. With his tail, he was
always  cramped,  but  he  managed.  Others  had
seen his tail and thought he was cursed, but when
Wilder  was  younger,  he  had  seen  others  infected
with the scorpion venom. Some had claws where
their hands should be, and some of them had extra
legs. If Wilder just had a lethal tail—one he could
use  to  protect  his  mate—that  was  fine  with  him.
He hustled to wash up so he could get back to his
mate. He wasn’t sure who needed who more, him
or Leif.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Chapter Two

eif woke to the worst headache of his life. He
remembered taking a blow from the spider on

the roof, but even his neck and back was sore from
the attack. Groaning, he rolled over to see Wilder
staring at him.

The scorpion had been terrifying to watch as

Leif  got  his  first  look  at  the  venom  in  action.
However, he had been too damn weak and sick to
do  anything.  He  was  happy  that  even  though  he
was  sick,  it  gave  him  the  opportunity  to  see
another aspect of Wilder.

Leif was positive anyone who got a good look

at  the  large  scorpion  would  find  fear  overriding
any  thoughts  of  knowing  him.  Wilder  was  well
over  six  feet,  probably  close  to  six  and  a  half.
Solid,  bulking  muscles  and  a  wicked  tail  that,
when held in aggression, had to be well over eight
feet high.

However, when Leif gazed at Wilder’s face, he

got to see another side of the venom. Soft brown
eyes that hardened to anyone but those he cared

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for and light brown hair with the sides appearing
pale blond.

“Hey,” Leif rasped. Sheesh, his mouth was sore.
Wilder gave a small smile before bringing over

a cup to him. Groaning, Leif sat up, feeling as if he
had  been  beaten  by  a  team  of  spiders  last  night
instead  of  just  taking  one  hit  in  the  attack.  He
knew the venom was a lot stronger than him, but
damn, he was lucky the spider hadn’t broken his
neck.  He  peered  over  Wilder’s  shoulder  to  the
window to see that the sun was going down. With
this  wicked  headache,  light  was  not  his  friend
right now,

Taking the cup, Leif brought it to his lips and

drank thirstily. He emptied two more cups before
he leaned back against the pillow. “What I’d
miss?”

The corner of Wilder’s mouth lifted in a smile.

“Just a whole lot of everyone healing. How are
you feeling?”

“I’ve been better.” Leif groaned, grabbing the

back of his neck where it ached.

Wilder repositioned him and began massaging

the  tight  knots  in  his  neck.  Leif  closed  his  eyes,
moaning at the sensation of those fingers working
over  the  muscles.  He  remembered  what  Wilder
had  done  with  those  hands  just  yesterday.  How
they  had  killed  many.  It  should  bother  Leif,  but
somehow,  he  found  himself  comforted  by
Wilder’s strength. While others feared him and his

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

skill, Leif felt safe. Then, he remembered the fight
and Kalder.

“Did Kalder—” Leif couldn’t even say it. The

last he’d heard, Reese’s mate, Kalder, hadn’t been
doing so well.

“He’s out of danger. Kalder should be back to

himself in a couple more days. Now rest and get
better.” Wilder pushed him back down on the bed.

“I’ll be fine. I want to see Julius and Prescott.”

He hadn’t seen his friends since the attack. He
wanted to make sure they weren’t harmed in any
way.

“They’re fine. Prescott was pretty good out

there.  With  a  little  more  meat  on  his  bones  and
training,  he  may  prove  himself  a  pretty  cunning
fighter.  Julius  is  okay.  Cash  got  to  him  and
guarded  over  him  before  any  of  the  funnels
harmed  him.”  Wilder  grabbed  ahold  of  Leif’s
hand and squeezed it.

Leif nodded. Prescott had been their leader

before they met up with the anti-venom. Leif had
seen firsthand how Prescott would sacrifice his life
to protect Julius, Reese and him. Maybe even
recklessly, since Prescott would give his food to
others to keep them from starving.

Julius, on the other hand, was the timid one of

the  group.  He  remembered  just  weeks  ago  that
Julius  had  fearfully  mentioned  seeing  a  scorpion
hunting.  Had  it  been  Wilder?  Leif  was  going  to
have to ask.

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“I’d still like to see how they are doing. I

haven’t been able to see them much.” Leif groaned
as he stretched his arms over his head. He needed
to get out of bed and stretch the sore muscles.

A muscle ticked in Wilder’s jaw.
“What’s the matter? Did something happen to

them?” Leif began to worry.

“No,” Wilder stated firmly.
“Well, what then?” Leif asked, completely

confused.

Wilder spoke through gritted teeth. “C’mon. I’ll

take you to see them.”

“Okay,” Leif murmured. He wasn’t sure what

the hell was bothering Wilder. Leif quietly dressed
and then went toward the door. Before he could
get to it, Wilder pulled his machete out of its
sheath.

“What the hell, Wilder?” Leif waved to the

machete.

Wilder turned to him with a flash of wild

brown eyes. “Humor me. You want to see your
friends. I’ll be the one protecting you.”

“We’re in your home, Wilder.” Leif stared

wide-eyed at the wicked-looking machete.

“Didn’t stop the spiders from trying to get in.”

Wilder opened the door and led them to a room
that was three doors down.

There was a scream behind the door, and

Wilder pushed Leif back against the wall before
charging in. From the hallway, Leif could see a

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

guy in nothing but a pair of jeans and dusty boots
jumping out of Julius’ window and disappearing.
It happened so fast that Leif didn’t even get a look
at the guy’s face.

Julius ran out into the hallway as Wilder

jumped out the fucking window. They were two
stories up!

“Wilder!” Leif yelled. Leif turned and ran to the

stairs to get down below. Julius and Leif hurried
to the exit, running outside just in time to see
Wilder cussing up a storm.

Wilder whipped around, and his gaze seemed

to penetrate Leif. “Get back inside!”

Leif didn’t think twice before he grabbed ahold

of Julius shirt and ran back the way they had
come.

Tucker, the poison dart frog, ran past them, and

Leif couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Now Wilder
had backup.

A few minutes later, Wilder walked back in.
“What was he?”
Wilder was shaking his head, “Hell if I know.

He looked pretty human to me. The only way I
could tell he wasn’t anti-venom was the fangs, but
there are a lot of different kinds with those.
Tucker, did you see him?”

Tucker shook his head. “No, he was gone

before I was even out there. What was he doing?”

Everyone turned to stare at Julius, who was

shaking uncontrollably. “I don’t know. I woke up

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and the guy was staring at me from the window.
Those things need bars on them, dammit.”

Wilder sheathed his machete. “We need to be

on guard. Get everyone back inside and go into
lockdown. No one, even those that live in the
territory, come into this building from now on.”

Leif was gently pushed back up the stairs

before he was separated from Julius again. Tucker
took Julius to another room while Wilder grabbed
Leif by the arm, bringing him back to Wilder’s
room.

As soon as they entered the room, Leif asked

Wilder, “Was it another assassination attempt?”
Leif wrapped his arms around himself, a sudden
chill sweeping over his body.

Wilder rubbed his short light brown hair

vigorously. “Hell if I know. Guy definitely had
enough time to go in for the kill, but all he was
doing was watching Julius sleep.”

“Creepy.” Leif shuddered.
“I watch you sleep,” Wilder smirked.
“That’s different.” Leif walked over and sat on

the bed, crisscrossing his legs.

Wilder’s face suddenly changed. “I wonder…”
“What do you wonder?” Leif asked.
“Is it different? I knew right off that you

were…” Wilder turned and went into the
bathroom before finishing his sentence.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Leif got up and followed Wilder. He watched as

the scorpion washed his face in the sink. “What
did you know, Wilder?”

Wilder shut the water off and grabbed a ratty

towel, wiping the water off his face. He turned to
stare at Leif with dark eyes. “That you were mine,
the moment I saw you being carried into Venom
City.”

Leif stared down at the floor and frowned.

“That’s just Kalder and Reese.”

Wilder put his hand under Leif’s chin, lifting

until his gaze met with Wilder’s. “No, it isn’t.”

Leif slowly lifted his trembling hand, touching

Wilder’s  cheek.  Leif  felt  like  his  heart  was
thumping out of his chest. Raw attraction hit him
hard,  and  he  found  himself  aching  to  kiss  the
scorpion.  His  friends  might  think  he  was  crazy,
but  at  the  moment,  he  couldn’t  care  less  what
others thought.

Wilder licked his full lips and leaned forward.

Leif’s  eyes  closed  as  he  met  Wilder  halfway  and
kissed  the  man  softly.  Moaning,  Leif  opened  his
mouth, thrusting his tongue into Wilder’s mouth.
His  body  reacted  instantly,  cock  hardening  and
lengthening.

