Hold my Reins (Monster Match season two)

Chapter 19

nineteen

D inner didn’t have the same vibe as when Lynck cooked. It didn’t seem to matter what they talked about; it seemed superficial to Rox. Like when Mom and he had talked about anything but the cancer, the treatments, and the bills. As if by not acknowledging they existed, they’d disappear. It was a lovely fantasy that he wanted to fall into, but he’d lived it once and couldn’t live again.

And if Bothvar didn’t show up?

Would they spend the next year, the next five years, the next ten years waiting?

He wasn’t sure he could live while holding his breath. But he didn’t want to walk away either.

It was the familiar stuck feeling…the reason he’d spent the last six months traveling, escaping. They’d only been dating for a few weeks, but he liked Lynck.

But if he couldn’t leave and he couldn’t stay, what was left?

He wasn’t even watching the movie. The fact they’d put on a movie instead of getting naked in Lynck’s room showed how dire things had become between them. He should’ve known something shit would happen, and this would end. That’s what happened to him. As soon as he found something good, it broke. It didn’t matter how good he became at fixing things, when it came to people and relationships, he couldn’t do shit.

“You are preoccupied,” Lynck said, his hand brushing over Rox’s shin.

His legs were draped over Lynck’s thighs.

And you aren’t?

Why was he the only one taking this seriously?

More words that he’d said before and which hadn’t made a lick of difference back then either. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I can’t carry on as if nothing is happening.”

“Nothing may happen.”

“You don’t believe that.”

Lynck’s ears twitched, confirming the statement. At least he had the balls not to lie. “Other monsters won’t go out of their way to approach a frost giant to report a bridled kelpie in town.” He lifted the silver chain, then let it drop against his collarbones. “But a frost giant…he will make the effort. The question is whether Bothvar will make the journey to take me back. I hope that coming to the human world will be too much for him, especially as he needs to come in person.”

There was less bitterness in Lynck’s voice than there had been in the afternoon.

“Too much effort for too little reward? Is it easier to catch another kelpie?” That made sense. Why travel and risk coming to the human world when there were plenty of kelpies in the monster realm?

“Something like that, but Bothvar is petty and spiteful. I have killed many who disrespected him, even though they had long-standing working relationships. He enjoys being feared.”

Rox grunted. “He sounds like a tool.”

“He is predictable, as he acts only to enrich himself and enlarge his reputation.”

“And you dissed him by leaving.”

“He didn’t know I left. When his summons failed, he may have believed I’d died on my last job. I hoped that was the case.” Lynck shrugged.

It was clear that while he hoped Bothvar thought him dead, he didn’t really believe that to be the case. “And now Arn will confirm you are alive.”

“Exactly.” Lynck pulled him closer, and Rox let himself be drawn into the embrace. “There is a part of me that wants this to be over because I’m sick of waiting.” Lynck pressed his lips to the back of Rox’s neck.

“But it means you’ll be gone.”

Lynck was silent for several heartbeats. “Maybe I was never here. Perhaps I was gone from the moment the bridle was put on, and this is a dream of who I might’ve been if given a choice.”

“You are real, and I am real, and this is happening, and we need to deal with it.” He couldn’t sit back and do nothing.

“Any plans you make cannot involve me. I will be the enemy.”

Rox struggled with the idea that Lynck would act to hurt him. That the magic was all-consuming. “And you don’t want to fight me.”

“Bothvar makes me kill anyone I am close to, including his own servants. The other bridled kelpies warned me to keep my distance from them and others. I didn’t listen until I had to slit my friend’s throat.”

Rox should be freaking out about sitting in the lap of a murderous monster, but Lynck hadn’t killed willingly.

“If he controls you, why does it matter if you had friends?”

“It’s the one thing he can’t control with the bridle, so he made sure to enforce his will in other ways.” Lynck nuzzled at the back of his neck, which made him squirm because the touch was kind of ticklish and kind of arousing. Or was it the way Lynck held him? The way he felt safe even though they stood on the edge of a cliff, and one wrong step would send them tumbling to the rocks below. “I don’t want to spend the evening talking about my past or something that might happen. I want you.”

