Chapter Eleven #2
Without a single thought, Fen dissipated and reappeared in Vegas.
He recognized the fake sky that was actually pretty nice to look at.
He had been hypnotized by it the first time he came here.
Kyrie’s blood still pumped through Fen’s veins.
Fen followed that trail. His pace increased as he felt the distance between them close.
Kyrie came into view at a slot machine with a drink in one hand.
His whole demeanor screamed he was drunk.
That was a hell of a feat, considering he likely burned through alcohol like it was nothing.
Of course, his dad was the good-time god, so maybe he had passed on some traits that let him feel the effects of drinking.
Kyrie’s gaze shot in his direction. Even through his obvious shock, his eyes still burned with longing.
How could he think there was any chance Fen could walk away from this?
No one had ever looked at him the way Kyrie did.
He had no clue how many lies he had been fed, but there were some things a person couldn’t fake.
Actual love was one of those things, and Kyrie loved him.
He didn’t know what Kyrie saw in Fen’s expression as Fen’s long stride ate up the space between.
No doubt he looked as crazed as he felt.
Either Kyrie had accepted his fate or he knew Fen would never hurt him because he didn’t run.
He damn well better know he was safe with Fen.
No words were spoken. Fen snagged the back of Kyrie’s neck and hauled him forward. He took the kiss he wanted, pouring all his fear into it. Kyrie didn’t hesitate to kiss Fen back every bit as aggressively.
When he was certain he had made his point, Fen pulled away, but he didn’t release Kyrie.
“How dare you run away and leave me scared as fuck? I had to stand by and watch you tortured. Then I thought I was about to watch you die and then you just vanished. Next, I find you in a fucking casino, drinking and gambling like nothing happened. What the fuck, Kyrie? I can’t decide if I did something to make you think I’d quit us that easily, or if you already have? ”
Tears filled Kyrie’s eyes.
Fen wasn’t done. “I did exactly what you wanted. When you told me to trust you and leave, I left and got help. What about that screamed I was done? Just what the fuck? Did you honestly think I would just leave you? If so, I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but it was obviously something.”
Tears spilled over Kyrie’s lashes and rolled down his cheeks. “You still have our mating mark.”
Fen’s eyes flickered to Kyrie’s neck. “Yeah. You do too. I knew you would. That fucked-up God can erase all he wants in a dream, but he can’t change our reality.
He can’t take away our blessing from Celeste.
Here, in real life, you’re mine. If you ever run away from me again, I’m turning you over my knee.
Do you understand? For fuck’s sake, you’re gambling. ” He couldn’t let that part go.
Kyrie took a shaky-sounding breath. “I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore. I thought you would hate me.”
“Over my fucking knee,” Fen reminded him through clenched teeth.
Kyrie sniffled. “I feel like this is where I should say ‘yes, Daddy’.”
Happiness and relief exploded through Fen. There was the man Fen had fallen in love with. The one who used humor when life got to be too much.
“Oh, hey. You showed up. I knew you would eventually.”
Fen’s chin shot up.
Aspen pulled out a stool at the slot machine next to Kyrie.
He put his rewards card into the machine and a voucher.
He looked relaxed. Aspen hit the highest bet button.
The machine made a loud sound—like a motor starting followed by dings before going back to motors.
Aspen didn’t look at whatever it was doing. His gaze stayed locked on Fen.
“You look like hell.”
Fen glanced down at himself. He had borrowed clothes from one of Jonathan’s guards. He hadn’t brushed his hair since Kyrie and his interrupted shower. It was very possible he looked as if he had rolled around on the floor. His last twenty-four hours had been an absolute nightmare.
A loud alarm made Aspen jump. His gaze slid toward the machine. He looked totally shook. “Um. I’m pretty sure I just won four-point-three million dollars. That can’t be right.”
Kyrie turned and leaned over to look at the screen. “Seriously? I didn’t even know that game paid out that high.” A loud bark of laughter escaped Kyrie as he eyed the machine. “Holy shit. You won four-point-three million dollars!”
Fen stared at Kyrie’s profile. He was a hell of an actor. His surprise looked genuine. You’re amazing.
Kyrie’s gaze slid Fen’s way. A small smile touched his lips. He’s a big bear. It’ll take a lot of money if he hopes to chase Leif.
Warmth spread through Fen’s chest. Kyrie believed in love winning, whether he realized it or not. What if they genuinely aren’t true mates?
What if we weren’t? Kyrie shot back.
Touché. I’d absolutely still chase you to the ends of the earth and back until you gave in and kept me.
Kyrie’s eyes glimmered. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t make you chase me. I love you too much.
Fen nodded as if they spoke aloud. You still owe me all the explanations, though. He immediately wished he hadn’t said anything. At least, not yet.
Sadness filled Kyrie’s expression. “Aye.”
Fen’s bright smile was back. “Are you mocking my accent again?”
“Maybe.”
Damn. I get the feeling you really do want me to turn you over my knee.
Sexual promise lit Kyrie’s features. If you promise you’re really mine forever, I’ll let you do whatever you want, Daddy.
The desire that slammed into him nearly knocked Fen off his feet.
“This is forever. Do nae fucking forget it again.” Even Fen heard the lust with a biting edge in his voice.
He hauled Kyrie, stool and all, against him.
When he wrapped his arms around his mate, the truth set into stone inside him.
He genuinely didn’t blame Kyrie even an ounce for Monnie’s insane bullshit.
Kyrie was a victim to the whims of a merciless god every bit as much as Fen had been.
Even a god hadn’t stood a chance against them, though.
