Chapter 29
A brief debrief
Their kitchen had never felt more cramped than it did with five grown men, a chicken, and an urco in it.
The urco—Princess, what a fucking ridiculous name—immediately went into the living room and jumped up onto the couch, making himself comfortable.
Zach was too tired and too relieved to be home to make a fuss, but he knew they’d have to have the couch cleaned.
The urco’s snout was still covered in Tremblay’s blood.
Leila bokked and then flew over to the couch, settling herself down on top of Princess, and went straight to sleep. Drew looked dead on his feet, so Zach pulled out a chair at their small kitchen table and urged him to sit. “When did you last eat something?” he asked.
Drew shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“That would be the traanllylln,” Andras supplied.
Zach’s eyes flew to Andras. “He had traanllylln?”
Andras winced. “Uh, yeah.”
“Do you know what that does to humans?”
“I do now,” Andras confirmed.
“Don’t remind me,” Drew groaned, laying his head on his crossed arms and hiding his face. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“What is tra—whatever you said, and what does it do?” Cavendish asked.
“It’s a root vegetable in Hell,” Zach explained. “It’s also used as a pain reliever and has a similar effect on humans as MDMA.”
Cavendish looked lost. “I’ve never done drugs in my life. What does MDMA do?”
“He was high as fuck, made friends with everyone, and taught everyone the ‘Macarena,’” Andras supplied.
“Don’t forget the ants,” Drew mumbled.
Deciding to revisit this later, Zach shooed everyone out of the kitchen. “Let me make food, then we can sit down and eat.”
Andras hadn’t moved and was staring at Zach.
“What?”
Andras gave a small shake of his head, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “You have wings,” he said softly. “I could only ever imagine what they looked like. When we were first fighting the Shadow Blades I caught a glimpse of them, but I didn’t have time to really look.”
“Oh.” Zach felt silly for not realizing Andras would have been curious about his wings. “They returned not long after Drew summoned me.”
“They’re beautiful,” Andras whispered. “I’m so happy for you, Zachariel.”
“Go and sit down,” Zach said gently. “I’ll bring food over in a moment.”
He grabbed a loaf of bread out of the freezer, threw some grilled cheese sandwiches together, and heated a few cans of tomato soup.
It wasn’t a luxurious meal, but it was comforting and filling and would do in a pinch.
He brought the food over and went to drag an ottoman over since they only had four chairs.
“It’s okay,” Drew said, and he stood up and gestured for Zach to take his seat.
Once he’d sat, Drew perched in his lap and leaned back against Zach’s chest. He wrapped his arms around him and pressed a kiss to the top of his soft brown curls. “Please, dig in,” he told everyone.
They were quiet while they ate, accompanied by the rumbling snores of the urco and the odd sleepy chirp from Leila.
It was a relief to be home, and exhaustion from the whole mess was starting to sink in.
Zach couldn’t wait to have a shower and get Drew into bed so they could sleep for the next two days.
“Do you think he’d planned it all along?” Cavendish asked out of the blue.
“Who? Tremblay?” Zach said.
Cavendish nodded, fiddling with his soup spoon.
“It’s hard to say,” Kensington mused. “Marcus could be manipulative, but he seemed genuine when he fought our suggestion that he accompany us. I doubt it was reverse psychology to get us to allow him to come. My guess is he took advantage of the opportunity as it arose.”
“I don’t know,” Zach disagreed. “From the sound of it, he was power hungry. I wouldn’t have put it past him to have known he’d never find that power here so he figured he’d have a chance to find it in Hell.”
“We’ll probably never know for sure,’ Kensington said.
“How could I not have seen this?” Cavendish asked. “He was never what you’d call a warm mentor. He could be a dick. But I never thought he’d betray me like this.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Kensington reassured him. “I was never Marcus’s biggest fan, but I didn’t see this coming either. It took us all by surprise.”
Cavendish took a deep breath. “Still, I feel as if I should have known something was wrong. I don’t believe I’m fit to be the head of Alberta anymore. I’m tendering my resignation.”
