Chapter Twelve
By the time I came back to my senses, only three alphas remained around me: Oliver, Matt Hayakawa, and Todd Jarrett of the Alaska Region. I didn’t know why Matt and Todd were there, but I appreciated their presence.
Oliver extended a hand, and this time I accepted the help. He wouldn’t think I was weak, and Matt and Todd wouldn’t have stuck around if they weren’t on my side.
“Where…?” My mouth was so dry it hurt, and I couldn’t manage to finish the question.
“Zane has gone to assemble a cleaning crew, as you asked,” Oliver said. “Desmond went to get you some water.”
“Ah.” That was good. Water would help.
“Anax, your clothes.” Todd picked up the items I’d removed earlier and held them out to me. “If you wish to get dressed.”
“Thanks.” I did wish. I was far too exposed right now, and my emotions, between grief and the upheaval of shifting four times in less than half an hour, were all over the fucking place. I didn’t want to be vulnerable. Clothes would be a good thing.
The three of them turned their backs while I got dressed, Recognizing it as a sign of respect, I didn’t question it. As I pulled the clothes on, I reached out to Kyle. He had to be losing his shit right about now. It’s okay. I’m okay. He didn’t challenge. He’s dead.
Fuck, Tobias. He paused. Are you actually okay?
Probably not, I admitted. I’ll be up there in a few minutes. Wait for me. Please.
I’ll be right here.
Desmond Constantine emerged from the house with two bottles of water and a plate which, I saw when he got closer, held a selection of sliced meat. He handed me one of the bottles. “If you need, Anax.”
“Thank you.” I opened the bottle and drained it in a single gulp, then took the plate from him and stuffed a few pieces of meat into my mouth.
Nausea nearly made me spit them out, but I needed to refuel after shifting so many times.
Plus the taste of the meat along with the water helped clear the taste of blood from my mouth.
“What do you need from us, Anax?” Oliver asked when I swallowed.
“I need you to speak freely and informally. You may call me by name.” My head was spinning, heavy with an ache that was only partly physical, and I didn’t want to be in charge right now.
Not that I had a choice, but I could at least try to get these four men to drop the formalities.
“Um. Hang on, please. I’m still adjusting. ”
“Take your time, Tobias.” Desmond was the newest Arkhon, and he and I had bonded during my trip to Michigan to instate a new Arkhon in the wake of Irving Macomber’s death.
His personality and his clear alignment with my beliefs and way of doing things were why I’d chosen him as Irving’s replacement.
As I’d helped mentor him through the initial stage of his rule as Arkhon, we’d become friendly.
I took a few deep breaths. Zane emerged from the house with Seth and Davion behind him. They nodded to me and began the process of moving Edward’s body.
My stomach rolled, rebelling against the sight of death as much as the meat and water, and I turned away, acting like I intended to face the arkhons.
“Too much has happened today.” I cleared my throat.
Desmond gave me the other bottle of water, and I took a small sip this time even though I wanted to drain it the way I had the first. “Too many deaths.
We will not reconvene today. People might want time to mourn Edward Cutler and Davis Gray, and I need to consult with all remaining arkhons about instatement of a new Southeast Region Arkhon and the future of Pacific Region.
I took another sip of water as I tried to gather my thoughts.
“I need all of you arkhons who remain to find your alphas. Inform them that meetings are adjourned for the day and that tomorrow, we will begin with a memorial to the two who were lost today. Zane, I’ll ask you to send the Northwest and Four Corners alphas to the auditorium to meet with their arkhons, assuming that’s where Paul and Hollis still are. ”
“It is, and I will,” Zane said.
“Thank you, old friend.” I sighed. “I had hoped, against all logic, that this would be a peaceful gathering. Instead, two arkhons have lost their lives. I don’t know what the intention was in setting Edward against me.
” I paused, trying to sort out which of the five men around me was senior in the rank.
“Matt, as the longest-ruling Arkhon here in front of me now, you are asked to speak to Robert Greenlea on my behalf. He and Edward were allied. Find out if he knows why Edward issued the challenge. Whether there was true collusion between Edward and Davis, and if so, for what purpose.”
“Done,” Matt said.
“I’m going to go find my mate so he can see I’ve survived.
” Let them think I was weak for needing Kyle.