Not as long as they had each other. But Kyrie needed to let Fen check him for injuries soon, or Fen couldn’t promise Kyrie wouldn’t get that spanking.
The day had swung too wildly. His insides still shook hard enough to make him sick.
A lot of his calm was an act. They needed time alone with no human witnesses.
His soul craved its other half, and Fen didn’t think he could hold it back.
With a half-smoked cigar hanging from his mouth, Leif watched the excitement surrounding Aspen.
Shock practically bled from Aspen’s pores.
Leif chuckled. There was a hard mass in the center of Leif’s chest where his heart should be.
Despite that, he still couldn’t look away.
Of course, he had come here for exactly this: a single glance of the bear he couldn’t shake.
“Can I get you anything?”
Leif checked over his shoulder and in the direction of the voice. A blonde human server waited for a response. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
“I’ll bet.”
Leif smiled, hoping not to be rude. He appreciated her hungry tone, but Leif also knew it wasn’t personal. Vampires gave off pheromones that lured humans to them, making it easier for them to feed.
She moved closer and sat on the stool next to him.
“Which one has you looking so intense? You haven’t looked away from those three the entire time you’ve been here.
” She nodded toward Aspen, Kyrie, and Fen across the room.
“You know we’re not supposed to bring free drinks to people who aren’t actively gambling. ”
Without breaking eye contact, Leif pressed a button on his machine, casting his bet. “You don’t have to worry.” He tossed a quick glance Aspen’s way, making sure he didn’t lose sight of him before focusing on the server again. “The one who just hit the jackpot is my ex.”
She made a show of sneaking a peek Aspen’s way as well. “Nice choice. Are you stalking him?”
Leif didn’t miss a beat. “Yes.”
She laughed. Her blue eyes swam with mirth. Admittedly, she was extremely beautiful, but Aspen owned his heart. “I could take him a drink, if you’d like. I don’t have to say who it’s from.”
The idea of Aspen not knowing it was him was irresistible. “You don’t happen to have Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, do you?”
The blonde’s smile grew. “We do.”
“That’s his favorite.” There was no missing the tinge of sadness in his voice.
The server stood and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m on it.”
Leif stared so hard at Aspen, waiting for the drink to arrive, that his eyes burned from the need to blink.
Finally, he saw the blonde server approach.
He watched her mouth move while she held out the glass.
The loud-ass machines around him made it impossible—even with preternatural hearing—to make out what was said.
Aspen’s fingers wrapped around the glass. He froze as her words hit.
The server walked away while Aspen still held the drink as if locked in the position of accepting it. It was like Aspen’s body refused to move.
Leif couldn’t watch anymore. He glanced at his screen and hit the button again.
Lights flashed and made noises like he was about to win and then he didn’t.
His throat swelled. He shouldn’t have sent that drink.
All he had accomplished was rekindling the false hope he had carried for years.
Weres and vampires were suddenly being paired as true mates.
Hopeless love sat so heavily on his chest, he couldn’t breathe.
Surely it would have already happened to them if it was meant to be.
Despite his best efforts, Leif’s gaze slid back Aspen’s way.
The untouched drink sat on the now empty machine.
All three men were gone. He wasn’t surprised.
That big of a win likely meant he had to fill out paperwork or something.
The pressure at the backs of his eyes increased.
The lump in his throat grew bigger. It seemed Aspen had finally given up on him.
Leif had finally broken him with his refusal to bend.
A solid but cozy warmth pressed against his back.
Leif’s heart stopped. He would know that chest in a dark room filled with strangers at an orgy.
Then the sweet yet wild scent of the man he loved overcame him.
The crushed pieces of his soul jangled, reminding him of what it felt like to lose Aspen all over again.
Aspen nuzzled his neck, audibly drawing in Leif’s scent. When warm lips softly brushed his skin, Leif’s eyes automatically closed to savor the sensation. He didn’t want any other senses interfering with the feel of perfect lips on his skin. His chest felt like it was being stomped on by buffalo.
“I can’t beg anymore. Either come back to me where you belong or stay gone.
I can’t go another night thinking you might sleep in my arms again.
Don’t tease me with some half-life where you give me just enough hope to keep me hanging on.
My sanity can’t handle this anymore.” Another sweet kiss brushed his neck while Leif sat frozen by the love that choked him.
The tender arms that had taken him to heaven thousands of times gently squeezed him one final time.
“Whatever you decide, you’ll always be my prickly pear. ”
The blow was massive. Cuddly bear and prickly pear.
The ridiculous pet names still haunted his dreams. Aspen’s softly spoken words, meant for his ears alone, were the last he would get of Aspen.
Aspen’s warmth disappeared as quickly and quietly as it appeared.
Leif was left with nothing but chill bumps and agony.
A little rage, too. Aspen was the one who threw them away.
He was the one who said he couldn’t live with waking up another day knowing that day might be the one they lost each other.
Leif would have stayed forever if Aspen hadn’t tossed him out of his life.
Now Aspen was back. Leif didn’t know if he could survive it.
“Would you like something to drink, sweetie?”
Leif glanced over his shoulder, fighting the pains in his chest. It was a different server. Maybe he needed the comfort. “Yeah. Can I get a Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey?” He wanted to grab one last hint of Aspen.
“Sorry, honey. We don’t have that. I can get you an Old Forester.”
Leif stared at the woman for a moment before his gaze slid toward where Aspen had left his glass. It was gone. He blinked, wondering if he hallucinated the last half hour of his life. Maybe he just needed to feed. It was possible he was simply losing his mind.