Chapter 34
Keld
The swatch of gauze still covered Grayson’s left cheek, and the sight hit Keld like a punch to the gut.
“Help with what?” His voice was raspy from disuse. He’d called out of work today, opting for self-flagellation in the darkness of his apartment,
“Just let me in,” Grayson snapped. “If you want me to leave when I’m done, I will.”
Why would I want him to leave? He’s the one who should want to get away from me.
He stepped back, allowing Grayson to enter the dark room.
“Jesus, Keld.” Grayson flicked a light switch, flooding the space with artificial light. “What the hell have you been doing other than ignoring my messages?”
“I didn’t ignore it,” Keld said. “I read it.” He just hadn’t been able to bring himself to answer.
“Oh, great, that makes things so much better.” Grayson inhaled sharply through his narrow nose. “I heard Ikatere Desalination employs non-Omega humans.”
Keld blinked, completely thrown off kilter. “What?”
“Ikatere, the place you work,” Grayson said impatiently. “There are humans at the company who aren’t Omegas, right?”
“Yes, there are, but… Why?”
Grayson went to sit on the aquaconductive sofa, then seemed to think better of it. “My brothers. I need to get them to Miami.”
Keld’s brain scrambled to catch up. “Your brothers… But I thought… Didn’t they—”
“Yes, we haven’t spoken since I ran away from home,” Grayson interrupted.
“I thought they wouldn’t understand, or that they would tell our parents where I went, but I was wrong.
They found me, and they need to get off the mainland.
My youngest brother, Dawson…” Grayson’s voice caught.
“Our dad hurt him pretty bad. Jameson took him and ran. He’s trying to get custody, but he needs a job and a place to live. ”
A slow simmer of rage crept back through Keld’s blood. He’d spent the past few days in a state of numb self-loathing, but the idea that someone hurt his Omega’s family…
“You want to try and get him a job at the plant?” Keld asked, straightening up.
“Do you think it could work?”
“I’ll talk to Loriun first thing tomorrow. Or I can go right now. I know where he lives, I can just—” Keld was halfway to the door when Grayson caught him by the arm.
“Don’t bother him at home. Tomorrow’s fine. I really appreciate it.” There was relief in his tone, but it was undercut by a layer of ice.
Keld looked down at him and slumped again. Right. He must hate that he needs me for this.
Grayson lifted his chin, blue eyes blazing. “Are you going to kick me out now?”
Keld’s head jerked backward. “No. You can stay here if you want, but I don’t know why you’d want to.”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Grayson exploded.
Keld took a step back, alarmed. He’d never seen Grayson like this—actually angry—but he deserved it.
“I’m sorry,” he said, eyes on the floor.
“For what? For ghosting your new boyfriend? For refusing to touch me ever since I got hurt? For acting like you don’t want me anymore? You’re going to have to be more specific than that.”
Keld shook his head. “I didn’t protect you. That’s my job—I’m your Alpha. But I couldn’t save you from my own mother. I don’t deserve to be around you”
A wild laugh startled Keld into looking up.
“You don’t deserve… Christ. Keld I told you this was nothing. I’m not upset about that. I’m upset that your response was to pull away from me, and leave me to my own thoughts.”
Keld’s lips parted, but no sound came out. His parents…Fuck. Keld was so caught up in his own agony that he hadn’t even considered what kind of trauma the attack had brought up. He’d failed his Omega in two ways, then.
“Do you want to break up?” The question was harsh, but Grayson’s eyes were glassy. “Is that what all this is?”
“No!” Keld’s fins flattened to his skull. “I thought… I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore. Not after what happened.”
“Well, you were wrong.” Grayson lifted a hand and tore the bandage from his face.
A jagged red line marred the freckled skin.
Four black knots held the edges together.
“You think this is bad? I’ve had broken ribs.
Fractured collarbone. Cracked skull. Look.
” He shoved his arms out towards Keld’s horrified face. “Look closer.”
Despite himself, Keld leaned down, eyes scanning the speckles. There, a pink mark too large to be a freckle. A few inches away, there was another. And another.
“Cigarette burns,” Grayson said, dropping his arms.
Keld stared at the Omega. Anger still burned in his gaze. His jaw was clenched tight, and his fingers curled into fists, but his eyes were haunted.
“I’ve been having nightmares about my past. My folks took their anger out on me because I’m an Omega.
I told myself they wouldn’t hurt my brothers as bad as they did me.
But it was all just bullshit to make myself feel better about running.
Deep down, I knew what would happen when I left, and I still did it.
This cut…” He touched his face. “It forced me to confront those memories, and what I did. I’m not some perfect, innocent, pure Omega who deserves better, whatever that means.
I’ve felt so fucking fragile since it happened.
I’m a selfish piece of shit and I needed you. ”
“You’re not,” Keld murmured. “You did what you needed to do to protect yourself.”
Keld reached a tentative hand for Grayson’s balled fist. It softened in his grasp.
