Chapter 16
Sixteen
Pythor
After a while, I convinced Codie to sleep, though he insisted I stay with him, which I had no problem doing. Since he seemed to feel safer when I was in my true form—and it was my more comfortable form—I stayed like that, sitting on the edge of his bed and watching over him as he slept.
His nightmare had just doubled my rage, and I was determined more than ever to make those bastards pay. But I'd also realized something.
I couldn't be reckless about this. I had to follow the rules because Codie needed me.
If I broke my contract, I wouldn't be able to see him again.
Technically, he wouldn't be able to see me again, since without a connection to someone living—or living-adjacent, like the King of Otherworld and his mates—I couldn't be corporeal or use my magic in the human realm.
I couldn't do that to him, not when he'd just started opening up to me.
Which was why the next morning, I had breakfast with Codie, then told him I needed to go to the community center for a while. I didn't like lying to him, but I also felt like explaining my conundrum would just add to his stress.
I used my magic to head to Otherworld straight from Codie's living room, then stepped into the Brume Villa, home to the king of Otherworld, his family, and the 'lords' of Otherworld—aka the various soul-collector teams' leaders—and their mates.
The lounge room was empty this early in the day, and I was just about to go looking for Artemus, my summoner, when a soul collector stepped out of the hallway and stopped when he saw me.
"Hey. Malik, right?" I asked, and the dark-haired man nodded. I'd seen him with Maximus before in one of the meetings. "Do you know where Artemus is?"
He squinted thoughtfully, then hooked his thumb at the doorway he'd just come through. "I think he's in King Damien's office."
"Thanks!" I said before rushing through.
"You might wanna wait a while!" he called back, sticking his head through the doorway, but I ignored him. This couldn't wait.
Reaching the king's office, I knocked on the door. Okay, maybe I pounded on it with my fist, but this was important.
"Artemus? You in there? We need to talk!"
A few seconds went by, and I was starting to wonder if maybe Malik had been wrong when the door opened.
Artemus slipped out, and then closed the door behind him quickly, like he didn't want me to see what was happening in there.
Judging by his mussed hair and flushed cheeks, I could make a guess, but I preferred not to.
"Is this an emergency?" Artemus asked, green eyes flashing with annoyance as he pushed his golden-brown locks away from his face.
"Yes!" I insisted, which seemed to mollify him a little.
"What is it?"
I glanced around the open hallway, then frowned. "Is there somewhere private we can talk?" Somewhere with a silencing ward, hopefully.
Artemus nodded, then led me to the office beside the king's, waiting for me to step inside before joining me. The room was clean but looked unused, as if its occupant was on a long trip but they'd decided to keep the office ready and waiting for their return.
"The room is warded. Talk." I didn't take the curtness personally because I knew Artemus to be a kind man—except apparently when I interrupted some morning personal time between him and his mates.
"I need you to take back your order," I said, leaping into the deep end.
He arched one perfect eyebrow, eyes full of disbelief. "You mean the one single order I gave you? That one?"
I nodded, and he shook his head. "No chance. You are not allowed to hurt humans, Pythor. No exception."
"These aren't humans, Artemus. They're monsters hiding behind a human facade. I'm going to hurt them whether you allow me or not, but I'd really prefer it if you did."
He watched me with narrowed eyes, but then realization crossed his face. "You found your mate."
Swallowing hard, I nodded, then shared the barest of details about Codie's attack, just enough to explain why these men deserved to be punished.
"Please, Artemus. He's terrified to leave his house, and the human cops did nothing, despite the evidence they should've had. Something tells me money was involved, which means this bastard can do this again with no one to stop him."
Artemus sighed. "Give me a minute."
As I watched, his eyes went distant, and I realized he was using the mental bond he shared with his mates to discuss the issue. Of course, a decision like this couldn't be made without the other rulers' input.
After two whole impossibly long minutes, Artemus cleared his throat. "All right. Pythor, you have my permission to punish the men who attacked your mate that night. You can hurt only those men, and no one else. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," I agreed as relief swept through me. Thank fuck. I could protect Codie properly now. Except...
"Are we done?" he asked, and I caught a hint of the eagerness he was so desperately trying to hide.
Wincing and not very confident about my chances, I said, "I need one more thing."
"What?" he asked, tone tired as he leaned against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest and putting his sleeve tattoos on full display. I bet Codie would like them.
"I would like you to give me an order to enter the Dreamland and protect my mate when he needs me to."
Artemus blinked, looking honestly surprised by my request. I knew he knew about Dreamland because he himself had been trapped in it for a while when he was in a coma.
While not many could travel to the realm that popped in and out of existence through people's dreams—it was more like a billion tiny pocket realms than an actual realm—I knew Artemus and his mates could because they had the King of Otherworld's magic, and I could too if I was told to do so by my summoner.
