hundreds of years old, others were contemporary. They covered a plethora of genres from war to sci-fi, from mystery to romance. He picked a gay romance and selected a DVD of a favourite film he was pleased to find in Daimon's collection. He made himself another steaming mug of coffee and settled to enjoy his selections.
Something about Daimon made him feel safe and secure. He hugged himself as a vision of Randy came into his mind. The demon was right. It hadn't taken long to feel Randy. The feeling was more than he'd had for a long while and he believed Daimon. He believed it possible to be reunited with the man he loved.
"I love you, Randy," he whispered aloud. "I'm waiting for you. Come soon, love. Come soon."
****
As he materialised, Daimon caught sight of Leland's nostrils flaring when the Lycan looked up from his book. He was pleased that Leland had detected the slight scent of sulphur that preceded his appearance and associated it with him.
He returned Leland's grin as the Lycan stood to greet him, and then Daimon heard a soft gasp as his friend saw the number of bags he carried. Most had exclusive shop or designer names, and Daimon happily pushed them all at the still stunned blond.
"I didn't know what you'd like, so I got a good selection," Daimon said with a shrug.
As the blond peered excitedly into bag after bag, Daimon smiled affectionately to see the young Lycan so happy.
Leland held up a sky-blue silk shirt. "Daimon, if you're right, I might be here just a couple of days." He examined a pair of designer-name jeans.
"Then they can be my wedding present. Call it your trousseau." He laughed. He was pleased when Leland laughed with him and surprised at the armful of blond that seemed to materialise out of nowhere almost as well as he could.
"Thank you so much," Leland said.
Daimon smiled and then lifted his head.
"Take your things upstairs and try them on. Take a book and DVD with you and go to the room opposite the bedroom you were in this morning. It has a DVD player and comfortable seating. I am getting a visitor. A Lycan. Don't worry," he added, seeing the anxiety in the turquoise depths. "You can't be detected if he doesn't pass my door, and I won't be inviting him in. Go and pick something to wear for having a picnic lunch with me."
"But you said I couldn't leave the house," Leland said, curiosity clearly superseding worry. He tucked a book under his arm and a DVD into one of the bags as he jostled them to carry comfortably.
"Leave that, and our visitor, to me," Daimon assured with a sultry smile. He watched the small blond scurry away in a flurry of black sheet, slim legs, and shopping bags. It made him pleased and proud that Leland trusted him with his safety.
As he started towards his front door in anticipation of his visitor, his appearance underwent a variety of changes before he finally settled on how to look and his dress… or lack thereof.
****
Gene strode towards the impressive mansion set in its private grounds. He could not feel Leland anywhere and knew the young Lycan could not conceal himself so well without some form of help. Jerard, the blond's father, was displeased he had kept Leland sedated, even though it was for the boy's safety. Gene would rather lose his own arm than hurt Leland in any way.
As angry as Jerard had been then, it would be nothing compared to his alpha's fury if he knew his son had vanished in the night.
Gene knew the older man loved Leland dearly, and although he would not have gone to such extremes himself, he understood the other man's fear of losing his beloved only child or finding the naive young man had been taken advantage of.
He gave a deep sigh. But Jerard was also overall pack leader, and Gene under his authority, so he obeyed his alpha's instruction—to keep Leland secure until Jerard could get to him and talk to him.
As he approached the large wooden door set with an antique iron knocker of a lion with a ring in its mouth, his