Chapter Six #2
“She’s Frost’s baby.” He went back to pacing.
“This bullshit has cost him all his friends and stolen the light from his eyes. And I can’t give him children.
” Lysander said the last bit with every ounce of bitterness in his heart.
To have a mate was to love a mate, and Stone had been given a useless partner in life.
Having that final truth hit had Lysander freezing and staring into the abyss. He felt helpless.
“What does Frost say about his condition?”
The question tore Lysander from his inner downward spiral. “Nothing. Well, he says Stone is fine. He’s just healing and needs the rest. He’ll wake when he has the energy to do so.”
To his surprise, Stellar chuckled. “That makes him sound like he’s a battery on charge.”
“In a way, he is,” Frost said, strolling into the room.
He pulled a penlight from his doctor’s coat and checked Stone’s eyes.
Frost listened to his heart and lungs before turning his attention their way.
“He’s physically drained from his possession.
Stone needs to sleep.” Frost focused on Lysander.
Sympathy filled his eyes. “I assure you he’s absolutely fine.
Why don’t you two go get some lunch or something?
Pacing the floor is only wearing you down. Stone needs you at a hundred percent.”
Lysander turned his head. He stared at Stone’s sleeping form. Frost was right. Lysander was failing at this too. He couldn’t keep this from happening to Stone. Lysander couldn’t give him a child, and now he couldn’t even let Stone recover properly. His throat swelled.
“You’re right. I should go.” He should have made the right decision the first time. Lysander shouldn’t have let Stone save him, and Lysander shouldn’t have claimed him. Stone would be better matched with someone else.
With his heart in his throat, Lysander moved to Stone’s side and lightly kissed him. “Goodbye, beautiful.” You deserve a flawless life.
Lysander straightened and met Stellar’s gaze. “What should we do today?”
Stellar didn’t move from his seat. His purple gaze stayed locked on Lysander. “We’ll stay right here until your mate is well, and on his way home with you. I did not break my own heart by not fighting for you to watch you be undeserving.”
The words cut to the bone at a time when Lysander felt at his weakest. A tear rolled down his cheek. He wiped it away.
Frost looked between them. “I’ll leave you two to hash it out.” He moved like he couldn’t get away from the drama quickly enough.
An icy chill swept through the room, visibly rocking Frost back on his heels before he made it to the door.
Lysander shivered. The walls turned to ice in a slow crawl across every surface.
Men shouted in the distance. Stellar shot to his feet, and two glowing swords appeared in his hands from the air he commanded.
Frost moved around the room. Sigils appeared on the walls in his wake.
Lysander found himself on the bed, hovering over Stone like a mother shielding her child.
“Go to your daughter. Lysander and I are considered warriors of our people. Stone will be safe with us.”
Frost didn’t budge at Stellar’s order. His gaze stayed locked on the doorway. “My daughter is with her dad and grandfather. No one can reach her. This is my clinic. This used to be my home. I dare anyone to try to fuck with me here.”
Stellar looked impressed.
Lysander wasn’t surprised to learn Frost was a total badass. He was the devil’s son, after all. Nothing would get past them.
A sinister laugh rumbled through the room. “You can’t fight what you can’t see. There’s no harming what you can’t touch. Stone has something that belongs to me. I’ll have it back.”
Stellar openly braced to fight. “Nothing of this world is yours. Slink back to your hole. You don’t have a single chance against us. The light always swallows the dark.”
“Hmm. Some would argue it was the other way around. But I’m not here for philosophical discussions.
Stone is my skin. His soul has already been broken.
I don’t have time to destroy another.” A dark mist appeared.
It slithered across Lysander’s skin, making its way slowly toward Stone.
“He has such a delectable body. I’ll still let you play with him sometimes. ”
Lysander couldn’t tell if the offer was spoken aloud or was in his head. Either way, Lysander’s rage exploded. He tried to grab the shadowy snake, but his fingers slipped through him like smoke.
Another menacing laugh filled the room. “You can’t touch me. I’m the sand of doom, filling the bottom half of the ultimate hourglass. I am indomitable.”
Without warning, Frost snatched the smoke from where it squeezed Lysander’s torso. The creature solidified in his hand, becoming a jet-black serpent.
“Goddamn it, Frost. Every time I’m called here, you’re dealing with a snake issue. I don’t know how many times is the normal amount, but you must hold some sort of record.”
The town’s alpha and sheriff, Waylon, stood in the doorway, shaking his head.
Frost laughed. “This is only the third time.” He looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Fourth time? Either way, not all the calls brought you here.” He shrugged.
“But I guess Gemini was right about me being the snake whisperer. This does seem to be an inordinate number of times for not working in any snake-driven industry.”
The serpent hissed and tried to strike. His every movement was fruitless.
Lysander and Stellar exchanged a look. Everyone seemed unusually unbothered.
Frost turned his attention to the creature he held. “What’s your name?”
No response.
A loud sigh burst from Frost. “You couldn’t stop talking shit two minutes ago. I can force you to tell me, but there’s no reason to get violent.”
A royal guardsman came through the door, holding a golden trap. It looked like a normal ten-gallon fish tank, but Lysander saw the magic surrounding it.
“Okay. I guess it’s in the tank for you. Things could’ve been different.” He dropped the snake inside. It immediately tried to escape, only to find there was nowhere to go.
