Chapter Seven
The vibe at Frost’s house was weird. It was like everyone waited for the other shoe to drop on a completely unknown situation.
No one really spoke. Kyrie felt several odd looks tossed his way.
He stayed in wolf form and kept his thoughts hidden.
Maybe he was only paranoid, but he swore every nearby vampire poked at his brain.
Kyrie kept his nose to the air and avoided eye contact.
At the edge of the forest, Kyrie caught the scent of a bear. Kyrie glanced around, making sure no one watched before he slipped between the trees. The bear didn’t try to hide. In fact, he sat still, openly waiting for Kyrie. He was a big guy. His scent seemed familiar.
Kyrie turned human. “Have we met?”
The bear turned into a man Kyrie was certain he had seen before. “Aspen,” he said, as if reminding Kyrie of a name he should know. “We crossed paths briefly at Frost’s a while back.”
The memory hit. Aspen had crashed one of Frost’s barbecues. It had been the same night Fen had offered to run under the full moon with him. Kyrie dipped his chin. “Kyrie.”
Aspen’s sweet brown gaze moved over Kyrie’s face. “You’re the wolf mated to a vampire.”
This was the one in love with Leif. Kyrie’s heart went out to him. “I am. A pairing that seems to be growing around here.”
Pain crossed Aspen’s features and stabbed Kyrie in the chest. “Not for everyone, I guess.” He cleared his throat and moved on before Kyrie could think of anything comforting to say.
“Is there any news on Leif? It’s not like him to shirk his duties.
He’s always taken pride in his service to his goddess. ”
Kyrie wouldn’t know. He hadn’t given much thought to the vampires who invaded the town since Frost’s arrival. “I’ve not heard anything yet. How can I help? How can I make this easier on you?”
A sweet smile passed over Aspen’s features. He was adorable. “My feelings don’t matter. I just need to know he’s safe.”
Kyrie’s heart went out to Aspen. Life really didn’t give two shits about anyone’s feelings.
It just crushed and crushed until there was nothing left of the soul.
“Like I said, I haven’t gotten any updates, but I literally just got here like fifteen minutes ago.
I can keep you posted, if you’d like. Just let me know how to get ahold of you. ”
Aspen’s gaze moved over Kyrie’s shoulder before meeting his stare again. “I’ll find you.”
Kyrie smelled Frost heading their way.
In an instant, Aspen was back to being a bear and ambling away.
Sadness filled Kyrie as he turned to greet Frost.
There was a deep line between Frost’s eyebrows. “Is Aspen okay?”
Kyrie lifted his hands and dropped them again. He never knew how to help anyone. Sometimes, he got the feeling Frost felt the same way. “I don’t imagine so. It’s obvious he really loves Leif. I could feel it just standing close to him. How are you?”
Frost sighed. “I’m fine, but it seems like everyone else isn’t. How are you feeling? Have there been any more incidents?”
“None.” Of course, Kyrie wasn’t surprised by that. Monnie had plans for him here. That didn’t really mean anything, though. Time moved differently in the heavens. Monnie could snatch him at any time. Kyrie’s breath stayed held for just that.
“Strange.”
Kyrie nodded along, trying to look as stumped as Frost.
Frost brightened. “Nice mating mark there, by the way. I think you two caught everyone by surprise.”
Kyrie chuckled. “Yeah. Us too.”
Frost’s smile didn’t dim. “I’ll bet.”
An adorable, fluffy snow leopard appeared. A low angry-sounding warning purr filled the air.
Kyrie rolled his eyes and turned back into a wolf. Nothing worse than a jealous mate.
Frost’s eyebrows shot up. I can hear you. Can you hear me?
Of course. I can hear whoever I want. You can too.
“What?” Frost practically screeched the question.
Kyrie shook his head. I think it’s time you asked Celeste a few tough questions.
Kyrie focused on Gemini. Good to see you, as always.
I should get back to work. Kyrie walked away, leaving behind the mess he had likely made.
This was a town filled with too many secrets.
Maybe it was time some of them broke loose.
Stone appeared like a wraith at his side. “Feeling especially messy today, are we?”
Kyrie chuckled. Maybe so. It’s past due, don’t you think?
“Aye. Things have been a wee boring as of late. I’m a vampire of action.” He waggled his eyebrows at Kyrie.
A snort escaped Kyrie. Seeing a lot of action in Wulfe?
Stone tilted his head, looking thoughtful as they strolled the perimeter together. “Admittedly, no. No offense, but this town is a mite dull. Thankfully, I can zap to wherever I want. There are lots of fun places around the world.”
I’ll have to take your word for it since I’ve never been anywhere. Since I was technically born in Sweden, I suppose I’ve been there, but I don’t remember it.
“Och. That’s unacceptable. If you ever want to go on an adventure, come find me. I’m a lot of fun.” The sexual energy that dripped from Stone’s every word definitely worked on everyone he met. Kyrie didn’t doubt that for a moment, but Kyrie wasn’t having it. Pardon you, sir. I’m a mated wolf.
Stone stopped and turned Kyrie’s way. He stared into Kyrie’s eyes in a way that wasn’t at all comfortable. “Are you, though?” Without waiting for Kyrie to swallow past the lump in his throat and give a response, Stone walked away, whistling.
