55. Chapter 55
Chapter fifty-five
Alex
Alex sat slumped on the couch with his face in his hands, trying to sort through the carnage that had become his life. His tears seeped through his fingers and soaked the wood floor. How had everything gone to shit in such a brief period of time? He was fully ascended and one of the most powerful beings on the planet, but he was more alone and depressed than ever. Danyal was physically back, but he was not the same Danyal. It was all Alex’s fault; would Danyal ever be the same again?
Galen was gone, and Alex wanted desperately to talk to him. He had risked letting someone else into his life, but he had been abandoned. A part of his soul was missing. A wave of sorrow washed over him, and his chest ached. With each beat, his heart came closer to bursting with anguish.
Alex was so deep in his misery that he didn’t even look up as the bell on the elevator chimed. He didn’t want any visitors.
“I’m tired of talking, Diana,” he exclaimed without looking up.
Alex’s statement was met with silence. He took a deep breath. Why the fuck could he not be left alone?
“Alex,” said the deep, husky voice.
Alex looked up to see Galen standing about fifteen feet away, wearing a brown leather bomber jacket, a black rugby shirt, and jeans. Seeing Galen was a beacon in the darkness. Alex stood frozen as his heart pounded faster. He wanted to run over and embrace him tight, but was concerned about giving Galen mixed messages. He was also afraid of his guilt for wanting the embrace of another man, with Danyal still in the hospital. Whichever choice he made, he betrayed someone and didn’t want to cause any more suffering. Alex’s fears kept him paralyzed, helplessly staring across the room at Galen.
Finally, mustering the courage to speak, Alex said, “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Made it to London, but even with all the distance, could still feel ya. Andrea kicked my arse and dared me to acknowledge mah feelings. Decided to stop running and follow mah heart,” said Galen.
Galen stepped closer to Alex, and with each step, he could feel the warmth and compassion radiating from him. Alex extended his hand to stop Galen at arm’s length. Galen met Alex’s gaze and smiled his disarming smile. Alex could see Galen’s dimples through his neatly trimmed beard, and his heart melted. He was physically shaking as Galen took Alex’s hand and placed it on Galen’s chest. As they had done on several occasions, Galen let Alex touch his soul.
This time, though, the feeling was different: a high voltage energy ran through his body, followed by a euphoria he had never experienced. Galen extended his arms and wrapped them around Alex. He finally felt safe as he relented and placed his arms around Galen in a reciprocal embrace. Galen’s thoughts and feelings were clear to Alex. Galen had found his reason to stop running, and wanted to kiss Alex with every fiber of his being.
Despite desperately wanting to kiss him back, Alex denied himself the pleasure and was instead ashamed of the intensity of his desires. How could he want Galen so much when his love for Danyal had not changed? Alex wouldn’t cross the line.
Galen started to speak with tears running down his handsome face, but Alex shook his head and touched his forehead to Galen’s. In mere moments, he had gone from depression to elation. Alex was afraid to think of where he would go from here, but was unwilling to leave this moment with Galen, who had the potential to turn his world upside down.
The peacefulness of the moment was disrupted by Alex’s cell phone vibrating in his pocket. Alex said he needed to take the call because it was Dr. Anderson. Galen stepped aside to let Alex answer it. The look on Galen’s face grew concerned as the tone in Alex’s voice immediately turned serious before he hung up the phone.
Alex said the hospital had called a crisis negotiation team to speak with Danyal. He’d barricaded himself in his room and was threatening the staff. Alex told Galen he needed to go.
“Everything is fucked up, but I don’t want you to leave again; please…please stay,” said Alex.
“Going with ya,” said Galen. “Where you go, I go.”
“You don’t owe anything to PGC or Danyal, Galen.”
“Mah allegiance is to ya, Alex. No one else.”
Alex nodded, placing his arms around Galen as they teleported to the Mass General.