Thirst (Hellish #4)(11)
“Oh, sexy, I’m everyone’s problem,” Kallus said with a wink. “More for some than others, but not everyone fights their demons. Some people prefer to spank them.”
Jonathan held the man’s stare until his smile fell and he shifted uncomfortably beneath Jonathan’s gaze. Only when Jonathan was certain Kallus wouldn’t continue saying stupid shit did he continue. “You abandoned your mate.”
“Have you come to drag me home? Have you cleaned up all the world’s problems to the point you resorted to trying your hand at marriage counseling now?”
Jonathan shook his head. “I’m only explaining your present circumstances. It’s not in my nature to hold a prisoner without listing the charges. Since you’re Mammon’s son, I’m sure you don’t care, but abandoning a mate is a serious offense. I’m assuming you knew the responsibility you undertook when you possessed Baptiste’s body and used him to make the blood exchange with Eirik?”
Kallus wasn’t smiling now. Pain radiated from the man in waves. It took all Jonathan’s self-control to keep a hard face. If he lost his mates, he would go with them. He couldn’t imagine Kallus’ position. “I knew,” Kallus said so low Jonathan barely heard.
Jonathan nodded. “Then I have to assume you also knew it was against our laws to abandon your mate, since there’s no such thing as divorce, and living apart can be unusually cruel.”
“Yes.” Kallus looked accepting.
“Very well,” Jonathan said, coming to his feet. “I’ll have Baptiste contacted. He’ll decide your fate.”
Kallus wiped his palms on his thighs and cleared his throat. He didn’t look at Jonathan. “What are his options?”
Jonathan could see his thoughts. Kallus wasn’t concerned for himself. He didn’t want to hurt Baptiste any more than he already had. “If he says to send you on your way, I will. He might choose to leave you here until you starve or go mad.” Kallus’ gaze shot to Jonathan. Jonathan didn’t hold back. “Or he has the option to have you destroyed, freeing him to move on.”
Kallus gave him a short nod. Being the son of greed had him fighting his natural need to spread discord, but Jonathan felt the shift in his mind. Kallus wanted to die, but he also wanted Baptiste to be the one to choose. “Okay.”
Jonathan clasped his book to his chest. “While I have you here, I do have one question. Not too long ago, we had a visit from your father. He kidnapped one of my mates, hoping to force me to kill Baptiste.”
Kallus’ face hardened. He was still gorgeous, but it was a deadly beauty. “I did not send Mammon to kill my mate,” Kallus growled.
Jonathan didn’t miss the fact that he hadn’t referred to Mammon as his father. “That wasn’t my question. My question is—did he want Baptiste dead because of you?”
“Did you destroy him? Mammon, that is?”
“He left me no choice but to send him back to the underworld,” Jonathan said without an ounce of guilt.
“Then the answer to your question is yes. Eirik is dead because of me, and he won’t stop until Baptiste suffers the same fate.”
It was as Jonathan suspected. Kallus had abandoned his mate to save him. The damage was the same, nonetheless. “That won’t be happening on my watch. I’ll send for Baptiste.”
“You should’ve killed Mammon,” Kallus called at his back, sounding desperate. “Because he won’t stop.”
Jonathan opened the door and turned. “If we cross paths again, he won’t walk away.”
Dougal followed Jonathan from the room, protecting his back, even though they’d warded the place to the teeth. The moment the door was closed behind them, Dougal snagged Jonathan’s arm, pulling him to a stop. Their gazes met. Unexpectedly, Dougal wrapped Jonathan in a tight hug. The man’s emotions overwhelmed Jonathan, choking him and filling his eyes with tears. Dougal quickly stepped back. He cleared his throat and tapped his chest.
“I’ve never been prouder to serve anyone or call them my friend.”
Jonathan blinked. Dougal wasn’t an overly emotional person. His words meant the world to Jonathan, especially since he questioned his every decision, certain he was fucking up everything he touched. “Love you,” Jonathan said, scurrying away before he looked like an idiot.
Faolan, bring him.
Now all he could do was wait and see if he deserved Dougal’s loyalty.
4
This time, Baptiste didn’t have to worry over awkwardness on his trip to Jonathan’s. It was dark enough that their powers were heightened, and they dissipated, moving effortlessly from one place to the next in an instant. As Baptiste cleared the doorway of the king’s home, he felt an odd pulse in the air. The sensation seemed familiar, but the memory stayed just out of his grasp. Jonathan and Dougal sat side by side at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and talking in quiet tones. They glanced up as Baptiste, Faolan, and Ethan came through the door.
Jonathan’s smile was welcoming. “Hi. Sorry to drag you back after you stormed out with such amazing parting shots earlier.”
Baptiste almost apologized. The words rose to his lips. He bit them down. Lire had started it by pushing his way into Baptiste’s mind. Hell would freeze before Baptiste regretted standing up for himself. He might be awkward, but he wasn’t weak. Eirik never would’ve loved a weak man. “Why am I back?”