“You’re wrong,” Grayson said. “But at least I have the chance to make up for what I did now. But I need your help to do it.”
“I’m here. I’ll be here for as long as you want me.” His thumb brushed the back of Grayson’s hand.
“I never stopped wanting you.”
Keld gripped the Omega’s wrist and pulled him into his arms. “You are safe, aiu. I promise. And your brothers will be safe too.”
Grayson buried his face against the scales of Keld’s chest and broke down in tears. Keld’s chest ached as he lifted Grayson into his arms. He settled them on the couch, making sure every part of Grayson was on his lap. He stroked Grayson’s hair and brushed tears away until his body stopped shaking.
“Sorry,” Grayson croaked. “I’ve been trying so hard not to fall apart…”
“It’s okay, aiu. It’s okay to cry.” Keld cradled his Omega against his chest. “I’m not going anywhere. No one is going to hurt you.”
Grayson’s breathing slowed. Keld sat on the sofa, holding his sleeping Omega until the moon reached its peak in the night sky
∞∞∞
“What are his qualifications?” Loriun sat at his glossy desk, the whir of his hydrochair softening the quiet of the office. His scarlet fingertips were tented together, eyes unfocused.
“Um…” Keld stared back at his old friend. He hadn’t thought to ask Grayson about that.
Loriun raised a brow. “Or his past work experience?”
Keld cleared his throat. “Well… I’m sure he’s got… some.”
The other Alpha dropped his face into his palms. “Keld, do you seriously expect me to just hire some random human without any information beyond his name?”
“Eksal says he’ll take him on the operations team,” Keld argued. “Anyone can be trained, right?”
Loriun sat back in his chair with a groan. “You’re a Turys-damned liability. Fine. Only because he’s your Omega’s kin.”
Relief surged through Keld’s body and he flopped back in his seat. “Thank you, Loriun. I owe you.”
“That’s an understatement,” Loriun muttered. “Go play with some spreadsheets, or whatever it is you do. I don’t want to see your face for a few hours.”
Keld grinned and backed out of the office. Loriun’s assistant, an Omega named Kaoi, shot him a look.
“What did you do to him?”
“Nothing, he’s fine. Probably.”
Kaoi sighed and set his stack of papers on the desk. “I’ll go get him a coffee.”
Keld returned to the accounting division, only to find his seat occupied. Zasia rotated to face him, a frown etched across her features.
“You,” she said, jabbing a finger at him. “What did you do to Grayson?”
“I—”
“Because Tara told me he’s been really down and that she hasn’t seen you around.”
Keld folded his arms on top of the cubicle divider. “It’s fine now, okay?”
“No, you don’t get to slither out of this that easily.” Zasia crossed a leg, revealing the diamond patterns of her upper thigh beneath her skirt. “I saw his cheek.”
Keld dropped his forehead into his arms. “It’s a long story. I could have prevented it, I didn’t, I felt awful.”
“And you ran off because you were a shit Alpha?” Zasia scoffed. “Male Alphas have such fragile egos.”
Keld’s head snapped back up. “I am not fragile!”
Zasia rolled her eyes and got to her feet. “As long as you weren’t the one that hurt him. I was ready to kick your ass.”
Her words sent a spark of indignation through him. “You really think I’d hurt an Omega?”
She shrugged. “No, but better safe than sorry.” She sauntered off, back to her desk.
Keld fell into his vacated chair and pressed his fingertips to his temples. A message flashed on his desktop.
Loriun Kolhn: I don’t suppose you know Jameson Miller’s email address or phone number?
Keld Vihinu: …I’ll ask Grayson.
The day passed in a blur, and Keld was fairly certain he hadn’t done a single work-related task.
A unit in Sandpiper Park had just become available, as the tenant had gotten mated and moved to the interspecies family neighborhood.
Keld put down the deposit over the phone, promising to stop by and sign the rental agreement after work.
As he pulled into his usual parking spot, he spotted Grayson standing just outside their building. He was pacing an anxious track in the grass to the side of the door. When he noticed Keld’s car, he jogged toward him.
Keld caught him in a hug and kissed the top of his head.
“So? What’d he say?” Grayson asked nervously.
Keld smiled. “He’ll hire him.”
Grayson sagged in Keld’s arms. “Seriously? Oh thank fuck…”
“And I got one of the units in building C. For your brothers. I have to stop by the management office to sign the agreement.
Grayson’s mouth popped open in a small ‘o.’ “You got them an apartment?”
“Of course.” Keld leaned down to press his lips to Grayson’s forehead. “They’re your family. You need them close.”
“You didn’t have to—”
“I know.” Keld slung an arm around Grayson’s shoulders. “But I had to do something to nurse my injured Alpha ego.”
Grayson laughed, a sound of relief and joy more beautiful than any piece of music. Keld placed a finger under his Omega’s chin and kissed him.
“Grayson?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you.”