“No!” He tried again to no prevail. His beady eyes locked on Frost. “It’s Stygian. My name is Stygian. Don’t leave me in here. I’ve already spent a century in a cage.”
Frost looked both moved by the plea and unsure. “We’ve already given you a chance. You should’ve taken it the last time you left here unharmed. I can’t risk this town, and I won’t risk my family.”
“He’ll come with me.” The words burst from Stellar like he couldn’t hold them another second. He focused on his guard. “Take him home. I’ll deal with this.”
His guardsman looked as if he fought the need to argue. Lysander wanted to as well, but he knew Stellar. Stellar had his jaw set in a way Lysander had seen hundreds of times. He wouldn’t be moved. Stellar was his prince and wouldn’t be disobeyed.
The guard gave a slight bow. “Yes, my lord.” He vanished along with Stygian.
Stellar focused on Lysander. He was still in full royalty mode. He wasn’t Lysander’s friend in that moment. Stellar’s features softened, as if he heard Lysander’s thoughts. “I am always your friend. As such, I’m ordering you to stay glued to your mate. He’s suffered enough loss, don’t you think?”
Lysander nodded even though he still thought Stone was likely better off without him. The selfish part of him that wanted their mating with every fiber of his being was grateful for the order he couldn’t disobey.
Stellar vanished the same as his guard, leaving Lysander still crouched over Stone. Frost and Waylon both looked unruffled.
Frost moved toward the doorway. He turned at the last second and focused on Lysander. “Since you’re staying, you should sleep too.” He turned off the light.
Lysander wanted to argue. What if the threat wasn’t completely neutralized? Stone needed him to stand guard.
Frost chuckled. It was a warm, kind sound that soothed something inside Lysander. “It’s almost as if you don’t realize you’re currently in the safest place in the world. Do you need me to flex some more before I go?”
Lysander’s shoulders relaxed. He was being weird. Frost was perfectly capable of defending his clinic. He wasn’t even sure why Celeste kept his vamp guards in place. His gaze dropped to Stone’s beautiful face. Not that he was complaining. Being Frost’s security had brought Stone to him.
“Sleep,” Frost repeated. This time, an odd echo vibrated behind his command. It hit Lysander. Stone hadn’t awoken once during the drama. Not even when Lysander pounced on him. Now he knew why. As he crumpled on top of Stone’s body, Lysander saw it all. Frost controlled everything.
The halls of his family’s home echoed with emptiness.
Considering dozens of people lived there, and the place was filled with excess, Stellar knew the sound always came from his heart.
He had lived a damn long life. Things rarely changed, and even more rarely for the better.
He was bored with existence. Stellar grew more bitter by the day.
He hadn’t realized exactly how bad things had gotten until he watched Lysander fall in love with someone else.
The entire experience had been like seeing the final petal of the most beautiful rose wither away.
Once inside his bedroom, Stellar still didn’t draw a single breath of relief. Taurus stood guard inside. Stellar felt the man’s sparkling yellow eyes following his every move. His disapproval practically clogged the air.
“I don’t want to hear it.”
Taurus didn’t respond. That was worse than a lecture.
Stellar peeled off his shirt and tossed it aside. “You think I’m an idiot for bringing him here. Maybe I am. But he’s bound and I’m no weakling.”
“I’ve said nothing. Those were your words.”
Stellar popped the button on his soft leather pants. His temper frayed, but he held his tongue. It wasn’t Taurus’ fault he was in a bad headspace tonight.
Warm lips touched his shoulder.
Stellar automatically grabbed the edge of the dresser in front of him as his knees weakened.
His eyes closed, and a shaky breath escaped him.
Taurus was a warrior born of fire. Even from behind closed lids, Stellar could picture Taurus.
From the orange hair, which he kept in a messy bun, to his flashing yellow eyes.
Stellar could probably list his every measurement and paint his body in the dark. He craved the meal Taurus offered.
“As much as I love a good show, I much prefer to join.”
The caustic words had Stellar spinning toward the voice. From the magic cell in the corner, a solid shadow leaned against the bars. His body was a perfect outline with no features. He might have been terrified by the sight if he hadn’t dealt with Stygian’s type before.
Stellar snorted. “As fun as I’m sure that would be, I’ll have to deny your request. Sex isn’t quite as enjoyable when you’re worried about having your throat sliced the entire time.”
A wicked chuckle rumbled from the cage. “I disagree. Nothing like adrenaline to keep things exciting.”
Stellar shook his head. “Still, I prefer a partner with a body.”
He tossed a glance Taurus’ way, expecting commiseration.
Taurus stared back at him with a closed expression.
Stellar sighed. “It seems I’m disappointing everyone tonight. Sleep it is, I suppose.”
“I love your confidence, thinking I’ll let you rest.”
Stellar felt an evil smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, stretching his lips. A spark of life lit inside him at the challenge Stygian presented. “Your confidence is astounding. I love the way you think I can’t make you do anything and everything I want.”
“Actually, I’m banking on that.”
Stellar couldn’t stop smiling. He loved a good banter session. People rarely tried to test him.
“My lord.”
Stellar didn’t look Taurus' way. He didn’t need a lecture. “You can go.”
He felt the heat of Taurus' silent anger as he headed for the door. Stellar would make it up to him. Taurus wasn’t just a guard to him.
He was Stellar’s friend. Tonight, Stellar didn’t think a friend was what he needed.
Judging by the power and excitement coursing through his veins, Stellar had a feeling he had found what he sought: an enemy.