Wilder cupped Leif’s face with both hands and

took over the kiss. The dominance of the venom
awoke something in Leif, making him hungry for
more. He wanted it all. Never breaking away,
Wilder walked them over, then pushed Leif on his

Jackie Nacht

back across the bed, lying on top of him. He could
feel  Wilder  was  just  as  affected,  the  scorpion’s
erection  pressing  against  his  own.  Leif  rolled  his
hips,  grinding  their  clothes-covered  cocks
together.

Leif moaned and gripped Wilder’s shoulders as

the  kiss  turned  feral.  Wilder  growled,  hips
thrusting.  Leif  was  sure  that  they  were  about  to
take  things  further  when  Wilder  slowed  down.
Wilder  kissed  his  swollen  lips  a  couple  of  times
then pulled back to stare down at him.

Leif huffed out a breath as he stared up at

Wilder’s glazed eyes. Wilder sat up, grabbing the
hem of his shirt when a knock sounded at the
door.

Wilder growled, tail lifting as he jumped off the

bed to stalk to the door and threw it open.

Leif watched as Cash shook his head. “Aww,

I’m sorry I interrupted. I need you to come and
take a look at Kalder real quick. Reese is worried,
and I need an update on what happened outside
just now.”

Wilder let out a juicy curse. “I’ll be there in a

minute.”

Wilder practically closed the door in Cash’s

face. Wilder turned back toward the bed to find
Leif rubbing his head. Now that the mood had
officially been broken, the aches that had bothered
Leif came back with a vengeance.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Wilder pushed Leif to lie back down. “Rest. We

need to wait until you fully recover.”

“I’ll be good in an hour,” Leif protested.
“There’s nothing to rush, and I got carried

away.” Wilder grabbed a couple weapons off the
floor and leaned down to kiss him softly on the
lips.

“We got carried away, you mean.” Leif smirked.
Wilder came back over and sat next to him on

the bed. “Yeah. We. What’s happening between us
isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Rest and I’ll
bring you back dinner in a little bit. Okay?”
Wilder brushed Leif’s hair back, and the touch felt
so damn good to Leif.

Leif nodded and closed his eyes. He felt

Wilder’s weight lift from the mattress and then the
door  opened  and  closed.  His  last  thoughts  were
that  Wilder  was  right;  if  these  feeling  kept
growing,  there  was  no  way  they  would  ever  be
apart.

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Three

week later later, Wilder stood off in the
shadows as he heard one of their own in

Mission  Territory  betray  them.  Not  twenty
fucking  yards  from  where  Leif  and  his  friends
slept. Montgomery, the eastern brown snake, had
been  kissing  their  ass  for  the  last  two  years,  but
now that their leader was down, he was prepared
to  make  a  deal  with  the  devil  himself.  He  was
talking to one of the coral snakes that was known
to be a soldier for Reef.

Wilder had initially been out there to watch for

the  venom  who’d  come  into  Julius’  room.  The
asshole  had  come  back  another  time,  and  now,
Durango was stationed in Julius’ room until they
caught  the  guy.  They  weren’t  sure  if  he  posed  a
threat,  but  he  definitely  needed  to  be  questioned
for his actions.

Wilder focused back on the conversation in

front of him.

“When’s he coming to take over the territory?”

Montgomery asked the sea snake.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“Tonight. You just need to be ready. When we

infiltrate, you’ll be rewarded,” the coral snake
hissed.

Yeah fucking right! You’ll be dead with the rest of

us, asshole.

“We’re in. I’ll let them know.” Montgomery

glanced over his shoulder, staring right at Wilder
in the shadows. Too bad the guy had such poor
senses he couldn’t even spot or smell Wilder.

Wait! There are more deceivers?
Slowly, Wilder unsheathed his machete and

stepped toward the two snakes. He struck swiftly,
removing the arm of a coral snake at the shoulder
before  turning  and  beheading  the  man.  Turning,
he brought the machete up in time to remove the
hand  of  Montgomery  that  was  wielding  a  blade.
The  scream  was  deafening  as  the  eastern  brown
snake fell to his knees.

Wilder smelled the coppery scent of blood as he

pulled the head of hair back on the snake. “Is it
just you?”

Montgomery laughed maniacally up at Wilder.

“Fuck you!” the snake hissed at him.

Taking the machete, Wilder swiped the blade

across the top of Montgomery’s head, scalping
him.

The snake screamed in agony, writhing on the

ground.

Wilder squatted down and tilted his head as his

tail rose. “Now, how far does this treachery go?”

Jackie Nacht

“You’re dead, and so are your friends. We all

want you gone.” Montgomery spat at him.

Wilder dodged the venomous spit and struck

with his tail, aiming true to Montgomery’s heart.
Montgomery began to gasp and choke and seize
around the tail as his life expelled before Wilder’s
eyes. The combination of the venom and the fatal
blow were no match.

Wilder pulled his stinger free and stood, blood

dripping  on  his  shoulder  as  his  tail  lifted  aloft.
Turning, Wilder knew he had to inform the others
and get the fuck out of Dodge before they had an
army  they  couldn’t  defeat  breathing  down  their
necks. He  sheathed his machete and took off at a
fast  pace,  entering  the  building  that  was  their
home  and  taking  the  stairs  two  at  a  time.  Kalder
had  only  been  moving  about  again  since  the  day
before.  Well,  Wilder  hoped  Kalder  was  ready  to
fucking run.

Wilder ran into his room, throwing the door

open and slamming it against the wall. Leif was
on the bed and jumped right before Wilder’s eyes,
“Wilder.”

Wilder grabbed Leif by the arm, pulling him

from the bed to make his way to Kalder’s room.
Cash was in the hallway, and with his other hand,
he grabbed Cash by the front of the shirt and
spoke softly to him.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“Grab Julius and Prescott immediately. Pack

light. Get Tucker, Memphis and Durango. No one
else.”

Cash’s bright blue eyes widened before he

pulled his shirt free and took off for the others.

Wilder entered Kalder’s room without even

bothering  to  knock.  He  didn’t  have  time  for
manners.  They  needed  to  be  on  the  move.  They
were  about  to  be  overthrown  and  seconds
mattered.

Kalder was lying in bed with Reese. Wilder was

pretty sure that under the sheets, they weren’t
wearing a stitch of clothing.

Kalder sat up, hissing, “What the fuck?”
“No time. We have to leave now. Plot to

assassinate us all, and our territory is turning on
us.”

Wilder heard Leif gasp beside him, and Wilder

brought him in tight to his side, embracing him.

Reese scrambled out of bed, uncaring of his

nudity, grabbing a pair of pants and pulling them
on.

Kalder looked pissed, “The venom we’ve been

protecting?”

Wilder knew this would hit Kalder hard. He

had been a great leader, ruthless in protecting the
ones that were about to turn on him. They would
pay, but not today. “Yes. We need to pack and
leave.”

Kalder stood and began dressing. “I’ll fight.”

Jackie Nacht

“Assassins are coming in, and our own people

are turning on us. Today, we run. Tomorrow, we
will find another way to reclaim Mission.” Wilder
tried to reason with the cobra.

Kalder hissed, “Over my dead body I’ll run.”
Reese walked over, standing toe to toe with

Kalder. “Is that the way of it? Your life for a piece
of land? Didn’t we just talk about finding a safer
place to live?”

“That’s to live and keep you safe,” Kalder

argued with his mate.

Wilder squeezed Leif to him, his mate shaking

in his arm.

Reese’s face contorted in anger. “You need to be

safe, too!”

“I will not run like a coward,” Kalder hissed.
“Then run like an intelligent man and come

back to fight another day. You can’t get your
vengeance in the grave!” Reese was shouting in
Kalder’s face.

Wilder was impressed that the much smaller

anti-venom wasn’t the least bit intimidated about
standing up to his mate. Of course, when it came
to mates, Wilder was learning firsthand just how
much they were the exception to the rule.

Kalder hissed and turned, gripping his

Mohawk with one hand. Wilder waited for his
friend and leader.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

The doorway filled, and the others filed into the

room. Wilder wasn’t sure what Cash said to them,
but they were armed.

Kalder took a deep breath and addressed them

all. “We have fifteen minutes before we leave. Get
as much arsenal as you can and prepare for the
elements. Julius and Prescott, pack clothes and as
much food as you can carry. Durango and Tucker
go with them. Wilder, go and get Leif ready to
travel. Reese…” Wilder watched Kalder pull Reese
into a hard embrace. “You’re right. We live today.
Pack, mate.”

Wilder left with Leif under his arm, following

the others as they scrambled.

“How are we going to carry everything?” Leif

asked as they walked back in the room. Leif was
already running to the boots that Wilder had
obtained for him before the picnic up on the roof.