“No you’re not,” Kensington stated. “You’ve handled yourself impeccably over the past several days, Alastair. I’m impressed. I know I was hesitant when you were first elected, but you’ve proven yourself in my eyes. Therefore, I do not accept your resignation.”
“But I—”
“I won’t hear anything more about it. The matter is closed. You do require a new mentor, though, to help guide you. Unfortunately, I do not have the time you deserve to dedicate myself to the role, but I believe Hua does.”
Cavendish stared with wide eyes. “Really? You think she’d take me on?”
Kensington smiled. “I do.”
“Wow. She’s amazing,” he gushed.
“I would like you to visit several times a year so you can have some training with me and young Drew here, though,” Kensington added. “I believe it would be beneficial to both of you.”
Cavendish looked excited at this prospect. “Of course.”
Drew just looked confused. “I don’t know who half these people are that you’re talking about,” he grumbled.
“I’ll explain it later,” Zach told him. “For now, we need to make arrangements for Andras.”
Andras looked up from where he was soaking up the last of his soup with his crust. “Oh?”
“Yes. We’ll need to get you identification, sort out a place for you to live, a job, that sort of thing.”
“A job?” Andras looked disgusted.
“Yes, Andras. How else will you buy dog food for Princess?”
“I was hoping you’d be my sugar daddy?”
Zach levelled him a look, and Andras just shot him an impish grin in return.
“They can stay with us for a while, can’t they?” Drew suggested. “We have a spare room, and Colliery Dam Park is right over the road, so there’s lots of space for Princess to run around.”
“Plenty of students to eat,” Kensington muttered.
“Um . . .” Zach wasn’t sure what to make of Drew’s suggestion. It wasn’t that he was surprised, since Drew was an absolute sweetheart and tried to be helpful to everyone, it was just, he wasn’t sure if he wanted his ex living with them.
“Zach,” Drew said, and he twisted around to look over his shoulder at him. “Just until we can find somewhere else for them. I don’t know if we’d find a hotel that would take a dog as big as Princess, and I wouldn’t feel right just dumping them at a hotel anyway. They’ll need our help to adjust.”
Zach sighed. He knew Drew was right. “I suppose.”
Andras fluttered his lashes at him. “I knew you loved me, darling heart.”
“Don’t push it,” Zach warned.
“But,” Drew said, looking over at Kensington. “Is it okay if they stay with you tonight? We never got to have our anniversary dinner, and I’d like to still do that.”
“Worried I’ll stand outside your bedroom door and listen while you fuck?” Andras teased.
“You know there’s still time for me to buy a tent and dump you in the woods somewhere, right?” Drew told him.
Andras laughed. “Sorry. I’ll behave.”
“That’s fine, Drew,” Kensington told him. “I only have one stipulation.”
“Oh?”
“You don’t cook. In fact, you stay out of the kitchen entirely. I don’t even want you making a cup of coffee.”
Drew slumped back against Zack’s chest. “Everyone’s a critic,” he complained.
The others had left an hour ago. Zach had showered while Drew took Leila down to the yard for a scratch around, and then he’d taken his own turn in the bathroom. It was only mid-afternoon, and Zach had plans for the hours between now and when they ordered dinner.
When Drew walked out of the en-suite bathroom, Zach was spread out on the bed. Naked and hard. Drew’s eyes went wide, and he immediately dropped the towel from around his waist and hurried over to him.
“Come here,” Zach said, holding out a hand.
Drew allowed himself to be pulled onto the mattress and sank down on top of Zach, his skin warm and smooth from the shower.
Zach brought their mouths together in a soft, lingering kiss, even as he allowed his hands to wander.
They traced over Drew’s spine, dropped to dip teasingly between his cheeks, and then round to rub over his hip bones.
“Zach,” Drew murmured against his lips. “Fuck, I’ve missed this.”
“I missed you,” Zach admitted. “The past couple of days have felt like an eternity.”
