Chapter Nine
Fen: I got everything moved in and unpacked, so you should be set when you get home.
Kyrie: Home. Sigh. I have to admit, I’ve been skimming your thoughts all night. I love how proud you are of mixing my things with yours. That’s so sweet and a definite improvement over all the unhappy customers I’ve had today.
Fen: What’s up with the anger lately? Humans are notoriously bad about being unkind to servers.
Kyrie: Who knows? At least I get to come home to you every night now.
Fen: Thank Goddess.
Kyrie: Deidra called and invited us to their house for dinner.
Fen: I’ve never thought about it, but I don’t know where they live. Is it in Faerie?
Kyrie: Yes and no. They have a house in town for appearance’s sake, but there’s more house than humans can see.
Fen: Can we actually go inside Faerie?
Kyrie: I can. Therefore, you can. She and her husband are the only people in town who have always known about me. Fairies can see a person’s inner glow. Mine is apparently too bright to hide from them.
Fen: That’s fascinating. I can’t wait to check out the place.
Fen: Some nights, guard duty feels very empty and long.
Kyrie: I can come hang out with you.
Fen: I’d love that.
The way Fen walked on clouds all the time really justified all his years of yearning for a mate. Kyrie was amazing twenty-four-seven.
“It’s probably a good thing Leif left, with all the smiling you do these days.”
At just the mention of being happy, Fen wanted to smile even brighter.
Bringing Leif into the matter shoved him in between his joy and Leif’s pain.
He didn’t like being in the middle. It was honestly kind of a shitty thing for Stone to say.
But Stone had always been a slight ass when it came to relationships.
The guy was bitter and lashed out behind the guise of flirting.
“One has nae to do with the other.”
Stone was a gorgeous vampire, and he knew it. He practically smoldered for no reason at all. They had known each other for too many centuries for Fen to fall for any of his bullshit.
“Where is your sexy other half?”
Fen was more than happy to talk about Kyrie. “He’s working.”
Stone snorted. “You make your mate work? You’ve lived for as long as I have. The world has always been at your mercy. I know damn well you can more than afford to support your man.”
The subject was actually a bit of a sore one for him.
He had yet to convince Kyrie to quit. Sometimes, he swore Stone was some sort of enhanced super psychic, seeing even the oldest minds.
But they had been turned by the same vampire.
Their ages were too similar for Stone to have an advantage. “Kyrie likes to work.”
Another loud snort cut through the air. “No one enjoys working, especially such a low-paying peasant job.”
Fen’s hackles rose a little more. He couldn’t show it, though. Fen wouldn’t expose his own insecurities about Kyrie’s choices. He wouldn’t give Stone ammunition to use against him. “I enjoy my position.”
Stone clasped his hands behind his back and kept in step with Fen as they patrolled. “That’s different. We’re warriors for our Goddess. It is an honor to serve.”
Fen changed tactics. “Why are you so concerned with my mate?”
A chuckle so low, it was nearly carried away by the wind fell from a mouth that tempted even saints.
Not Fen, of course. The strawberry-blond, blue-eyed warrior was too familiar to Fen.
“Maybe I find your mate fascinating.” Before Fen had time to rip Stone’s head from his shoulders, Stone moved on.
“Or maybe such a rare pairing should look happier.” The statement punched Fen in the chest, undermining the peace he had found.
Stone kept talking, oblivious to the inner havoc he wreaked.
“All eyes are on you two, studying why you two were chosen. With Waylon, he’s a pack leader.
It’s easier to understand receiving such a blessing. So, why Kyrie? What makes him special?”
Fen tried to stay calm. The last thing he needed to do was give Stone any reason to stay this path.
He forced out a laugh. “What? Why would you think there’s any crazy explanation?
Maybe Odin and Celeste have struck some sort of bargain.
Perhaps they are running an experiment. Nae one knows why the deities do anything.
We are their creations to do with as they please.
It’s nae as if any of have any control.”
Stone stopped walking and faced Fen.
Fen paused too as the air turned heavier.
The carefree seducer became the hardened and callous warrior.
His accent made a rare appearance. “Does that nae enrage you? Are you nae furious about being treated as a toy? All of this,” he waved his arm wide, “is nae more than a game and we are the pieces. Just because you currently have what you think you want, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t change tomorrow on someone else’s whim.