“You pack to survive. Grab clothes. I have a

survival  pack  already  packed  in  the  closet.”
Wilder went and retrieved his kit. Opening  it, he
took  a  quick  inventory,  seeing  a  fire  starter,
several blades, first aid items, canteens and a mini
compass.

Wilder turned back to the closet and grabbed

an old, worn sleeping bag. It had been made
before the toxins dropped, but it would still do the
job and keep them warm at night. Hopefully, the
others had a couple extra, because as it was, he
and Leif would have to share this one.

Jackie Nacht

Leif was hurrying around the room, and Wilder

stared  at  his  mate  for  a  moment.  He  was  better,
much  better  than  when  he’d  first  come,  but  they
didn’t  know  where  in  the  hell  they  were  going.
Was Leif’s health going to decline with the journey
to  safety?  Grabbing  his  bow  and  a  quiver  of
arrows, he prayed that he could hunt  large game
so that no one suffered from lack of food.

Leif was grabbing another worn backpack,

stuffing clothes for both of them into it,
movements panicked.

Wilder stopped what he was doing and walked

over to Leif, grabbing both hands of his hands,
staring down at the scared green eyes.
“Everything’s going to be fine.”

“Spoken like a man who hasn’t been hunted all

his life and never had to fend for himself to live.”
Leif’s voice shook.

Wilder leaned down and gave the trembling

lips a small kiss. Murmuring against Leif’s lips, he
stated “I’m hunted all the time by other territories.
Plus, now it won’t be just the four of you. I’m
skilled and so are the others. We will find a new
home. I promise I will keep you safe.”

Leif pulled back. “I worry about your safety,

too.”

“If we get out of here, we’ll have enough

daylight to be out of danger before they come into
the city. Durango and Kalder are excellent at
hiding our tracks.”

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Leif reached up and hugged him before they

broke apart and got back to packing. They left the
room  after  five  minutes  to  meet  the  group  in  the
hallway. Everyone had backpacks, and the venom
had  blades  drawn,  ready  for  action.  Kalder  came
forward  and  stalked  to  lead  them  out  of  the
building, Reese close behind him.

Wilder pulled his machete and grabbed Leif’s

hand  as  he  led  them  out  into  the  open.  The  sun
was  starting  to  set  over  the  waters.  The  waves
were crashing along the shore as the sky turned a
beautiful  gold  and  pink.  Wilder  spent  many
evenings sitting in the sand and watching sunsets
much  like  this  one.  However,  tonight,  Wilder
knew  that  it  was  only  a  matter  of  time  before
Pacific Territory assassins made their way in.

The ten of them walked toward the path along

the water. All of them removed their hiking boots,
so that  the waves would remove any  trace of the
direction  they  were  heading.  They  would  need  a
couple  of  days’  head  start  before  any  of  them
would feel even mildly safe.

Wilder turned and stared back down the beach

at  Mission  Territory.  Wilder  couldn’t  help  but
notice how eerie it was that no one was to be seen.
The  place  was  usually  booming  with  venom,  but
at the moment, it was deserted.  Were  they waiting
for others to arrive? Were they afraid?

Jackie Nacht

Kalder turned to stare at him. “Do you think

there is anyone that is left that still holds loyalty to
us?”

Everyone must have been thinking along the

same lines, because everyone stopped except
Cash. The cephalopod kept on going, talking over
his shoulder. “They may not want to, but they
never warned any of us. As far as I’m concerned,
no one is to be trusted, and that means they fend
for themselves.”

“He’s right.” Prescott walked past them all and

followed Cash. “Survival is trust, and if they
didn’t tell you that danger was coming, they may
be the one wielding the knife to your throat the
next time you sleep.”

For the first time, Wilder saw why Prescott had

been  the  anti-venom’s  leader  before  they  met.
Prescott  was  right.  Wilder  could  trust  none  of
them. Even Durango, Tucker and Memphis were a
risk,  but  the  guys  had  been  with  them  all  week,
never  leaving  the  building.  Memphis  was
especially protective of Prescott, which made him
wonder if there wasn’t something more going  on
than Wilder knew.

Leif squeezed his hand. Wilder and Leif began

walking behind the others, facing the unknown
journey before them. He wasn’t sure where they
would end up, but he was going to do everything
in his power to protect his mate until they found a
home.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Chapter Four

our hours later and well into the night, Leif
was bone tired as they got as far away from

Mission  Territory  as  possible.  Living  in  the  wild
before,  Leif  knew  how  dangerous  it  was  to  be
traveling  at  night.  There  might  not  be  too  many
venom living in the wild, most choosing to live in
one of the territories in Venom City, but it didn’t
mean they couldn’t run across some crazy asshole.
Or  god  help  them,  the  assassins  that  were  no
doubt on their way.

Leif felt horribly guilty. He knew that he was

slowing  down  the  whole  group.  Several  times,
Wilder stopped the group so that Leif could get a
quick drink of water or a bite to eat. He wanted to
be  strong  for  everyone,  not  hold  them  back.  The
walk  seemed  to  take  forever  as  they  ventured
down  Mission  Bay  Blvd.,  trying  to  avoid  others.
They turned off and went onto Sunset Cliffs before
traveling  over  the  water  on  a  bridge  to  another
side.

Jackie Nacht

Finally, at about two in the morning, the group

stopped in an overgrown field that still had access
to the ocean. Wilder pulled off his backpack and
set it on the grass.

Others pulled sleeping bags.
Kalder was unlacing Reese’s shoes, “No fire

tonight. I don’t want it to attract others until I
know who’s around here. I can take first watch.”

Wilder unzipped the sleeping bag. “Rest,

Kalder. You’re still healing. I’ll take first watch,
and Cash can take second.”

Tucker squatted next to Julius. “I can take a

watch, too.”

“Two-hour shifts?” Wilder asked the group.
Cash and Tucker nodded before everyone

climbed in and began to settle. Leif felt guilty for
sleeping and got up to walk over to Wilder, who
sat with his back against a tree.

“Hey, you should be resting. We have a long

walk ahead of us in the morning,” Wilder
murmured.

Leif knew that, but it didn’t stop him from

sitting next to Wilder. He leaned his head on the
scorpion’s shoulder. “I know, I just wanted to be
by you is all.”

Wilder wrapped his arm around Leif, holding

him tight. “There’s not much more you can do
tonight except rest. I think we got far enough
away.”

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“I just want to sit with you for a bit if that’s

okay.” Leif shivered from the cold.

“Only if you bring the sleeping bag over and

get in. We can talk then,” Wilder compromised.

Leif retrieved the sleeping bag and tucked

himself in. “Do you want to come in here as well?”

“Later, after my watch. I need to be ready.”

Wilder stared off into the distance, and Leif had to
wonder how far the venom could hear. A lot of
them were extrasensory from the toxin, even if
their animal didn’t possess it. The human side was
altered to be physically more capable, too.

Leif felt like a weak fool in the world.

Stumbling  along,  trying  to  avoid  death  from  far
superior  beings.  He  had  been  spoiled  the  several
weeks, almost forgetting what he was because he
had  been  so  well  taken  care  of.  Now,  it  was
survival  mode  once  again,  and  he  couldn’t  help
but feel like the weakest link.

“Talk to me. How did you survive as a child?”

Wilder reached down and brushed his hair back.

Leif searched through the memories he wasn’t

too keen on. “My father was killed when I was just
five  years  old.  I  don’t  remember  much  of  him
except that he hid my mother and me the night the
black widows came. They took him as my mother
and I hid. My mother died not too long after that
when  I  was  seven.  She  went  out  to  get  firewood
one day and never came back. I wandered around
the  area  for  days,  starving,  and  that’s  when  I

Jackie Nacht

found Prescott fishing. He was a little older than
me, but he took me right in. Reese and Julius were
already with him.”

“You were just children.” Wilder rubbed his

face as if the thought bothered him.

“Yeah, we were. We all lost our parents to

venom. I don’t know how we survived as long as
we  did,  but  we  managed.  We  lived  off  the  land
and  found  abandoned  shelters  where  we  could,
but  mostly,  we  lived  in  the  wild.  Venom  stick  to
cities and buildings, and until we were desperate,
we  avoided  those  at  all  cost,”  Leif  murmured.
“What about you?”

Wilder shrugged. “Kalder and Killian took me

in. I wasn’t much in the way of a prize to my
parents, and they both were killed.”

Leif’s heart sank at the nonchalant way Wilder

mentioned that his parents didn’t love him. Leif
might not have known his dad and lost his mom
at seven, but he knew they had loved him.

“Killian was Kalder’s brother?” Leif pulled the

sleeping bag up to his chin.

“Yeah, he was murdered. We killed the guys

that bragged about it.” Wilder picked up a stone
and threw it five feet in front of him.