Right now, I couldn’t have cared less. “In one hour, arkhons will convene in the auditorium. No alphas to start with. We need to discuss a few things first. Before supper, we’ll call in the alphas of Southeast and, if relevant, Pacific so new arkhons can be instated. ”
“Do what you need to do, old friend,” Zane said. “We’ll handle things for a little while.”
“I appreciate it.” I started to force a smile and decided not to bother. They would know it was fake, and I definitely didn’t feel like smiling right now. “If I’m needed, I’ll be in my room. Have one of my guards come to get me. But if possible, please just give me the hour.”
“Whatever you need,” Desmond said.
I felt like there was more I should say, but I couldn’t come up with any other orders for them, and things seemed pretty well in hand. So I headed, trudging slowly and trying to ignore twinges of pain, into the house and took the back stairs to the third floor.
Kyle was there, waiting for me exactly where I’d left him. Suzannah was with him, as were Xavier and Ren, but as soon as I walked in, they left without a word. I closed the door, and immediately Kyle was on his feet pulling me into his arms. “I love you. Don’t do shit like that.”
“A challenge, once issued, must be answered,” I muttered. “And a werewolf who begs for death…well, I chose to grant the request.”
“I know.” He held me more tightly. “I didn’t watch, but I knew what was happening. I could see it. Feel it. Tobias, you did what you had to, even though you didn’t want to.”
“Yeah. Like pretty much always.” I sighed and sagged against him. “You know the whole issue with using sex as brain bleach?”
“Yep.”
“Fuck that. Fuck me.” I didn’t feel particularly sexy right then, but I needed something to focus on. Something that would remind me I was still alive while letting me not run things for a little while. Sex with Kyle typically had those effects. “Please.”
“Since you asked nicely.” He pulled back and looked me in the eye.
“Tobias, are you sure? You’re right, sex as brain bleach isn’t cool, but I’m in agreement if it’s what you really want and need right now.
I thought I was going to lose you for a minute there, and I want to remember that you’re mine. ”
“Do it.” I started yanking off my clothes.
While I got naked, he got the lube. When I lay on the bed, he was ready, his cock semi-hard. I wanted to suck it, to get it all the way up, to taste him, but we didn’t really have that much time, and I wanted to use the time we did have to find oblivion with his dick inside me.
He nudged my legs apart and started lubing my hole. “I love you,” he said. “Whatever reason we have for fucking right now, I’m also making love to you. You are my mate, my fiancé, and I love you.”
“Too much talking,” I muttered. “I love you too.”
“Just making sure.” He thrust a finger inside me, and I moaned. “Don’t try to boss me around, Tobias. Let me take over for a little while.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
He put some lube on his cock and got between my legs. “Keep looking at me. You want to be reminded of who you are? You’d damn well better keep your eyes open so you can see me.”
I didn’t bother trying to answer as he started pushing inside me way too slowly.
I made no sound, because there was no way to know who might hear, and I couldn’t risk my guests knowing their Anax was getting his ass reamed.
Kyle managed to be silent too as he started thrusting in and out of me, fire building between us, need and craving and something stronger than either.
It lasted only a couple of minutes before my climax erupted, and as my warm fluids touched my belly, Kyle groaned and spasmed into me. Only a couple of minutes, but long enough. I was his. He was mine. We were together, and whatever came next, nothing was going to change that.
After a few seconds of loud breathing, he withdrew from me and grabbed a washcloth from somewhere. Gently, he wiped the cum from my abdomen. “We should probably grab a shower before you go do whatever you’re doing next.”
“Meeting with the arkhons.” I took a couple of breaths and propped myself on my elbows.
“The Southeast Region needs a new Arkhon, and I want to consult the others before I make that appointment. We need to decide if there’s still a Pacific Region and, if there is, talk about a new Arkhon for that, too. ”
“And you should probably decide what to do about the alphas who went along with Davis.” He frowned. “Sorry to put a damper on things, but you don’t want to just leave them free to cause hatred and discontent.”
“Yeah.” One more thing to add to the mental list I’d already started to lose track of. “Shower. I’ll get dressed. Then I’ll deal with the rest of it. What are you going to do until supper?”
“Start working on the virtual support group things, I guess.” He shrugged. “Right now, not thinking. Blood is not in my brain. Shower.”
I let him lead me to the bathroom, where we quickly washed up together in the shower stall I’d made sure was more than big enough for the both of us.
Kyle took over washing me, and I let him because I needed his touch.
It soothed me, anchored me, and I was thankful for whatever instinct or impulse had brought him to do it.