” His stare bored into Fen. “What if this dream life you have isn’t real?
You’re only the second pairing of this experiment, or whatever it is.
Maybe the wind will change tomorrow. What will happen then? ”
Fen didn’t even hesitate. “I’ll still sit at Celeste’s feet, grateful for having got to taste this.
Now I know what it is to have this blessing.
Any amount of Kyrie is better than never knowing this happiness exists.
I had given up on the dream. You have no idea how close I truly was to choosing the fire.
” That was a hard admission to make. Vampires were nigh impossible to destroy, but they could choose a warrior's death of walking into the fire.
No doubt it was a horrible way to go, but the loneliness had nearly beaten him.
Stone’s gaze moved over Fen’s face for a second before he dipped his chin and walked away.
Fen didn’t move. The conversation bothered him in a way he couldn’t explain. It was almost as if Stone knew something he didn’t and Fen fucking hated that. A hand landed on Fen’s shoulder, startling him. He spun.
Gemini waited, looking calm and not the least bit as if he intended to scare Fen. “You good?”
Fen cleared his throat. “Yeah. Sorry. Just lost in thought.”
Gemini smiled. He was truly a good man and simply looked like a nice person… leopard. Of course, he was a snow leopard, the more playful and cuddlier of the species. He was the perfect mate for Frost.
“I wanted to check on you. King Jonathan has sent a crew to give you guys the night off. They showed up a good ten minutes ago and you haven’t moved since.”
Damn. He really had lost himself in thought. Fen needed someone unbiased to talk to. “Why do you think Celeste put me with a wolf? What’s different about us?”
A smile exploded across Gemini’s face. “Why was I chosen for such a powerful healer? Who knows? But Celeste doesn’t make mistakes. Trust me. She scolded me personally for doubting her by questioning my strength for this position.”
“Personally? Wow.” Fen didn’t think he had heard of that before. “You must have really been making an ass of yourself.”
A loud bark of laughter burst from Gemini. It sounded very catlike. “I was, but you didn’t have to call me on my shit like that.”
Fen realized he was smiling. Happiness had been restored. Life truly was all about who people surrounded themselves with. He needed to be more mindful of that and not let someone else’s bitterness destroy his blessings.
“On that note.” Fen reached out for Kyrie. He was home and in the shower. Fen barely stopped himself from smirking. “Well, since I’m not needed here, see you later.” Fen dissipated and reappeared nude in the shower where his heart waited.
Kyrie didn’t startle even as Fen molded against his back. “Mhmm. There he is.” Kyrie reached over his head and held Fen in place as he kissed Kyrie’s nape.
Fen hummed against his skin. “Mhmm. There’s the spot I’ve been thinking about all day.”
He felt Kyrie chuckle as much as he heard it. The sound vibrated against Fen’s lips. “Only that spot?”
He swiped his hand down Kyrie’s body. “This one too. I missed you like crazy all day.”
Kyrie melted into him. “I missed you too. All I thought about was coming home.”
“You do nae have to work, if you recall?” Fen didn’t want to ruin the moment. He only wanted Kyrie to know Fen would and could take care of him.
Kyrie slowly turned in Fen’s arms. He studied Fen’s face. “You know I can hear your thoughts. Feel what you feel. I know this is important to you, but why is this what you want? What would I do all day?”
Fen shrugged. “I’d love to know you’re relaxing or playing in the woods.” Fen held his stare. “Tasting freedom for once.”
Even with water falling, Fen saw the tears fill Kyrie’s eyes. Or maybe he just felt them. He couldn’t tell the difference any longer.
Kyrie visibly swallowed. “Why?”
Fen knew Kyrie could see his every thought. He knew Kyrie knew the answer. Sometimes there were things that needed to be said. “Because you’re mine and I love you.”
Kyrie sniffled. “Really?”
He looked so young, standing there begging for someone to love him. “You can reach into my mind anytime you want and see for yourself.”
“I love you too.”
Elation had Fen near to levitating. He dipped his chin to claim Kyrie’s lips and a cold wave of water blasted over him. The oxygen left the room and everything was gone.
Cold iron bars bit into Kyrie’s unclothed body.
The cage was barely big enough for him to be on his knees, much less stand.