“That must have been tough for Kalder, to find

his brother.” Leif felt horrible for the guy.

“We didn’t. All they said was how they tore

him apart. Bragged about the torture. We never

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

got to say goodbye.” Wilder stared hard down at
him.

Leif frowned at that. “I don’t mean to be

insensitive, but you never found him?”

Wilder shook his head. “No, but they had items

of his, and they were covered in his blood. Their
confession was enough. If they had anything more
to tell, they would have. We weren’t…kind to
them.”

Leif bit the pad of his thumb, lost in thought.

That didn’t add up. Something was off. He
wanted to ask Wilder if there was a possibility that
Killian might still be alive, but something held
him back. Wilder knew the game better than Leif.

“How’d you meet Kalder?” Leif steered the

topic in another direction.

Wilder chuckled. “I was in the middle of a fight

in Mission Territory. Venom had issues with my
scorpion’s tail, and I was more lethal when I was a
kid. Adults avoided me like the plague, but some
kids were too stupid to live and gave me a hard
time.”

Wilder picked up another rock and threw it.

“That  was  when  Kalder’s  parents  used  to  be
leaders.  Anyway,  I  was  trying  to  take  on  five
snakes  at  once,  and  Killian  and  Kalder  came  up,
saying they wanted to even the odds. After that, I
teamed  up  with  those  two.  No  one  ever  stood  a
chance against us. Killian and Kalder never feared
the  scorpion  kid  like  the  others.  We  were  a

Jackie Nacht

threesome after that and moved up in the ranks
until the brothers took over for their parents.”

“How old were you?” Leif wondered.
Wilder smirked down at him. “Six when I met

them. We were always a bit of a handful.”

“When did Cash come to you?” Leif stared over

at the blue head that was huddled up with Julius
in  a  sleeping  bag.  The  venom  may  seem  aloof  to
the  group  but  Leif  could  see  the  octopus  slowly
changing.  Maybe  it  was  because  Reese  and  him
were  mated  to  his  friends?  Maybe  he  initially
feared for his friends being hunted for giving anti-
venom  sanctuary?  Leif  could  see  that  Cash  loved
Kalder  and  Wilder  like  they  were  his  own
brothers.

“Cash came to us about five years ago. He was

only  seventeen  and  on  the  run  from  Reef.  The
Pacific  Territory  leader  would  give  anything  to
have  Cash  back.”  Wilder’s  fingers  grazed  over
Leif’s cheek.

“They were mates?” Leif’s eyes closed at the

tender touch.

“I think Reef would like to think so. No, they’re

not mates. Cash is considered rare and beautiful.”
Wilder spoke softly, and his hands rubbed over
Leif’s shoulders through the sleeping bag. It felt
wonderful to his aching muscles.

“Cash is handsome,” Leif murmured, and the

rubbing stopped.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Leif looked up to see Wilder staring at him with

an eyebrow quirked. Leif huffed, “I’m not blind,
you know.”

Wilder snorted. “Don’t let him hear you say

that. He happens to think his beauty is a curse.
Draws the wrong venom to him that tries to claim
him as a prize.”

Leif watched Wilder smirk.
“It’s a good thing we trained him well. Cash

would cut down anyone now that tried to claim
him.”

Leif chuckled, and then they grew quiet. Leif

could hear the waves crashing in the distance.

What would it be like if they moved into the central

states, away from the ocean?

Wilder spoke to him in the darkness. “How

come when you woke up that very first time, you
didn’t fear me?”

“I just knew you wouldn’t hurt me,” Leif

whispered.

“You knew a killer wouldn’t kill you?” Wilder

turned and stared at him in confusion.

Leif blew out a breath. “I knew that Reese came

back and was willing to come to you all for
protection. I trusted him. Then, when I woke and
saw your eyes, I knew. You weren’t looking at me
with cold and hard eyes. Confusion, yes, but they
didn’t hold the look of someone ready to kill me.”

“You read people well. No, you were never in

any danger with me. I was just curious how you

Jackie Nacht

didn’t even react in fear upon seeing me. I’m one
of the more lethal venom in Venom City. Well, I
was…I’m no longer in the city anymore.” Wilder
scrubbed a hand over his face.

“Why is it so important to have a piece of

Venom City?” Leif wondered what tied these
venoms to a city where their lives were constantly
on the line.

“We feel we have a duty to protect the children

and the innocents that reside in the city. Someday,
it would be nice to have the city at peace, like the
one that is so successful in the central part of the
United States. There’s just so much crime and evil
in the city. No organization unless it’s a united
goal to take over. Kalder’s parents had a piece of
Venom, and it was turning around. Children were
thriving, learning, and now…well, we’ve lost that
last hope of turning the city around.” Wilder
pulled his knees to his chest and loosely wrapped
his arms around his legs.

“Don’t give up hope, Wilder.” Leif reached out

and gripped Wilder’s hand, squeezing.

Wilder glanced down as their hands entwined

before he leaned down and brushed his lips over
Leif’s.

“Sleep, Leif. It’s going to be a tough day

tomorrow.” Wilder began stroking Leif’s hair.

Leif wanted to protect Wilder. He was falling

hard for the scorpion. Those wonderful hands

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Five

he next morning, Wilder woke to Cash
shouting. Tangled with Leif, he couldn’t get

out of the fucking sleeping bag quickly enough as
he saw that asshole who had been in Julius’ room
toss Cash twenty yards into the deep grass. The
venom pulled a hunting knife and crouched over
Julius.

Laughter from the tree above Wilder had him

looking up to see a man sitting on a limb of the
tree, laughing at the scene before them.

Wilder got up and grabbed his machete, intent

on killing the venom.

The venom ignored him and grabbed a hold of

his arms Julius, while inspecting him. The blond-
haired, blue-eyed man stared at the venom in
shock.

Julius pulled his arm free. “What the hell are

you doing?”

“What the hell are you doing sleeping in a bag

with a venom?” the guy growled.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

It was then that Wilder noticed the large,

round,  puckered  marks  on  the  sides  of  the  guy.
The  man  still  wasn’t  wearing  a  shirt  but  had  a
beat-to-hell  cowboy  hat  on,  covering  the  long
brown  hair  that  he  had  seen  the  last  time Wilder
had chased him.

“Spider,” Wilder growled.
The guy looked over his shoulder and smirked

cockily at him, “Having trouble figuring me out,
darlin’?”

Kalder stood and threw the guy away from

Julius. The man from the trees, flew down with
huge black bug wings in an instant and was then
next to the spider.

Flyer, fucking perfect!
“Don’t let Boone get under your skin. He tends

to  be  a  pain  in  the  ass  when  he  sees  his  mate
wrapped  in  another  venom’s  arms.”  The  guy
pulled  a  piece  of  tall  grass  and  stuck  it  in  his
mouth  as  if  this  was  a  damn  campfire  instead  a
possible fight about to break out.

Julius gasped and scrambled out of his sleeping

bag, “I’m not…”

Boone adjusted his cowboy hat on his head and

leered at Julius. “Just give me time, sweetheart.”

Wilder pulled Leif behind him. He wasn’t sure

what the motives of these two were, but hell if
they would even think about claiming his Leif.

Jackie Nacht

Fly boy laughed around the grass. “Relax. We

don’t want to claim any of your mates. We just
want to help you.”

The guy was dressed a lot like the spider. No

shirt and a pair of jeans and hiking boots. The only
difference was the guy sported a ball cap from
way back before the toxins dropped.

Kalder stepped in front of the group, and

Wilder backed him. “Who are you?”

“TL.”
Kalder pulled his blade, “TL, what venom

species are you and your friend Boone?”

TL adjusted the cap on his head, smirking.

“Boone here is a wandering spider, and I’m a
pompilid wasp.”

Wilder shook his head. “You’re a spider killer

traveling with a spider?” These two were fucking
nuts.

Boone laughed. “What can I say, we’re a unique

pair.” Boone bent down and pulled a wide-eyed
Julius to his feet.

TL flew back into the tree, gazing off into the

distance.

Wilder hated an unknown above him.
TL glanced down at them, face serious,

“They’re coming. You all need to pack your shit
and get ready to run.”

Wilder didn’t hesitate, grabbing his weapon as

Leif grabbed his backpack and sleeping bag.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“What do we have coming our way? Coral

snakes? Sea kraits?” Kalder shouted up to TL.

TL glanced over at Wilder. “I think your

cousins are coming to play. Looks like an army of
fat-tailed  scorpions  are  coming  our  way  with  a
dozen  or  so  sea  kraits.  They  don’t  look  quite  as
pretty  as  you.  Some  of  them  have  some  wicked
pincers.”

Wilder knew those pincers could sever an arm

or, worse, a head, if they were big enough. “Tails?
How many with tails?” Wilder shouted up.