“I’m sorry.” Drew pulled away and pressed his face against Zach’s throat. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Are you ever going to tell me what you went back for?” he asked.
He felt Drew nod. “Yes, but not now. Can it wait for a little while? I just want you.”
“Of course.” Zach rolled them until Drew was straddling his lap, and he looked up at him with adoration.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, running his palm down Drew’s chest, over the soft bulge of his belly, and then down to his hard cock.
It twitched as Zach brushed his fingers over the sensitive head, and Drew’s hips jerked.
“Want you to ride me,” he whispered. “I want to watch you fuck yourself on my cock.”
“Fuck,” Drew whimpered, his cheeks tingeing pink as they always did when Zach talked dirty to him. It was one of the things he loved most about him.
Drew leaned over and grabbed their bottle of lube from the side drawer, but Zach pulled it from his hand. “Turn around and shuffle up here,” he instructed.
Drew’s pupils dilated, and he nodded, hurrying to obey.
Zach couldn’t help but reach out and squeeze as Drew shuffled backwards, bringing his ass closer.
He reluctantly let go with one hand and grabbed the other pillow, shoving it under his head so he had a better angle.
Then Zach parted Drew’s cheeks and tugged him backwards so he could bury his tongue against his hole.
Drew cried out at the first swipe of Zach’s tongue, and Zach licked him again, needing to hear even more sounds fall from Drew’s mouth.
He swirled his tongue around the rim, then pointed it and pressed the tip inside him, and was rewarded with a string of curse words.
His own cock was aching, but he ignored it for now, content to lavish his attention on Drew.
Once he’d started to loosen up, Zach fumbled with the lube and managed to squeeze some out onto his hand.
It was way too much, and it dribbled down his wrist, but he got his fingers coated sufficiently.
While still using his tongue, he pressed one finger inside, feeling Drew’s body eagerly drawing it in.
“Fuck, Zach,” Drew said in a breathy voice.
Zach nipped at Drew’s cheek, then went back to laving his tongue over his hole.
He worked his finger in and out, then switched his pointer finger for his middle one.
Taking advantage of the extra length, he crooked his finger, rubbing the pad along Drew’s inner walls.
Drew’s entire body bucked as Zach found the right spot, and he began to massage over it whilst continuing to lick and suck him.
Drew’s legs started to tremble where they were bracketed on either side of Zach’s arms, and he was pushing himself back against his finger, silently begging for more.
Zach slid both fingers in, stretching him open, and Drew whined.
A dribble of precum leaked down Zach’s dick, and he found his own hips arching upward, seeking friction.
“I’m good,” Drew panted, pulling away from Zach’s face. “Need you.”
Zach leaned up, chasing after Drew’s ass so he could press one last gentle kiss to his hole.
While Drew lifted his leg and spun around to face him, Zach squeezed more lube into his palm and coated his cock with it, before wiping off the excess with a tissue.
Then he held his cock steady as Drew positioned himself over it and slowly sank down.
They both groaned in relief as Drew took him all the way in, his pelvis sitting flush against Zach’s.
Drew rocked back and forth a few times, getting adjusted to the fullness of Zach’s cock, and Zach grabbed his hips and helped guide him.
Soon, Drew began to move up and down, lifting himself almost entirely off Zack’s dick before dropping back down.
It was too much and not enough at the same time, and Zach just wanted to climb inside Drew and live there forever.
Drew’s warm brown eyes gazed down at Zach, and they were so full of love and adoration that for a moment he didn’t feel worthy of such a gift.
Then Drew smiled, and he looked so happy and content.
Zach was overjoyed he’d been able to make Drew feel that way.
“I love you so much,” he said, pouring his entire heart into the declaration.
“I love you too,” Drew said back, and then he leaned down to kiss Zach, and it was everything.
Zach wrapped his arms around Drew, holding him tightly, and swore to never let him go. Drew held Zach’s heart in his hands, and he always would. No one else would ever have it.
Zach was home.