I couldn't go there on my own, but with his order, I could.
"They're that bad?" he asked, eyes softening, and I nodded.
Exhaling loudly, he nodded. "Pythor, if your mate is trapped in a nightmare or bad dream, you have my orders to travel to the Dreamland to enter his dream and protect him in any way you can."
"Thank you, Artemus. Truly."
He nodded, and I took my leave since he clearly had places to be.
I made a pit stop at the center to check in, and take a few more days of leave.
Since I was just a volunteer, it wasn't like they could force me to come back, but letting them know in advance made it easier for them to find an alternate teacher or class to fill my spots.
That done, I made my way back home so I could walk across the street to Codie's place.
Codie
When Pythor came back from the community center, he looked a little more relaxed, and I was glad. He'd been so angry ever since I'd told him about that night, and while I liked that it was on my behalf, I didn't want him to damage his mental health because of me.
"I want to try going out again today," I declared a few minutes into our lunch, and Pythor glanced up at me in surprise.
"You do?"
I nodded. While there were some things I wasn't sure I'd ever get back—like my enjoyment of sex—I was tired of letting that night hold me back.
I felt like with Pythor by my side, I could do this.
I could step out of this gated community.
I could walk down that street and see where it led.
Maybe I'd only make it a few steps, but they'd still be steps I'd been too afraid to take before.
"Okay, then. We can head out after lunch."
Hella gave a woof, her tail wagging as she raced over to the doorway, and I laughed.
"Soon, Hella. Let us eat first, hmm?"
When I glanced back at Pythor, I found him watching me with a smile on his face.
"What?"
"You're cute," he said with a one-shoulder shrug, and I blushed, then rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
Pythor laughed, then took another bite of his sandwich, and this time, I stared at him. He was so... warm, so comforting. Now that I'd accepted that I liked him, I couldn't understand how I'd ignored my feelings for so long.
"Are there crumbs in my beard?" he asked, rubbing his fingers over them, and I shook my head, then grinned.
"Nah, you're just cute."
Pythor gave me a surprised look, then laughed, his eyes bright with joy, and I smiled, wishing every moment we spent together could be just as easygoing and happy as this one.
After finishing lunch, Pythor cleaned up with a snap of his fingers, and waited while I went in to change my clothes. Most of it would be hidden under my coat, but I still wasn't going out dressed in sweatpants.
As I swapped my worn out t-shirt for one I could wear outside, my fingers brushed against the scar on my abdomen, and I eyed it with pursed lips before covering it with the t-shirt.
While I'd gotten it the same night, the scar didn't remind me of the attack.
Well, it did, but mostly, it reminded me of the fact that I'd survived.
I'd dragged myself out of that hellhole with that wound in my abdomen and still saved myself.
Pulling on some jeans, I spent a few minutes making my hair look like I hadn't just woken up, then slid my coat back on before making my way back to Pythor.
He eyed me from head to toe, then smiled softly. Approaching me, he slowly placed his palms on my shoulders, broadcasting his moves so he wouldn't startle me.
"It's hot outside today," he murmured, then tilted his head. "Can I try something?"
"Sure," I answered, trusting him fully, and he grinned as I felt his magic envelop me. As it retreated, I realized I didn't feel any different, though I knew he had done something. "What did you do?"
"I adjusted your coat so that it would always keep you at the optimal temperature."
"Oh wow, that's cool. Thank you!"
"My pleasure. I also added a protection ward so if anyone tried to grab you without your consent, their hand would just slip off. I can't do anything too obvious, but I'll always be by your side, so this is merely a precaution."
I didn't know what to say, so instead I just threw my arms around him and gave him a tight hug. He carefully hugged me back, and I smiled against his shoulder before leaning back. My eyes met his, then flickered down to his lips.
Clearing my throat, I stepped back hastily, and he let me go.
"Shall we?" I asked, and Pythor hummed in agreement. He offered me his hand, and I took it with a smile before heading out to the front door, where Hella was impatiently waiting for us.
Pythor magicked up a leash for her as I unlocked the door, and I took her leash in my hand as we stepped outside, letting Pythor magick the door closed.
We strolled down the street, and I realized the coat really was regulating my temperature, because even with the bright sun shining down on us, I didn't feel hot. I assumed I'd raise some brows walking around in a thick coat, but I honestly didn't care.
We reached the gate far too quickly, and I stared at it, determined and yet far too afraid.
"You've got this," Pythor assured me, then squeezed my hand. "And we're right here with you."
Hella barked, as if agreeing with him, and as the security person unlocked the gate for us, I took a deep breath, and walked through.