His tongue flicked over the curve of Rox’s ear, and his dick hardened against Rox’s ass. “One more question?”

“I will grant you that.” Lynck’s voice was soft in his ear.

“Can only kelpies be bridled?”

“Yes…though I do not know why. Some blame an ancient curse, others the magic that allows us to shift between forms.”

“But you aren’t the only ones who can shift.” There were plenty of other monsters who had multiple forms or who were able to change the way they looked.

“That is a second question, and you already know the answer.” Lynck lifted him and sat him on the sofa as if done with him. “I want to play you something that I’m working on.”

Rox stared at him, knowing what Lynck wasn’t saying but unable to leave the words unspoken. “You don’t want to wait until it’s done?”

Lynck gave him a look that suggested the song may never be finished. “If I don’t have time to complete the song, you can. It’s in human tones; I thought you’d enjoy it more that way.”

“Can I record you?”

Lynck’s ear twitched as his eyebrows lifted. “That’s not something I’ve ever been asked before, but I do not see why not.”

Lynck retrieved the violin from his room and perched on the arm of the sofa to play. He lifted the bow, then paused. “You are the only person who has heard this song.”

“I’m honored.” He opened the camera on his phone and swiped to record a video. “Does it have a name?”

“Not yet…maybe when it’s complete.” He began to play, and at first, the song sounded as though it was warring with itself, then the pace quickened, and it all came together in a rush before diving into long, lush notes. As one stretched out almost to breaking point, a single higher note broke through, like the sun through the clouds. Lynck lowered the bow. “That is as far as I’ve gotten.”

Rox stopped the recording, and for several seconds, he struggled to find words. A lump filled his throat, and his heart ached; he needed to find out how the song ended. “It’s beautiful.”

Lynck grinned. “Truly?”

“Truly,” Rox agreed. “It sounds almost complete, not that I’m an expert, as I’ve never composed anything.”

“Neither have I. I’m very good at playing the songs I learned as a child, but creating something new… This is a first.” There was something about the way he spoke that made Rox feel as though he was missing something.

He swallowed hard as the realization hit. “Did you write that for me?” He wasn’t sure if he should smile or cry because the song may never be completed. He tried for the former. “Is this some more kelpie flirting?”

Lynck glanced down. If he was blushing, it didn’t show through the white hair on his face. “I’m not sure it’s good enough to be called that.”

Rox stood and tipped Lynck’s chin up so the kelpie had to look him in the eyes. “It was amazing. No one has ever composed a song for me. I wish I could order you to finish it and play it for me every day.”

“And if you find that magic, I will play until my fingers bleed and my ears no longer hear music, and I will enjoy every second of delighting you.”

Rox kissed him, needing the hot touch of his lips and the taste of him on his tongue.

The front door opened, and Thursten called out. “I’m back, so you better not be naked on my sofa.”

Rox stepped back, heat rising to his cheeks. “We both have clothes on.”

“Good.” Thursten stepped into the living room. “No sex on the sofa is the one house rule we have.”

“You said no sex on any furniture,” Lynck countered as if this was a perfectly normal conversation.

Thursten frowned. “Did I miss you playing?”

“It was only for Rox. But I can play something for you if you’d like?”

“If you don’t mind… That trollish jig?” Thursten smiled at Lynck. “Can I rope Rox into dancing?”

“I can’t jig.” He could dance, but it was the kind more suitable for a sweaty nightclub where shirts were optional and there was the promise of sex.

But Thursten was already moving the coffee table out of the way and then the armchair. He offered Rox his hand. “Don’t worry—I’m not trying to lure you away from your kelpie. I just want someone to dance with.”

Rox glanced at Lynck.

Lynck smiled at him and lifted the bow. “I promise to dance with you next.”

Great.

Thursten grabbed Rox’s hands, completely enveloping them. “Just follow along.”

The music started, and Thursten spun him, and then there was nothing else to do but hold on.