The Prince’s Mate (Fate’s Gambit)

Twenty

Walker

"I'm hungry," I said, and Caelan smiled at me.

"Want me to cook you something?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"Nah. Remember that food cart we saw a few streets over? The Indian one?" I asked, sitting up, and he tilted his head.

"Yeah, I think so."

"I'm craving that," I said as I got off the bed and started hunting for my clothes. Caelan watched me with a confused look.

"What are you doing?" he asked, and I winked at him, cheering when I finally found my underwear under the dresser.

"Getting dressed. I'm gonna go get some tikkis. Maybe a few samosas too," I said, licking my lips. I'd loved Indian food ever since Da first introduced me to it. A lot of the delicacies were spicy as hell, but I loved them.

"Stay. I'll get them," Caelan offered, and I climbed back onto the bed and brushed my lips against his cheek.

"Nah. You stay and keep the bed warm for me. I'll only be a few minutes. I promise." I didn't want him to go out there alone, not when he was still in danger. There was no way I was risking his safety for some food.

"At least take Ajax with you then," he asked, and I smiled.

"I don't need to bother Ajax. I have someone better," I reminded him before calling out, "Ro! I need your help!"

"I am not helping you two in the bedroom! I'm not paid enough for this crap!" he called back, and I rolled my eyes as Caelan cackled.

"You don't get paid at all! Now get your slithery butt in here!" I shot back, and an annoyed hiss was followed by the snake himself as he came into the room, his eyes squeezed into slits. He opened them wider once he'd taken a look at the both of us and shook his head.

"What do you want?"

"I'm going out to get some food. Wanna come?" Glancing back at Caelan, I frowned. "Or maybe you should stay here. Keep Caelan safe."

Caelan shook his head. "I'm safe here, Walker. Reece's wards won't let anyone come into the apartment, remember? And anyway, I'd feel better if Ro was with you."

"I'm not the one who is in danger," I reminded him, and he shrugged.

"They've been watching us. And that means they know you mean a lot to me. If they took you, you know I'd do whatever they wanted, whatever he wanted to get you back, don't you, Walker?" he asked.

I would do the same if the situation was reversed, and the last thing I wanted to do was be the reason Caelan was forced to do that asshole's bidding.

"Okay, okay. I'll take Ro, but you have to promise to stay in the apartment, okay? Don't leave. No matter what," I said, and he nodded.

Leaning down, I kissed him, and he returned it quickly, his lips warm and soft against mine. Maybe I should just stay. Who needed food anyway? I was sure I could manage on Caelan's kisses alone.

Ro'Shassz made a gagging sound, loudly, and I pulled away from Caelan with a huff, shooting daggers at the snake who hissed right back at me. Wow, he was in a mood today.

"What's got your panties in a twist, Ro?" Caelan teased.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that I spent the whole morning listening to the kid I helped raise going at it with you?" he sassed back, and Caelan's eyes widened while my cheeks heated up.

I quickly scrambled off the bed and grabbed Ro'Shassz, holding his mouth closed with my hand. "Don't be gross, Ro. You could've left."

Ro tried to speak, but all that came out was unintelligible grumbles. Reluctantly, I loosened my hold, and he glared at me. "And you could've used the silencing ward."

"There's a silencing ward here?" Caelan asked, looking around the room as if it would be visible.

"It's Damien and his mates' room. Of course there's a silencing ward," Ro said with a roll of his eyes. Dammit, I really didn't need the thought of my dads using that bed in my head.

"Come on, Ro. Let's go food shopping and leave Caelan in peace," I said, and Caelan shot me a relieved smile as I practically dragged Ro out of there.

"Ease up, kiddo," he hissed, and I sighed but let him go. He slithered up my leg, shrinking in size as he went, and then curled up into my pocket.

"Let's go!" he called out.

Poking my head into the bedroom, I blew Caelan a kiss.

He'd fallen back into the bed, and he waved at me before pulling the covers up to his chin. "Come back soon," he told me, and I smiled.

"I'll be as quick as I can," I promised. Grabbing my phone and wallet, I left the apartment, taking the stairs instead of the lift.

I was going to buy enough food to last me till next morning, and then I was going to spend every moment in bed with Caelan.

I might have to send Ro back to Otherworld for the day, though. For his own good.

Caelan

Since Walker had told me to stay in bed, that was what I did. I didn't feel sleepy, but it'd been a while since I'd just lazed about in bed, and it actually felt pretty great.

We should do this more often. Just take some days off to spend in bed. I was sure Damien wouldn't mind. Actually, I was pretty sure he'd be ecstatic at the idea of Walker and I going on a vacation.