Kyrie sat staring at nothing while seeing way too much. He felt everything slipping from him already—the way it always did. People in Wulfe were starting to see through him. He had stayed too long.
The first stop Fen made was Leif’s place.
He figured Waylon had checked there before coming to Fen.
However, Fen was willing to do something the town sheriff was not.
He broke in. While Fen knew he could probably wait until dark and just drop in, he worried they didn’t have time for that.
What if no one had come for him when he had been abducted?
Fen wouldn’t pussyfoot around while something horrible could be underway.
The small house in the middle of town was totally silent. Nothing looked trashed or anything like that. There didn’t seem to have been any type of struggle. Fen walked through each room before searching for any hint of where Leif might have gone. He found a note on the fridge.
Audor,
I imagine you’ll be the only one who looks for me. Sorry for skipping out like this without a goodbye. I suppose you heard about Fen and Kyrie.
Fen sat. It hurt his heart that it looked as if he was part of the problem.
Between your finding your mate, and now Fen also being blessed with what I prayed so hard for all those decades, I just can’t do this any longer.
Aspen is here, and it’s just too hard. I hate that I sound like an asshole right now, but I know I’ve been acting like one too.
You have no idea how much that bothers me.
You’re my best friend. Unfortunately, the anger and bitterness have beaten me.
The jealousy doesn’t care that you’re like a brother to me.
Centuries of service to Celeste has meant nothing.
All these years of being filled with pride at knowing I honored my goddess have absolutely been a waste.
She obviously doesn’t feel I’m worthy, and I can’t keep kneeling at her feet any longer.
So, I guess it’s time to do something else, free of this chore.
Please let Frost know it’s not personal.
I have to do this for me. I have to cut this tie before the anger buckles me.
It’s been an honor to be your friend. Long may you live in peace and happiness.
Leif.
Fen stared at the note, seeing nothing. He understood.
Fen couldn’t say he hadn’t experienced the same thoughts in his centuries of service.
More so, of late. He had been on the verge of losing hope too.
Maybe that was why Kyrie still felt too good to be true.
In his heart, he knew there was a slight disconnect he kept hidden.
He kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
In no way was he more deserving than Leif.
It felt odd as hell to go from the deepest despair to having the biggest blessing bestowed upon an immortal: a permanent love to walk with until the end of time.
Time truly was unending when a person was alone.
He didn’t think Leif could be blamed for his decision.
Not that he knew how Celeste reacted to having a warrior turn their back on her.
He very much knew what she did to people who abused the powers given to them.
Fen had been one of the old king’s personal guards.
He had been there to witness her wrath. King Adair had abused his position in some of the worst ways.
When Celeste had snapped her fingers, turning him to naught but dust, all Fen had felt was relief.
Fen didn’t want to see the same happen to Leif.
They had only worked together a short spell.
Really no time at all in their eternal lives.
But from what he had seen, Leif was a good man whose only fault had been falling deeply in love with a bear he would never have. It was just sad for everyone involved.
Audor strolled into the kitchen. His expression was completely devoid of emotion. Still, Fen felt the pain he kept hidden. Leif and Audor had been a team since their Viking days. This would be a real blow to him.
“So he’s gone, then.”
It hadn’t been a question. Audor already knew. Fen handed him the letter. “This was on the fridge.”
Just as Fen had done, after only a few short lines, he sat at the kitchen table. His gaze moved over the paper in a way that screamed he read the words a dozen times. Finally, Audor dropped the paper and sat back in his seat. “Well.”
“Aye.” Fen honestly didn’t know what to say.
A part of him felt like he should apologize, but he wouldn’t.
As much as Leif had earned the same blessing Fen had been given, Fen also deserved the amazing mate Celeste had passed to him.
Life wasn’t a pie to be divided. He didn’t know why some people got chosen and others didn’t.
Sometimes he wondered if even Celeste knew.
Maybe even Celeste was a victim of the whims of the Fates, pulling everyone’s strings. Things just were what they were.
“Tell me how I can help.” That was all Fen could offer. It wasn’t as if they could or would give up the unheard of pairing they had gotten.
Audor shook his head. “Tell me how and why this happened to us and not him.”
“I can’t.” All Fen had was honesty. “As much as I know I deserve a mate, I don’t know why I was given a wolf.
Why now? Why us? I don’t understand what’s happening.
I don’t know what’s changed in the heavens.
But absolutely it’s nae fucking fair to Leif.
I saw the way he looked at Aspen when he came to town. ”
Audor nodded. “When they were together, their love was almost cloying.” Audor’s ice blue stare bored into him.
“So too was the fear of watching one or the other wake up in love with someone else, all because they stood no chance. It was like walking on eggshells, holding your breath. When they parted ways, it was almost a relief, as horrible as it is to say.”
“Nae as terrible as it would’ve been to watch one see the other with their true mate.”
“Exactly. That would’ve been soul crushing, and I get it.
When I fell in love with Waylon, I felt the same.
He kept bringing up how we were temporary.
Any chance of forever with us was impossible.
I finally had to walk away to save myself.
We weren’t together that long by any sort of comparison.
I can’t even imagine spending decades building a life only to have to finally come to grips with reality.
Now that reality is all skewed. He’s right to be angry. ”
“Aye.”
They held each other’s stare. A silent message passed between them. This was bad, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop whatever came next.