Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
“What are you looking at?” Peri asked curiously.
They’d finished up with breakfast, as well as another meeting with Ozen, though that one was legitimate and not a huge waste of Wash’s time.
Discussing the future of the company and where they want to expand research in each division was actually interesting, and Wash had plenty to say about it.
But now that the meetings were done and lunch was being served, Wash was getting suspicious.
Taron had been too quiet the past hour. He sat with a small group of people in the corner, whispering to each other, and for some reason, Wash felt dread settle in his stomach.
“What did the schedule have next?” he queried without looking away from the troublesome group. Any group with Taron and Kian together spelled trouble.
“Um…” Peri pulled out his phone to check. “Looks like it's blocked off for another team building activity.”
“Does it say what kind?”
When his boyfriend shook his head, Wash felt the dread only get heavier in his gut.
The first team building activity wasn’t as terrible as he thought it could be, but he was pretty sure Tony had set that up.
The second wasn’t that bad either. He was beginning to think his luck was starting to run out.
Taron being in charge of the next event wasn’t a good thing.
“Is something wrong?”
He jerked his chin in Taron’s direction, eyes narrowed.
What were the chances he could get close enough to listen to whatever they were suggesting without Taron noticing.
When he’d overheard Taron on the phone the day he’d come to Peri’s house to pick him up, Taron had mentioned jet ski races.
Wash had warned him there was no way Supernatural Resources would sign off on that, especially with literally every division lead in attendance, but Taron had said it’d be fine.
If the shapeshifter actually planned on going through with it, Wash could almost guarantee someone was going to get hurt.
Taron got hurt during a treasure hunt. Putting him on a jet ski would be so much worse.
“What do you think they’re planning? Whatever it is, it can’t be good.”
Peri snickered, leaning over to press a kiss to his hair. “Grumpy demon. Stay here. I’ll find out what Taron has planned.”
Why did that not make him feel better? Taron was totally capable of corrupting his boyfriend. Peri was too sweet and innocent to realize the chaos Taron was capable of.
Flitting over to the group, Peri was immediately invited to join them and a stool was pulled up so Peri could look over whatever notes they were taking.
He waited for Peri to balk, or look concerned, but maybe he should have thought it through before agreeing to Peri joining that group.
He might not see the red flags like Wash would.
Peri nodding enthusiastically made Wash want to get up to check on them, but before they could, a familiar voice spoke over his shoulder.
“Why does that grouping make me feel concerned?” Elijah asked.
Wash grunted in agreement, narrowing his eyes on Peri as he leaned in to look at whatever Taron was pointing at. “They’re planning something.”
“Planning what, though? Have you asked?”
Huffing a dry laugh, he was going to ask if Elijah seriously thought they’d share with him, knowing how Wash felt about all this.
It was only when he looked up that he remembered who was speaking to.
His amusement died on his lips, and he looked away again, replying with a quick, “No. Peri was supposed to be finding out.”
For a long moment, the silence stretched between them. Wash could feel Elijah’s eyes on him, but he refused to look at his brother. The sad looks Elijah gave him were going to start getting to him soon. He could only hold out for so long.
“Wash…”
Wash looked up, startled. Since when had his brother decided to call him anything but Hugo?
If he noticed Wash’s reaction, Elijah didn’t draw attention to it, his gaze across the room to where his anchor was speaking with Ozen. He drew in a deep breath, and when he looked back down again, his expression was a complicated mix of emotions Wash had no hope of deciphering.
“I was wrong. Pushing you away like I did. I didn't understand why you were fighting. I–” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “I won’t force you to talk about it if that’s not what you want, and I won’t bring it up again. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I never wanted to lose you.”
He moved to walk away, pausing to speak over his shoulder. “They’re planning a relay race. Alistair says it sounds fun. Nothing too crazy.”
Wash glanced at the group again only to find Alistair leaning over the back of Taron’s chair, pointing at something that made the whole group nod, and Taron scribbled something down. He had been speaking to Ozen a minute before, he hadn’t been anywhere near the group. So then why…
He looked over his shoulder again, watching as Elijah headed outside and smiled at Brennus and his mate. The smile didn’t reach his eyes, but Brennus didn’t seem to notice, drawing Elijah into their conversation with a wave of his claw.
Elijah must have asked Alistair to find out what was happening.
Alistair hadn’t been anywhere near the group before, his talk with Ozen looked serious, so Wash didn’t think he’d just abandon it without being asked.
And the rumor around the office was that Elijah and Alistair shared thoughts now that they were anchored.
His brother asked his anchor to go find out what Taron was planning because Wash was worried about it.
It made Wash feel like even more of a jerk for keeping him at a distance.
But that was what Elijah wanted, wasn’t it?
He had been the one to ask Wash to back off.
He had been the one who told him he was too protective.
Too violent. That hadn’t really changed.
The only difference now was that Wash’s focus was on Peri and protecting him.