It was really no more than a wolf-sized iron kennel.
The tears hadn’t stopped since the moment he landed in Monnie’s temple.
While he had known this day would come, he had also prayed his ass off it wouldn’t.
Things had been going so amazing with Fen.
His life with Fen had been nothing but peace and love.
The entire time, Kyrie lived with his breath held, waiting every day for the other shoe to drop.
He hadn’t known exactly what signal Monnie had been waiting for, but Fen’s declaration of love fit with his cruelty.
The blond-haired, blue-eyed stunning man who ran this place sat nearby, impatiently waiting for Fen to wake up.
Kyrie had never understood how so much beauty could be bestowed upon someone so evil.
Monnie made it hard to look away. Maybe that was just what it meant to be a god.
Kyrie really hoped Monnie killed him soon.
He didn’t have much sanity left. Even one more night in this cage would break him.
Unexpectedly, Fen leaped to his feet, ready to fight. His fists were raised and his chest heaved as he eyed the room. Fury and devastation crossed his features the moment he spotted Kyrie.
You can still dissipate from here. Go now. Don’t look back. Kyrie blasted the thoughts at Fen, praying he obeyed.
What’s the fuck is going on? I won’t leave you.
Monnie popped to his feet. His cocky expression screamed he heard every word.
“Boys, there’s no need to fight.” His gaze locked on Fen.
The way his features hardened was terrifying.
Kyrie might have scrambled backward if he could move at all.
Monnie’s arm rose in Kyrie’s direction. He slowly closed his fingers into a fist. Kyrie’s entire body squeezed like being in a trash compactor.
He couldn’t even scream. Blood simply poured from his mouth and nose.
Monnie never looked away from Fen. “I don’t recommend zapping out of here. All it takes is one more little squeeze, and he’s gone.”
Fen tried rushing toward Kyrie. He froze in his tracks as if hitting an invisible wall.
Monnie clicked his tongue and shook his head. “There’ll be none of that. I don’t see why the three of us can’t work this out.”
“Release my mate.” Fen growled the words between clenched teeth, looking more furious than Kyrie had ever seen him.
The pressure released from his body. Kyrie wanted it back the moment Monnie opened his mouth.
“Mate? You think this mutt right here is your mate?” A cruel smile twisted Monnie’s lips. “Oh, yeah.” He waved his hand and Kyrie’s mating marks disappeared. “I forgot. There’s no need for those any longer. One of my favorite tricks, if I might add.”
Fen looked confused and enraged as fuck.
Go, Fen! Right now. Don’t look back.
Monnie’s vile gaze locked on Kyrie. A demonic-sounding chuckle filled the air. “He can’t hear you. You’re not real mates. You know this. It was part of our plan.”
Tears flowed freely from Kyrie’s eyes, mixing with the blood that wouldn’t stop flowing. This was worse than death. Kyrie should have accepted that fate long before Fen got hurt. His only excuse was he was a coward.
“What’s going on? Seriously, what is happening right now?”
Fen’s anger, hurt and confusion were choking him. Even with Monnie stealing his powers, Kyrie felt the way Fen didn’t know what to do. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Go. Please go.” His voice cracked hard, but there was no way Fen didn’t hear.
The squeezing pain returned. “You’ll have only his corpse if you try.”
A cry tore from Kyrie. The taste of blood felt permanent, but he refused to look away from Fen.
“Remember what I said about dreams. You have to go.” This was as real as it got.
Fen wasn’t dreaming, but he needed Fen to believe and leave him behind.
A final lie to save Fen from a million others, Kyrie had told.
“Go.” It was barely a whisper, but it worked. Fen vanished.
The angry roar Monnie released made Kyrie smile.
“Bring him back!”
Kyrie coughed. More blood filled his mouth.
His broken bones shifted, nearly knocking him unconscious from the pain, but he wouldn’t give Monnie the satisfaction of winning.
“I can’t.” Kyrie laughed. It barely came out as a chuckle and gargled with blood.
“You took away my mating marks. He is Celeste’s now.
” He wished like hell there was enough room for him to lie down.
His head swam and death’s rattle vibrated in his throat.
The way Monnie stormed toward the cage said everything. Kyrie knew he was dead, but he would die knowing he was brave in the end. Better than late than never, he supposed. There were worse fates.