Chapter 20
Aiden groaned and patted his slightly distended belly as Jamie laid him on his bed. “I don’t know how I’ll be able to sleep with all the food you force-fed me.” He was dressed only in the boxers that Jamie helped wriggle him into minutes prior.
“Ha ha, very funny. You just quit complaining. You heard what Doctor Mac said. Food and sleep. Besides, you seemed to like it.” Jamie covered him with the comforter and took a step back from the bed, placing his hands on his hips.
“Oh, the food was delicious, but there was just so much of it.”
“If you hadn’t been practically falling asleep at the table, I would’ve made you eat more. As it is, the shower’ll have to wait till tomorrow.”
Aiden grunted.
Jamie waved a hand. “Well, I’ll just let you sleep,” he said. When he took a step backwards, Aiden’s chest tightened.
“Nooo. Want mate close by,” Aiden’s phoenix hissed.
Aiden pushed himself up. “What? Wait. Where’re you going?” Aiden asked.
“Well, I was going to sleep in my room. I don’t want to disturb you. You really need the rest,” Jamie said.
“No, stay. Please. I feel like I’ll sleep better with you here.” He hastily added, “I mean if you don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?” Jamie asked.
His anxiety lessened, and he was able to give Jamie a weak smile. “Yeah,” he croaked. “I mean, yes, I’m sure. Just get in.”
Jamie returned his smile. “Let me just get changed. I’ll be right back.” He retreated toward his bedroom.
Aiden’s body relaxed into the soft mattress. He closed his eyes as sleep threatened.
“Stay vigilant. Wait for mate,” his phoenix insisted.
His eyelids snapped open. “You’re very bossy for a creature who was essentially born today.”
“Hmpf. I’ve been around your whole life. Your stubbornness just kept me trapped,” the beast snipped.
Before Aiden could respond, Jamie returned. He shut off the bedroom light and climbed into the vacant side of the bed, slipping under the comforter and rolling to face Aiden.
“Better now?” Jamie asked.
“Much. Now I can protect you,” Aiden said sarcastically. “Well, I would if I had more strength than a newborn kitten.”
Jamie huffed a laugh. “Your strength will return soon enough.” He nudged closer to Aiden and leaned his head against Aiden’s. “I can protect you for tonight at least.”
Aiden’s pulse quickened. He hated being vulnerable. He couldn’t let anything happen to Jamie again.
“I can hear you thinking,” Jamie murmured. “Go to sleep.”
Aiden closed his eyes but tossed and turned for several more minutes. Jamie was silent, but Aiden could tell by his breathing pattern that he was still awake as well.
He couldn’t stop a sound of surprise when Jamie threw his arm around him and pulled him into the little spoon position, his back pressed tight to Jamie’s front.
Aiden felt tears threatening. What was going on with him?
“We’ve been through a lot today, human. Rest,” his beast said.
“Is this OK?” Jamie murmured.
“Yeah,” Aiden mumbled. “I just never thought I’d be someone’s little spoon.”
Jamie chuckled. “Just let me take care of you tonight,” Jamie said. He pressed a kiss to the top of Aiden’s head. “Now, go to sleep.”
Aiden’s chest warmed and, finally, sleep came.
*
When Aiden opened his eyes, he was surprised to see daylight peeking out from the edges of the window shades. It felt like he’d just closed his eyes, but it must have been hours. He went to roll over onto his back but found he couldn’t move. What happened? He glanced down and saw Jamie’s arm tucked around him.
“Hmm, good morning,” Jamie said in a sleep-soaked voice.
“It seems like afternoon,” Aiden mumbled.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Jamie leaned away from Aiden and stretched his arms above his head. “How’d you sleep? Do you feel better?”
Aiden rolled to his back and then pushed to a sitting position. “I slept like a log.” He took stock of how he was feeling. “I feel pretty good, much stronger.”
“What about your other half? How’s he feeling this morning?”
“Tell mate we’re starving but otherwise great,” Aiden’s phoenix retorted.
Aiden chuckled and relayed the message from his beast.
Jamie smiled and threw the covers off. “Let me just brush my teeth, and then I’ll make you breakfast.” He swung his legs off the side of the bed and stood up.
“You don’t need to. I can do it,” Aiden insisted.
Jamie was backing up closer to the door. “Nuh uh, you rest. I want to do it.”
“OK, OK. I’m not going to argue,” Aiden said.
Jamie turned away, calling over his shoulder, “Good, because I’ll win.” He stopped and spun back around. “At least I’ll win while you’re still weak.” He grinned evilly at Aiden and disappeared down the hall.
Aiden’s head fell back against the pillow, and he closed his eyes. “Well, what’re we going to do about my father?” Aiden asked his beast.
“We’re going to kill him of course.”
“How? Can you even fly?”
“Hmpf! Of course. As soon as you eat with mate, I’ll show you. I’ve been dreaming of flying for years while you kept me trapped.”
Trapped? Is that how his beast felt? “Was it awful? You being stuck inside me all those years?”
The phoenix was silent for so long that Aiden didn’t think he was going to answer, but then he finally spoke. “No, it wasn’t awful. Look, we are one. You are me, and I am you. I got to experience everything you went through. I saw how your father treated everyone. I saw how he treated you, Iris, and Jamie. He was and still is a monster. I understand why you were so hesitant to shift, but you cannot be afraid anymore. We need to stop him. We need to make him pay for what he’s done.”