Peri seemed to like it, but Elijah had liked it too, at first. He said he was glad Wash had his back.
How long until Peri asked him to stop too?
He grunted as Peri landed in his lap without warning, Wash’s chair going on two legs momentarily before the entire thing toppled. Wash’s hands shot out, pulling Peri against him protectively, and blinked up at the ceiling when they landed with a thud.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry,” Peri rushed out, popping up to look at him. “You looked upset. I wanted to make you feel better. Are you okay? Did you hit your head? Are your wings hurt?”
His lips twitched, and he tried so hard to fight it, but the shock dropped his walls for a minute, and he started laughing, the tension from his conversation with Elijah snapping like a rubber band, releasing him from that spiral so fast, it made his stomach dip.
Peri looked startled at his reaction for a moment before that bright beautiful grin came back and he giggled right along with him, still sitting on Wash, completely unharmed from the chaos he’d caused.
When Wash’s laughter subsided, Peri swiped a few tears from his eyes, still snickering when he asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, baby,” he assured him, snugging an arm around Peri’s waist as he sat up and got to his feet. Peri squealed when Wash brought him with him, wrapping his legs around Wash’s hips when they were both upright again.
“Have I mentioned how much I love your strength? You didn’t even grunt. It’s like I weigh nothing to you.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Wash pointed out, “You do weigh nothing, baby. I’m surprised you’re a chef. Do you ever eat any of your own creations?”
“Of course I do!” Peri pouted, though the grin snuck out despite his best efforts. “I’ve got a fairy’s metabolism. I’ll probably always be this small.”
Dipping to pick up the chair, he never let Peri go, smirking as Peri giggled and clung to him, smiling so brightly, the room felt warmer. “Good. I like you how you are. I wouldn’t complain if you put a little weight on either, though.”
Peri wrinkled his nose, bumping his forehead against Wash’s. “You’re too sweet. I like you the way you are, too.”
He couldn’t help himself. He had to ask, “Really? All of me? Even the possessive asshole parts?”
“I happen to like that about you,” Peri sniffed indignantly. “You make me feel cherished. I’ve never had a boyfriend so in tune to me that they’d automatically protect me first if a chair tipped over with both of us in it. You being protective is one of my favorite things about you.”
A part of him wanted to ask Peri to remind him of that often. He hadn’t realized until Peri said it out loud how much he needed to hear it. Maybe when they didn’t have an audience, they’d talk about it. If he wanted this relationship to last, he knew he had to be honest.
“Are you two alright?” Taron asked, flanked by both his mates who seemed to still be hovering.
To his surprise, Peri hugged his neck, beaming at them. “Yep. He protected me. We’re good.”
It only reinforced what Peri had said before. Maybe Wash wouldn’t have to ask him to keep reminding him. Peri seemed to pick up on what he needed all on his own.
Taron nodded sharply. “Good. I wouldn’t want my bestie injured before the relay. Winner gets two extra paid vacation days.”
Wash made a face, words poised to refuse automatically, when Peri bounced a little in his arms. “Yay! That means we can take a long weekend and go somewhere!” He whipped around to face Wash, grinning eagerly at him. “Starlight realm? Please?”
And just like that, all his arguments died on his tongue. If Peri wanted to go on vacation with him, Wash wasn’t about to tell him no. The sweet little fairy deserved to be spoiled.
“Sounds good,” Wash agreed, finally setting Peri on his feet. He cast a suspicious gaze at Taron. “What kind of relay?”
“A race, duh,” Taron grinned, dodging with a snicker when Wash tried to swipe at him.
He hid behind Zephyr, who gave Wash a look that said try it and there would be hell to pay.
The thunderbird’s protective instincts were triggered, and he didn’t want people messing around with his mate while he was injured.
So triggered that when Taron tried to come back around, Zephyr sidestepped him, keeping the wily shapeshifter behind him. Taron gaped at him.
“Zeph!”
“Climb on his back,” Peri suggested before Zephyr could argue. “I do it all the time to Wash.”
A wicked grin cut across Taron’s face, and he didn’t hesitate to launch himself onto Zephyr’s back, draping his arms over his shoulders and leaning his head against Zephyr’s like a lazy prince.
Zephyr just rolled his eyes, supporting Taron’s weight with his hands under his knees, and gave Peri a mock scowl.
“I feel like I shouldn’t let you two be alone together.”
“I agree,” Wash nodded.
“We’re not alone now,” Taron pointed out, poking Zephyr’s face and snickering when Zephyr snapped his teeth playfully. “Don’t be jealous of our awesomeness.”
Peri must have gotten jealous, because he hopped onto Wash’s back, wrapping his arms around Wash’s neck. Taron immediately sat straighter, his grin back at full force.
“The race has started already! Come on, Zeph! Giddy up!”
Zephyr’s face flattened, and he immediately released Taron, causing the shapeshifter to slip off his back with a squawk. He landed on his feet, but only just, and his pout was legendary. The only person who could pull it off better was Peri.