TL squinted, “At least five.”
Too fucking many. All their stingers would

have  to  be  severed  if  any  of  them  hoped  to
survive. Wilder grabbed Leif, pulling him over to
his pack. There was a junior-size machete in there.
He  handed  it  over  to  Leif,  still  sheathed.  Wilder
stared  at  the  frightened  green  eyes.  Leif’s  hand
shook as he held the smaller machete.

“Listen to me.”
“Wilder, I can’t,” Leif protested. “I don’t know

what I’m doing.”

Wilder could hear them coming in the distance

now.  They  needed  to  be  running,  but  where
would  they  go?  “This  is  only  to  protect  you.  I
don’t  want  you  fighting,  but  if  one  of  the
scorpions breaks through, aim for the stinger.”

“We need to go!” Kalder shouted, taking off

with Reese at his side.

Jackie Nacht

Prescott and Cash followed. Wilder grabbed

Leif and took off, following the others south. He
just hoped they found a place they could hole up
for protection of the anti-venom.

They were running full out, but even then,

Wilder could feel them closing in.

Wilder glanced up to see TL fly off to the east,

and Boone passed him, running next to Julius.

“You boys piss off the whole city?” Boone

hollered over at Wilder.

“Everyone has a price on their head in Venom

City,” Wilder shouted back.

Boone pushed Julius ahead of him. “That’s why

I don’t live in the fucking city.”

They were able to get to a shell of a building,

but  it  would  have  to  be  enough.  Wilder  glanced
over  his  shoulder  to  see  that  it  looked  like  an
entire  army  breathing  down  their  necks.  He  was
able to push Leif behind a column before the first
scorpion  was  on  him.  This  one  didn’t  have  a  tail
but had a single pincer and he knew how to use it.

With a swipe, Wilder removed the pincer,

producing a horrific scream from the venom. Not
wasting any time, he took a swing at its neck,
silencing the scorpion forevermore.

Two more came at him, one with a stinger, and

he jumped to the side just as the stinger came
crashing down at him. The stinger struck the earth
next to his foot, and Wilder struck the tail with his
blade. The stinger remained in the earth as the

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

grotesque, severed remains sprayed blood and
venom as it swayed wildly.

Wilder couldn’t even see where his friends

were. A snake approached with no legs but a tail,
and Wilder moved quickly and struck him with
his stinger. The venom seized and fell to the
ground.

The venom count was piling up before him, but

still, it felt like he hadn’t even made a dent. A buzz
began in his ears. Pivoting, Wilder saw that the
anti-venom were still safe for the moment.

Boone was stabbing a snake at the doorway,

and Cash was using a bow, firing arrows straight
through the eyes of the venom.

Kalder was an impressive sight. No one would

have suspected the king cobra had been ill as he
savagely used his fangs to cut down the scorpions.

The buzzing grew, and Wilder realized that it

wasn’t from the fighting or the exertion, but
coming from the skies.

“About fucking time they got here!” Boone

shouted.

Wilder was about to swing his machete at a

scorpion when something came over the building
and swooped down to take off the scorpion’s
head. Wilder ducked just in time before staring up
at the sky in total shock.

The air turned black and gold as a swarm of

various bees, hornets and wasp venom took out
the army of snakes and scorpions. At the head was

Jackie Nacht

that crazy bastard TL. Wilder blew out a breath as
the  swarm  swooped  down  and  engaged.  Several
lifted  snakes  or  scorpions  into  the  air  only  to  let
them  go  and  fall  to  their  deaths.  Others  held
strange  daggers  and  would  fly  in  to  stab  the
enemy before taking off once again. A few actually
had stingers and used them with a precision that
awed Wilder.

Wilder took out three more snakes, and then,

the area was eerily quiet except for the buzzing of
wings.  Several  men  and  women  landed.  Some
were  solid  black  in  color,  some  gold,  some  a
mixture.  Many  had  antennae  sprouting  out  of
yellow  or  black  hair.  They  were  strangely
beautiful. Slim and sleek as they approached their
small refugee group of ten.

Wilder had to give them credit. They were

impeccably  organized  on  how  they  took  out
venomous  creatures,  taking  down  more  than
them.  Leif  came  out  and  stood  next  to  him,
grasping onto his arm.

“There’s TL.” Leif pointed to the venom leading

the swarm their way. A woman with long golden
and  black  hair  walked  next  to  him  with
confidence.  Wilder  had  a  suspicion  that  she  was
the  queen  by  how  everyone  followed,  yet  kept
their eyes on her in a protective nature.

“Stay close to me, Leif. I don’t know what we’re

up against.” Wilder placed Leif behind him.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Boone chuckled. “They just saved your ass,

scorpion. I don’t think they mean you any harm.
I’ve known this swarm for a long time. And trust
me, they weren’t coming here to protect you, but
the ones you protect.”

Wilder’s eyes widened. They had come for the

anti-venom.

Hell no! They aren’t taking Leif from me.
“I knew we shouldn’t have trusted you.”

Wilder glared at Boone.

Kalder stepped closer, and now, the swarm was

surrounding them. They were fucked.

Boone laughed. “You have it all wrong. Just

shut your fucking mouth and come with us.”

Wilder pulled his machete and stood in front of

Leif. “You’re not taking him from me.”

The woman came forward, and Wilder watched

as she stood in front of Kalder, whose fangs were
dripping  venom.  The  closer  she  came,  the  more
that  Wilder  realized  that  she  was  about  a  foot
shorter than his six feet. She had a lean frame with
sleek muscles. Her face was stunningly  beautiful,
and two men flanked her with a possessive nature.

She smirked at Kalder before addressing Reese

behind him and holding out her hand. “Hello,
anti-venom. I’m Abigail.”

Boone came over and shook his head. “Abby,

they have no clue what’s going on, and Mission
Territory just turned on them.”

Jackie Nacht

Wilder watched as Abby’s eyes shifted to

Julius, Prescott and then Leif. She smiled softly to
them. “It’s okay if you want to bring your friends
and mates with you. I’ll provide sanctuary for all
of you.”

Wilder held onto Leif. “No offense, but I don’t

know you, and people I’ve known a lot longer
have betrayed us.”

Abby turned to TL. “Can you go get Tristan?”
TL maneuvered through the hive, and Wilder’s

tension grew. He wasn’t sure what was about to
happen, but he knew there was no way to fight
out of this.

A man came forward with TL. One with short

brown  hair  and  pale  blue  eyes.  The  guy  was  six
feet, the same height as Wilder and carried several
blades,  daggers  and  even  a  sword.  He  was  built
strong  with  a  lean  waist,  and  there  were  several
scars marking the handsome man.

Holy hell…man. Tristan is anti-venom!
Tristan stared at the anti-venom with

sympathy. “You will be safe. I give you my word.”

Kalder stepped forward, clearly about to

protest when Wilder watched Cash come through
the crowd, staring with mouth agape at Tristan.
The two caught the attention of the whole crowd
as they stared at one another.

Cash cleared his throat. “We’ll go with you,”

the cephalopod rasped out.

“What?” Kalder stared in shock.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Cash never turned his gaze as he spoke to

Kalder. “We’ll go with them.”

Tristan raised a single brow at Cash. “That was

easier than I thought, TL. You said they were
going to need convincing.”

Wilder watched as TL scratched the back of his

neck. “Hell, I thought so, too.”

Didn’t we all. Wilder thought as Cash followed

the anti-venom through the crowd. He didn’t even
have a fucking clue where they were going.

Jackie Nacht

Chapter Six

eif followed the large group with reluctance.
He was shocked that they had only walked

about a mile before coming upon a huge structure,
which had been radically altered. The exterior was
covered with mud and combs and a mixture of all
the types of bees, wasps and hornets surrounded
them.

Cash had simply walked right into this. What

the hell is he thinking, dragging us along?

Prescott came up next to Leif. “I can’t believe

there is another group of anti-venom. Can you?”

Leif shook his head. He knew there had to be

more; he just didn’t think he would ever see them
in  this  lifetime.  Leif  grabbed  ahold  of  Wilder’s
hand  and  gazed  up  at  the  scorpion.  Wilder’s  lips
were  pursed  and  his  eyes  were  intense  as  he
scanned the swarm around him.

Prescott spoke behind him. “I think he’s being

led by his dick.”

Leif thought Prescott wasn’t a big fan of good

ol’ Tristan.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Leif watched the corner of Wilder’s mouth lift.

“I  think  you’re  partly  right  on  that,  Prescott.  I’ve
known  Cash  a  long  time,  and  there’s  only  one
reason  why  he  would  go  blindly  into  a  situation
like this.”

Leif’s eyes widened as he finally understood.

