Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
B ain
The next morning, Bain drove them away from the safe house and back toward the city. They’d brought all their things, and he’d strangely had a hard time leaving the Lake Forest Park house because of the time he’d spent with Clive there. It had only been a couple of days, but they’d bonded in a way that felt special. He’d have to talk to Xavier about using the house more for weekends because he wanted to take Clive back there as much as possible.
Bain couldn’t stop looking at Clive as he drove. He just liked everything about him. He’d spent the night before exploring more of Clive’s body, delighted to find more freckles on the backs of his shoulders, and learning every line of his compact, tight form. Clive had marvelous sensitive areas that pulled forth the most delicious noises. His nipples, inner thighs, and especially his balls. When Bain had taken one into his mouth, Clive had nearly come up off the bed, groaning loud and long. Those extended, strident groans were so fucking hot they scrambled Bain’s brain. He wanted to bring them out as often as possible. Even now, as they drove along the highway through the woods, Bain found himself constantly glancing over at Clive in the passenger seat, thinking of more ways to drive his human lover wild.
They were just passing a thick stand of trees when an SUV came out of nowhere and slammed into the driver’s side of Bain’s car. He gripped the wheel with both hands as they swerved and skidded off the road. He managed to mostly keep control of the car, just enough to not hit one of the trees.
He slammed on the brakes and immediately twisted to check on Clive. He looked shaken but unhurt. Bain turned back to look out the driver’s side only to see four Cambion demons running toward their car. Cambions were half-preternaturals born from a demon and a human parent and were usually deadly quiet, like wendigos, as they ripped through their prey.
“Stay in here while I deal with them,” he ordered.
Clive nodded and locked his door.
That wouldn’t stop a demon from getting into the car, but Bain didn’t have time to explain that. He used his shoulder to ram open the driver’s door. It had gotten stuck when the other car hit them.
He got it open just as the first demon reached them. The creature slammed his fist into Bain’s stomach so hard his lungs locked up. He gasped and managed to dodge the next punch only to run into another demon who grinned as he displayed a set of long claws. This one had massive horns coming from the sides of his head, and he surprised Bain when he spoke in a malevolent, gravelly hiss.
“Just give us the human and we’ll let you leave.”
“Over my dead body,” Bain growled. He wouldn’t be able to fight them all in this form, and he didn’t have time to strip, so he shifted into his snake form, ripping his clothes.
These demons clearly knew not to look a basilisk in the eyes; they kept their gazes averted as they attacked. But only two took him on and fear gripped him as the other two went to the other side of the car.
But he was bigger and eons stronger, and he grabbed one of them and forced him to meet his gaze. Killing the wendigo had been the right thing to do since those creatures were nothing more than killing machines. Demons, even this rather violent species, were different. They even had a Cambion demon working at Protective Solutions. Plus, he felt Clive wouldn’t want him to kill, so he only mesmerized the creature, who dropped to the ground and blinked dazedly at the grass around his face.
The other was smarter, and he used his claws, swiping at Bain over and over. Bain easily dodged most, and the ones he didn’t failed to pierce his hide. Growling, he brought his tail around and knocked the demon off his feet, then jumped on top of him and grabbed his cheeks so the thing was forced to meet his mesmerizing stare.
As soon as it collapsed, he raced around the front of the car, only to see Clive trying to fight his way free of the other two.
“Let me go!” Clive yelled as he kicked one foot out.
The demon laughed at the silly move but scowled when Clive managed to swiftly drop and scramble free. Clive jumped to his feet but before he could get away, one of them drew back his fist and slammed it into Clive’s face. Blood sprayed from his nose and he cried out.
Fury raced through Bain, and he lost it. Rage thundered through every muscle in his body. The world around him ceased to exist as he turned completely inward to pull up the darkest part of himself. He went feral.
He roared, grabbed the demon, and ripped his arm off. He threw the arm into the woods, then sent his own claws into the demon’s chest—right into the heart. He kept digging as blood sprayed his hide, digging until the heart stopped beating. He dropped the body, turned to the last demon and lifted him by the throat, planning to take off his head. He hauled his free arm back.
“Bain!” Clive grabbed his arm.
He looked down at his mate and saw the absolute horror on his face. But he also saw all the smeared blood on his cheeks, which just infuriated him even more. He tightened his hand around the demon’s throat as he choked and his lips turned white.
“Let it go!”
He looked at Clive again. Really looked at him, taking in that horror, and shame speared into his chest. He aimed his gaze into the demon’s eyes, then dropped him and stumbled back, his tail whipping around in agitation. Clive was staring at the demon he’d ripped apart, his mouth open in shock. There was blood everywhere and the demon’s chest lay flayed open to expose his ripped heart. He saw the view from Clive’s perspective and his own heart just stopped.
It was the first time in Bain’s life that he truly felt like a monster.
When he moved toward Clive, the man flinched. That reaction gutted Bain and he paused, not knowing what to say. He stayed quiet as he got Clive back into the car. He remained in his snake form to pry open the driver’s side door, then shifted. His clothes were ruined, and he couldn’t take Clive into the city naked, so he turned the car back toward the safe house. Luckily, it still drove fine, though most of the side was dented all to hell.
Clive stayed quiet, too. Probably still in shock after watching him rip somebody apart. Clive’s blood, his poor broken nose—he’d have to take him to the hospital to have it set before they met with Xavier’s contact at the FBI. As it was, they’d have to reschedule since they wouldn’t be able to make this morning’s meeting. But then he shook his head. Alaric was still at the safe house, and he had the power to heal. Bain wasn’t thinking straight.
He found he couldn’t look at Clive as he drove. His naked body was coated with blood. The rage that had taken over him wasn’t a new one. He’d felt it before while fighting in wars, but this time, it had come from a pure place of absolute fury at Clive being hurt. He’d failed to keep him safe, and this sat heavy on his back, like a weight.
That shame built until it was nothing but a black cloud all around him as they arrived to find Alaric standing on the front porch. The elf ran to the car and immediately went to help Clive out of the car.
“What happened?”
“We were driven off the road and attacked.” He watched him lead Clive toward the house, then followed slowly, his steps heavy like he was dragging them through mud.
Then, inside, Clive finally looked at him, eyes wide with shock and still horror. He’d seen Bain rip a living creature apart with his bare hands. Those blue eyes darted over all the blood coating Bain, and he jerked his head, then cried out as he gingerly touched his nose.
“Heal him,” Bain ordered, staying to watch as Alaric gently cupped his hand over Clive’s broken nose. The elf closed his eyes and murmured under his breath, and when he lowered his hand, Clive’s nose was back in place and those wide eyes were now staring at Alaric in shock.
“Good as new,” Alaric said softly, smiling down at the man who’d stolen Bain’s heart. The man now making him hold his breath because he had no idea how Clive was feeling other than shock and horror.
But then…Clive shot him one, small glance, and it was Bain’s turn to feel horror because there was nothing in that glance other than fear.