When Celeste had first told me what Walker meant to me, I'd been terrified of Damien and his mates' reactions. I'd been so sure they'd misunderstand me or doubt my intentions toward Walker. But while it'd taken them a while to accept it, they had accepted it, accepted me.

When we returned to Otherworld, I was going to drag Damien to my gym and spend some time catching up with him. After my relationship with Walker, it was our friendship that took the brunt when I had to leave Otherworld, and now that things were good with Walker, I wanted to repair my friendship with Damien too, to go back to the way things used to be, even if he was now technically my father-in-law.

I cringed at the thought, and I was pretty sure he would react much the same way. Then again, maybe he would get a kick out of the whole thing. It could go either way with that man.

Sighing, I turned on my front and buried my face into the pillows, breathing Walker's scent in. God, I was acting like a lovesick fool. Walker would be back soon, and then...maybe I should finally tell him the words I'd been keeping buried for a while now.

"I love you," I said out loud and then shook my head. Maybe it was too soon? For Walker, at least. I'd loved him for a long time, and I'd been in love with him for quite a while too, ever since I returned to Otherworld.

But it hadn't been long since Walker found out about us, since we actually started dating, and the last thing I wanted was to pressure him into saying something he didn't mean.

Maybe I should wait for him to say it first. It would be hard, but it had to be the better option.

Would it be completely weird if I talked to Damien about this?

My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it from the nightstand, unlocking it to find a text from Nox.

Nox : Hey, Caelan. How's the wooing going? Did Walker get his head out of his ass yet?

I chuckled at the message, turning onto my back as I typed a quick reply. Maybe I didn't need to talk to Damien, after all.

Me : Well, the fact that we spent the morning in bed should answer your question ;)

Nox : Hell yeah! Harlan owes me a skydiving trip.

Me : You were betting on us?

I rolled my eyes as I sent the text, knowing the answer even before he replied. Of course they'd been betting on us. I would be surprised if they weren't.

Nox : Oh yeah. I knew it wouldn't take you long.

Me : I've been back for four years, Nox. I did take long.

Nox : Nah, that was just because Walker was being an idiot. He didn’t give you a chance to work your magic. Okay, now I have to ask you something. I probably shouldn’t, but I also really NEED to know.

Me : What?

I stared at the screen warily as I waited for his reply, because with Nox, you never knew where he would take you.

Nox : Who has a better thingamajig? Damien or Walker?

Me : NOX!

I groaned, dropping my phone and burying my face in my palms. Trust Nox to go right for the uncomfortable thing. I couldn't help the fact that I'd been with both Damien and Walker, and I wouldn't change it if I could.

Being with Damien...was the first time I'd ever been with someone on my terms. Damien had taught me to respect my own body, to understand its needs and limitations. Things had never been romantic between us, but we had loved each other. I would die for Day, and I knew he would do the same for me.

While I didn't regret sleeping with Damien, I knew it would always be a sticking point for a lot of people. Nox was just teasing, but there might be people who really didn't like the fact that I'd had a relationship with both Damien and Walker. If there were, I was sure Damien would take care of them before they bothered me.

The doorbell ringing stopped me from sending Nox a reply, and I left the half-typed message, dropping my phone on the mattress and making my way to the door. Walker had a key, so he wouldn't need the doorbell.

I grabbed a knife from the kitchen before heading to the door and peering through the peephole. The sight of a bloody Walker had me wrenching the door open, and I dropped the knife and hurried across the hallway to him, kneeling before where he slumped against the wall.

The moment I touched him and got a good look at him, I realized that this wasn't Walker. Whoever it was had put on a perfect glamor, but I could see their soul, and it wasn't Walker's.

Before I could react, they grabbed my wrist and squeezed tight. Darkness filled my vision, and I couldn't be sure, but I heard them whisper, "I'm so sorry."

And then, everything went dark.

Ro'Shassz

I had a new mission. I needed to convince Walker to take Caelan back to Otherworld until this Andras character was caught. I knew they both wanted to stay, to fight this vampire, but until we found out more about him, it would be safer for them to stay in Otherworld.

It would be tough to convince Walker—he was the son of the three most headstrong men I knew, after all—but I had to, because I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to him. Or Caelan.

I'd known Caelan for as long as I'd existed, and it was only recently that I'd truly started to understand him. He'd earned my respect the day he left Otherworld, and I'd kill anyone who told him, but I actually really liked the man. I would rather not see him get hurt.

Step : Convince Walker and Caelan to return to Otherworld until Andras was caught.