“You  think  him  and  Tristan  are…”  Leif  stared  at
the  two,  and  yeah,  Cash’s  whole  demeanor  had
changed.  He  was  aggressive  with  those  near
Tristan,  although  the  anti-venom  looked  like  he
could take care of himself.

“That’s exactly what I think. I just hope we’re

not walking into trouble,” Wilder murmured as
they entered the large building.

Leif gasped as they stepped inside. The place

was part warehouse, part comb and housing. The
three-story structure was open. The large living
area was filled with a swarm and a group of…oh

my god!

“Anti-venom,” Prescott said in awe next to Leif.
Leif stared at the group that Tristan now

approached.

Tristan turned and beckoned for Leif, Julius,

Prescott and Reese.

Leif wasn’t going anywhere without Wilder

and held the scorpion’s hand as he approached at
least fifty or so men and women. There was even a
boy that looked to be around sixteen or so
amongst the group.

Jackie Nacht

Tristan smiled at them. “Make sure you

introduce yourself to the group.”

A couple came over and shook Leif’s hand, and

he suddenly felt completely overwhelmed. All this
time,  he’d  thought  that  there  weren’t  many  of
them  left,  but  here  they  were  all  along.  Leif
pressed  his  back  against  Wilder  as  he  met  anti-
venom after anti-venom.

Prescott was the first to ask, “Tristan, how is

this possible?”

Tristan waved to Boone and TL. “It was those

two that started it. Boone and TL traveled around.
TL  had  a  small  group  of  flyers  he  was  with,  but
they  wandered  and  collected.  When  more  came,
they  found  this  building  and  created  a  sanctuary
and  dome  to  guard  against  Venom  City’s  worst.
We’re lucky, though, most are so focused on their
territories  and  fighting  for  a  small  piece  of  land
that they don’t look beyond the boundaries. Boone
found me five years ago after I was attacked by a
pit  viper.  He  brought  me  back  here,  and  they’ve
been giving sanctuary to the anti-venom they find
ever since.”

Leif turned to stare at Boone, who was nuzzling

Julius’ neck.

Julius pushed the spider off with an aggravated

sigh. Julius murmured, “That means nothing. You
still broke into my room.”

Boone laughed. “I’ll wear you down.”

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Julius rolled his eyes as he moved closer to

Prescott and away from a hungry-looking Boone.

Leif wanted to tell Julius that it was no use.

That eventually the venom would wear him
down.

Leif couldn’t believe this place. Somewhere

anti-venom were safe. It seemed impossible in a
world that wanted them dead or enslaved.

Wilder hugged him from behind, and

suddenly, Leif was completely worn out from the
day. He turned and hugged into the solid chest,
closing his eyes.

There was discussion going on around them,

but  Leif  just  listened  as  people  introduced
themselves. He  would get to know them in  time,
but right now, he was just so thankful that Wilder
made it out of Venom City alive, he couldn’t seem
to pull himself away from his mate long enough to
do  the  whole  meet  and  greet.  He  would  later;  he
just wanted to soak up the warmth of Wilder for
all it was worth.

Wilder murmured over his head, “Is there a

place we can shower and rest?”

Leif could hear Tristan behind him. “I’ll lead

you to a set of living quarters.”

Leif released from Wilder’s embrace and

walked next to him as they were led to an area
toward the back of the large building. What had
this place been before, a hotel? They ascended several
flights of stairs before entering a room—well, a set

Jackie Nacht

of  rooms  really,  with  a  living  area  in  the  center.
The  place  appeared  to  be  reconstructed.  It  had  a
circular  common  room  and  several  closed  doors
around  the  living  area.  Leif  could  only  assume
that they led to bedrooms.

He gazed over at Boone and Tristan, who

walked  around,  inspecting  the  place  before
turning  to  the  ten  of  them.  “It’s  stocked  up.  Just
wanted  to  make  sure  the  fridge  was  full  and
there’s linens in the bathrooms. We figured you’d
want  to  be  together.  We  have  several  domiciles
like  this,  for  when  small  colonies  prefer  to  live
amongst themselves.”

Leif felt more comfortable not having to live

away  from  Julius,  Prescott  or  Reese.  The  thought
of  them  somewhere  else  in  this  huge  hive  scared
the shit out of him. Plus, now that he knew Wilder
and  the  others,  he  felt  safe  with  them  and  only
them.  He  still  wasn’t  sure  he  could  trust  this
group.  They  had  saved  them,  but  for  how  long
and to what end?

Boone and Tristan walked out, and Cash threw

open the doors in an angry gesture before going
into each and every room.

Wilder followed, leaving Leif to stand with the

others as the venom checked out each and every
door.

Leif turned to Prescott. “What do you think?”
Prescott scrubbed his hands over his face. “I

think we have no choice but to trust them. They

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

did save us. I just can’t believe there are so many
more of us, and we were so close by. How could
we not know about others? How’d they not find
us?”

Julius sat down on a wooden table in front of

them.  “The  world  is  big,  Prescott.  Maybe  they
weren’t looking toward Venom City. Maybe they
were  content  where  they  were.  Boone  did  say  it
was  his  first  time  in  the  city  when  he  saw  me
earlier this week.”

Leif frowned, sitting down next to Julius.

“Yeah, what about that? Popping in and out of
your room. He could have just introduced himself
instead of being a creeper.”

Julius laughed. “I’ll have to ask him that the

next time I see him.”

“He’s probably hanging out in your room now,

you just don’t know it.” Reese laughed as he came
over and sat down next to Leif in the chair. It was
tight, but they’d snuggled before. Being with his
friends again brought a comfort to the situation
that he didn’t expect.

Boone and Tristan were right. Having a little

place like this did make it feel more secure.

Wilder came out a couple minutes later. “Place

looks safe and clean.”

Kalder came out of another room and frowned

at Reese before pulling him out of the chair. The
snake flicked out his forked tongue and began
licking a path up Reese’s neck.

Jackie Nacht

Reese laughed. “What’s wrong?”
The king cobra continued to lick Reese’s neck

moaning, and Leif felt a blush creep into his cheek.

Kalder pulled back between licks, murmuring,

“Mine.”

Leif’s eyes widened as he stared at Wilder who

was staring back with a hungry expression. Wilder
sauntered toward Leif and pulled him to his feet
before guiding him to a door.

Wilder all but pushed him in before he closed

the door behind the two of them. “Hey,” Leif
protested. “What is wrong with you two?”

“What can we say? Mating’s all new to us, too,

but I can tell you one thing, both Kalder and I
didn’t like you two touching each other.”

Leif stood up straight. “Friends hug. Sometimes

they snuggle up and share a chair when they just
went  through  hell.  Get  used  to  it.”  He  cared  for
Wilder,  but  he  also  wouldn’t  quit  hugging  his
friends  because  his  mate  was  being  over-
possessive.

“Like I said, it’s new to us. I’m sure, in time,

things  will  simmer  down  a  little.  However,  not
after  the  fucking  day  we  had  and  how  close  we
came  to  losing  both of  you.”  Wilder  stalked  after
him as Leif walked in a slow circle around a small
wooden table.

“Do you want to shower?” Wilder’s voice

lowered.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“With you?” Leif’s nerves ratchet up. He had

zero experience, but just the thought of seeing
Wilder naked had his body responding and
aching.

Wilder quirked his finger as he walked

backward to another door and opened it wide. A
small bedroom was revealed behind him, and Leif
swallowed the lump in his throat. Could he do
this? Of course he could. Was he ready to be with
Wilder? Hell, yeah.

Leif grabbed the hem of his shirt and raised it

over  his  head,  revealing  his  thin  frame.  It  would
take  a  long  time  before  he  would  put  on  the
weight  that  he  needed.  He  just  hoped  that  he
didn’t repulse Wilder.

Wilder held out his arm, and Leif took it. The

scorpion pulled him into an embrace, resting his
head on his shoulder. “You feel so good, warm.”

“Warm?” Leif smiled into the hard chest.
“Alive,” Wilder rasped. “I just found you, and I

could have lost you just as fast. All I  could think
was  that  I  wanted  more  time  with  you.  I  don’t
want  to  waste  any  more  time.  Every  second
counts.”

Leif squeezed Wilder. He was right. In this life,

you  had  to  grab  onto  what  you  wanted  and  run
with  it.  Seize  the  day  because  there  might  be  no
tomorrow.  Nerves  settled,  Leif  stared  up  at
Wilder. “Let’s go take that shower together.”

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Chapter Seven

ilder turned on the water with trembling
hands. He had to practice restraint like he

had never done before. Leif was still weak and not
altogether  healed  from  years  of  damage.  Wilder
would  need  to  be  gentle  with  him,  and  that  was
something  that  was  completely  foreign  to  the
scorpion.  He  glanced  over  his  shoulder  at  Leif,
who  was  removing  his  jeans  and  realized  he
would  do  whatever  it  took  to  take  care  of  this
man.

Leif was stunningly handsome. The dark red

hair and pale skin made his green eyes pop.
Wilder never took his eyes off of Leif as he turned
and faced him, removing his shirt. The bathroom
was a tight fit with his tail, but he would make do
in order to get wet with his mate. He unbuttoned
his pants and removed them, watching as Leif
mirrored his actions.

Leif stood completely naked in front of Wilder,

and Wilder looked his fill. His mate was
breathtaking. Wilder walked forward and pressed

Jackie Nacht

himself against Leif, pushing his mate against the
counter as he soaked in the warmth. Both of them
were hard and aching, and Wilder prayed for a
little patience. This would be their first time
together, and Wilder wanted to make it perfect for
Leif.

Never letting go, Wilder guided Leif into the

shower and wet the dark red hair. With Leif’s hair
soaked,  it  almost  appeared  black.  Wilder’s  tail
swayed  against  the  exterior  of  the  shower  as  he
traced  his  hands  over  Leif’s  body.  There  was  no
way that the two of them and his tail would ever
fit in the shower stall.

There was a bar of soap in the corner of the

shower, and Wilder made a grab for it. He smelled
the clean, fresh scent, and it caused him to smile as
he lathered up and began cleaning Leif. Leif closed
his eyes and moaned, while the water hit his body.
Wilder would remember this vision forever. For
the first time, he saw peace on Leif’s face, and that,
more than anything, was what he craved for his
mate.

Lathering more, Wilder scrubbed the dark red

hair then rinsed his mate.

Leif opened his eyes, lashes wet as he gently

grabbed the soap out of his hand. “I want to wash
you.”

Wilder was hungry for Leif’s touch as the man

lathered the soap and put it to his body. The
slippery soap and the gentle fingers were too

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

much for him, and he leaned down and kissed his
mate.

The sound of the soap dropping echoed in the

tiled enclosure, and then Leif’s hands were pulling
at his hair as their kiss deepened. Wilder pressed
Leif against the wall as the kiss turned feral,
tongues dueling.

Wilder’s cock was achingly hard as he pressed

every inch of his body against Leif.

Leif moaned into the kiss, and Wilder grabbed

ahold  of  Leif’s  hands,  lifting  them  above  the
smaller  man’s  head  and  pressing  them  onto  the
tile.  Leif  mewled,  and  Wilder  could  feel  Leif’s
erection pressing against his thigh.

Leif broke the kiss. “I want to touch you,

Wilder.”

Wilder released Leif’s wrists, and Leif began

kissing him again, sucking on his lower lip. Wilder
thought he might go mad from the boldness of
Leif’s lovemaking. His mate grabbed both cheeks
of his ass, squeezing his flesh and grazing the base
of his tail. Wilder smiled into the kiss. Seeing this
side of Leif was a pleasant surprise.

Their cocks ground against one another, and

Wilder’s  thoughts  scrambled  at  the  pleasure.  If
they  kept  going  like  this  in  the  shower,  they
weren’t  going  to  make  it  to  the  bedroom,  and
Wilder wanted it to last all night.

However, that didn’t prevent him from at least

tasting his mate. Wilder pulled from the kiss and

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knelt  before  Leif.  He  gazed  up  at  Leif,  the  water
falling onto his pale shoulders as Wilder grabbed
Leif’s cock. He watched Leif’s breath hitch before
he  closed  his  eyes  and  took  Leif’s  cock  in  his
mouth.  Fuck,  his  mate  tasted  good.  He  pulled
back, licking along the vein; he sucked and licked
every inch of his mate before retaking the cock in
his mouth.

“Wilder, if you don’t stop…” Leif huffed out.

“I’m going to…yeah, do that again.”

Wilder smiled around the cock in his mouth as

he worked it. He sucked it all the way to the root.
He wanted Leif to come. He wanted him to have
as much pleasure from this night as possible.

Leif began thrusting in his mouth, and Wilder

had to grab Leif’s hips to keep from choking.

“Wilder,” Leif gasped, and then, Wilder felt the

first splash of cum hit his tongue. Leif screamed
his name, and Wilder sucked every drop up as
Leif continued to moan above him.

Wilder glanced up to see Leif’s eyes were

closed,  the  back  of  his  head  leaning  against  the
wall.  His  mate  was  breathing  heavily  as  Leif’s
cock softened in his mouth. Wilder pulled free and
took  one  last  lick  of  the  tip  before  he  stood.  He
brushed the wet hair out of Leif’s eyes then leaned
down  and  kissed  him  lazily.  The  water  was
turning  cold, and Wilder hurried and washed up
his whole body before moving out of the shower.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

“Wait, what about your tail?” Leif asked inside

the shower as Wilder stood in the middle of the
bathroom, soaking wet.

“It doesn’t fit in there.” Wilder scratched the

back of his wet head.

Leif walked out of the shower and pushed him

back in.

“What the…”
“I want to wash it for you,” Leif murmured, but

Wilder couldn’t see a damn thing because he was
facing the wall.

“Is there blood on it? You can’t touch the

stinger.”  Wilder  didn’t  like  others  touching  him,
especially  his  tail.  It  was  a  side  of  him  that  had
been  painful  growing  up,  and  now  it  was  a
weapon  to  kill  his  enemy.  He  didn’t  want
someone he was beginning to love to touch it.

“I want to touch. It’s no different than any of

my  body  parts,”  Leif  responded,  as  he  placed  a
washcloth  under  the  showerhead  next  to  him.
“Can  you  bend  down  and  pass  me  the  soap,
Wilder?”

Wilder laughed without humor. “My tail kills,

Leif.”

“It is a part of you, Wilder. You have to give me

all of you or none of you. I choose to love all of
you, even your tail. Now, are you willing to let me
touch and wash it for you?”

Jackie Nacht

Wilder nodded. He didn’t trust his voice at the

moment. He feared his mate would be hurt and he
hated that, for the first time, he felt vulnerable.

Fingertips skimmed along his back and his ass,

soap  making  the  sensation  slippery.  The
washcloth  started  working  its  way  along  the  tail,
and  Wilder  shivered.  This  was  the  first  time
someone touched him there voluntarily.

“I just don’t understand why you’d want to

touch me there.” Wilder felt the washcloth get the
last spot on his tail before pulling away. Wilder
glanced over his shoulder to see Leif putting the
cloth in the sink.

He stepped out to face Leif. Leif grabbed a dry

towel and handed it to him. “Because I’ve fallen in
love with you, and we take care of each other.”

Wilder grabbed ahold of Leif, kissing him on

the nape. “I love you, too.”

Wilder dried Leif, and Leif returned the favor.

Wilder saw a cabinet and opened it up to search
inside. There were a few items in it, and the oil he
found was what he was searching for. He grabbed
it before taking Leif’s hand and venturing back
into the bedroom.

Leif shook, and Wilder knew it didn’t have

anything to do with the cold. “We don’t have to
do anything if you’re not ready.”

Leif lay on the bed in front of him. “I’m

nervous, but I’m ready. I want to make love to
you.”

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Wilder crawled from the end of the bed up to

Leif. Leaning down, Wilder kissed his mate, trying
to soothe his nerves with tender kisses and gentle
touches. His cock throbbed as Leif reached down
and grabbed him. Wilder hissed in pleasure,
praying for patience.

“Wilder, I’m ready,” Leif moaned into the kiss.
Pulling back, Wilder grabbed the oil and

opened it, pouring a generous amount onto his
fingers. He spread Leif’s legs wider as he circled
his mate’s entrance, trying to loosen him.

Leif moaned as Wilder began working one

finger  at  a  time  into  his  mate.  He  huffed  out  a
breath  as  he  saw  the  passion  on  Leif’s  face.  He
worked  a  second  and  then  a  third  finger  in,
watching  for  any  signs  of  discomfort.  His  cock
was aching to fill Leif, but the man wasn’t ready.

“Wilder, I want you inside me,” Leif gasped.
“You’re not ready yet,” Wilder gritted out as he

scissored his fingers in and out. He wasn’t a small
man, and Leif was going to have to trust him and
understand Wilder knew what he was doing.

“I am. Now come on,” Leif ordered.
And if Wilder hadn’t been so damn turned on,

he might have laughed at the order. As it was, he
was hanging on by a thread and feared his control
would snap at any moment.

“Now!” Leif commanded.
A haze filled Wilder as he mounted Leif. He

took his cock in hand, smearing oil all over it, then

Jackie Nacht

guided  the  head  toward  Leif’s  entrance.  Wilder
moaned  as  the  head  sunk  in  and  then  inch  after
inch  of  him  was  surrounded  by  that  tight  heat.
Fuck if he was going to last long.

He bottomed out inside Leif, and he shook for

the last of his restraint. Leif wrapped his legs
around him, and that was it.

He began pumping his shaft into his mate.
“Harder,” Leif shouted.
Wilder began pistoning into Leif. He couldn’t

stop now even if he wanted to. He took ahold of
Leif’s legs and lifted them to get a better angle. He
stared down as his mate worked his own cock in
his hand to the rhythm of their sex.

Wilder leaned down, kissing Leif. They bit,

licked and sucked at each other. The kiss was
carnal, and Wilder wanted more of it. Leif pulled
at his hair with one hand, groaning into his
mouth.

“So close,” Leif huffed against his lips.
Wilder pulled back to watch Leif. He was so

damn close himself. Wilder’s balls drew up tight,
and he didn’t think he was going to last when he
saw the first splash of cum hit Leif’s stomach. His
mate  shouted  in  pleasure.  Wilder’s  hips  snapped
as  he  pumped  a  couple  more  times  before
emptying  himself  into  Leif.  His  tail  snapped
forward,  stinger  hitting  into  the  wall  above  their
heads, drywall falling down on them.

Leif’s eyes widened.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Wilder put both hands down on either side of

Leif’s head, using the momentum to pull his
stinger from the wall.

“Has that happened to you before?” Leif asked

as he flicked a piece of the wall out of his hair.

“No.” Wilder pulled out his shaft and fell on

top of Leif before rolling to his side. “You have
nothing to worry about. I would never hurt you.
Ever.”

“I know that. It’s just if I make love to you like I

want to, we’ll have a nice sized hole in the wall,
and then everyone will be seeing what we’re
doing.”

Wilder laughed. “I don’t think we have to

worry about holes in the wall. I think you need to
worry more about how loud you were.”

Leif chuckled before rolling over and lying on

his chest. They were both a mess, but at the
moment, he couldn’t care less. “I wasn’t that loud,
was I?”

Wilder laughed, and it felt so damn good to

have this moment where they could just relax.
“Hang on.”

Wilder climbed out of bed and grabbed a cloth,

wetting it before he returned to clean up Leif and
him. His mate was still chuckling while he cleaned
him off.

Wilder dropped the towel as he climbed back in

bed, pulling the covers over top of them. He

Jackie Nacht

pulled Leif to his chest and spooned the man,
kissing the top of his head.

“Are you sore?” Wilder asked.
“I will be, but it was worth it.” Leif glanced

over his shoulder and kissed him softly.

“I love you,” Wilder murmured into Leif’s hair.
“I love you, Wilder,” Leif murmured, and

Wilder could tell that Leif was falling fast asleep.

He stayed awake until he heard his mate’s

breathing  even  out,  relishing  every  second  of  the
night.  Wilder  hoped  this  was  the  first  peaceful
night  of  many.  That  they  could  live  happily  and
away from danger. Maybe it was meant to be that
they had found this place. Wilder held Leif to him
even tighter. He knew there was no such place in
this  world.  They  couldn’t  hide  forever.  For  now,
they  had  to  make  each  moment  count.  Wilder
stayed awake as long as he could, holding onto his
mate,  imprinting  this  night  forever  in  his
memories.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

Epilogue

ilder sat down next to Kalder with Leif on
his other side. He had taken his mate again

that morning before they were called down to the
main area. Now, Leif was sitting a little gingerly.
However, one smile from Leif and he knew his
mate thought it was all worth it. He reached over
and kissed his mate before looking at the table
before him.

They had a nice meal laid out before them, but

no  one was touching  it. Breads and fresh fruit. A
clear jar with honey was right in front  of Wilder.
Wilder  pushed  a  piece  of  bread  at  Leif,  and  his
mate smiled at him.

He had to keep remembering that Leif had a

long road ahead of him and Wilder needed to take
care of him, but at the same time let his mate grow
on his own.

Leif grabbed the jar of honey and poured some

on the bread liberally before popping a gooey
piece in his mouth. “The honey is really good. I’ve
never had it before,” Leif said around a mouthful.

Jackie Nacht

Wilder chuckled a little, watching his mate take

another large bite and couldn’t help but notice that
Julius was grabbing the bread and honey as well.
Wilder grabbed his own and began eating, eyes
trained on the hornets across from him.

He had no clue why Abby asked for this

meeting, but the team of hornets across from him
made  him  uneasy.  Altogether,  there  was  about
twenty in the room. Boone, TL and Tristan sat on
the  other  side,  staring  across  at  the  ten  of  them
solemnly. Cash paced behind  him. Wilder  wasn’t
sure  how  things  were  going  with  Tristan,  but  by
the tension coming  off of Cash, he didn’t think it
was too well.

Abby sat down and leaned her elbows on the

large wooden oval table they all sat at. She licked
her lips before she began. “I hope you all slept
well in your new living quarters.”

The confident queen was gone. Wilder tensed at

the change in the woman and dropped his bread,
grabbing ahold of Leif’s hand. He was ready to
run if he needed to.

Wilder watched as Kalder stared hard at Abby.

“We slept well. Thank you. However, I’m pretty
sure you didn’t bring us here to chat about how
well we rested.”

Abby stared down toward her entwined hands.
Wilder couldn’t help but notice this wasn’t the

look of a queen but someone who was deeply
upset.

The Sting of the Dealthstalker Scorpion

She swallowed before she rasped out, “Three

weeks ago, a bee was taken from us. We had
trackers follow the kidnappers, and the trail ended
in Pacific Territory.”

Wilder’s brows raised in shock. “You didn’t

bring us here to help us. We were just run out of
Venom City, not only by Pacific Territory, but also
by our very own people who betrayed us. We lost
what little grip we have on the city.”

Abby stared at Wilder. “I did, but I found out

something that affects all of us. Boone was the one
who followed the coral snake and cone snail who
took the bee. You see, two venom were in chains.
He  came  back  to  tell  me,  but  got  a  little
sidetracked  on  his  way  to  the  hive  when  he
discovered  his  mate  in  Mission  Territory.  A
territory  he  had  overheard  was  in  danger.  He
worried about Julius and stayed while he sent TL
back to talk to me. But that’s when he figured out
who the other man was that was taken. The other
venom he tracked to Pacific Territory.”

Kalder leaned forward. Wilder could feel the

pulsing anger coming off of him. “Who was the
other man?”

Two men approached Abby and put their

hands  on  her  shoulders  in  support.  Wilder  knew
these  two  men  were  her  mates.  Abby  grabbed
ahold  of  one  of  the  men’s  hand  before  she,  pain
etched  on  her  face,  answered,  “One  was  my
brother.”

Jackie Nacht

Cash stopped pacing behind them and spoke

for the first time. “Who was the other?”

Abby stared at Boone, and Boone took a deep

breath, before speaking. “A king cobra.”

Wilder jumped as Kalder stood up and swept

the food off the table in fury. “My brother is dead!
It’s been confirmed. You’re lying.”

Wilder stood and grabbed ahold of Kalder’s

arm as his friend  shook with visible rage. Wilder
swallowed  with  difficulty.  If  Killian  was  still
alive…it  was  unthinkable  what  those  bastards
could be doing to him.

Boone shook his head. “I assure you, he’s alive.

Hurting,  but  alive.  They  wanted  you  to  believe
him  dead.  Break  you.  Abby  has  instructed  me  to
go  and  talk  to  the  fire  ants  colony  to  form  an
alliance. We want to go in and get them. Are you
with us? We’re going no matter what.”

Kalder huffed out a breath and turned to him.

Wilder  nodded,  letting  Kalder  know  whatever
path  he  took,  he  was  with  him.  Kalder  then
focused  on  Cash  before  turning  to  Boone  and
Abby. “We’re with you.”

Wilder grabbed Leif and held him as he

watched the king cobra and queen bee hands came
together in an alliance. He kissed the top of Leif’s
head, seeing the new path laid out before them.

Wilder watched as Abby stared down at her

and Kalder’s hand. “We’ll get our brothers back,
and we’ll make them pay.”

About the Author

Short, sexy and sweet— where a little love goes a
long way.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s

stories.  She  was  introduced  to  M/M  Romance
through her sister, Stephani, and read it for years.
Then,  she  thought  it  was  time  to  put  her  own
stories  on  paper.  Jackie  began  writing  short  and
sweet stories that ended with a happily ever after.

Thinking back to her own book addiction,

where  there  were  many  nights  Jackie  stayed  up
way  too  late  so  she  could  read  just  one  more
chapter—yeah,  right—Jackie  decided  to  write
short romances for young adults as well as adults.
Hopefully, they will give high school and college
students, or working men and women, something
they can read during their lunch hour, in between
classes or just when they want to briefly get away
from the daily stresses of everyday life.

You can find Jackie at:
Website:

www.jackienacht.com

Blog:

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