Thirst (Hellish #4)(12)
Jonathan’s gaze shifted Ethan’s way. He hesitated before nodding, as if coming to some internal decision. “Faolan, would you take Ethan on a tour of the house while I talk to Baptiste? I’m sure he would love to see our armory.”
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest and planted his feet. “I’m not going anywhere. You allowed your demon to attack his mind earlier today. I won’t allow it twice.”
Jonathan’s face hardened. Baptiste found the sight oddly fascinating. The king was such a nice person. The look didn’t suit him. “That won’t be happening again. However, I can see everything and everyone—feel what they feel. But you’re different. Somehow, you’re blocking me, which means you have something to hide. I can’t trust a man who keeps secrets. Unless you’re willing to tell us what you’re hiding, you can go with Faolan.”
“I’ll hold you at your word about protecting Baptiste. Don’t doubt that I have powers of my own.” Without meeting anyone’s gaze, Ethan followed Faolan from the room. Baptiste’s unease doubled. He’d asked Ethan to accompany him for a reason. Now he was left unprotected. It wasn’t that he thought Jonathan or his clan would hurt him. Baptiste felt something in the air. Something benevolent. He wanted to run. Instead, he moved to the kitchen table and sat.
Once Jonathan had him isolated, his expression turned kind again. “I have Kallus.”
Baptiste flew back to his feet, ready to bolt. Only his weakened knees stopped him from fleeing.
Jonathan raised his arms, making a calming gesture. “Please? Just sit and hear me out.”
After several deep breaths, Baptiste managed to call his racing heart under control. Baptiste sat. He understood now the disarray of his thoughts. Kallus was here. Under the same roof. Breathing the same air. It was too much. Baptiste opened his mouth, intent on asking a thousand questions. No sound emerged. Everything hurt too badly. He couldn’t function.
Jonathan nodded, as if he understood. “I know this is painful for you. That’s exactly why this needs to be addressed. By mating with a vampire, Kallus now falls under my rule. He has to be judged and sentenced for abandoning his mate.”
Baptiste found his voice. “I don’t understand. It’s been so long. Why do this now? It’s like opening an old wound that won’t heal properly.”
“There hasn’t been a king here for a very long time. Before now, he hasn’t had anyone to answer to. Now he does. When you were here earlier, you showed Dougal a kindness by giving him a moment with Lire.”
“That wasn’t kindness,” Baptiste spat. He couldn’t get a handle on his emotions. They were flying in every direction.
Jonathan shook his head. “Whatever your reasons were, your gesture made me realize how much we could help one another.”
Realization dawned. This wasn’t about him at all. Jonathan wanted something from him. “Wait,” he said, holding up his hand and stopping Jonathan from saying more. “Am I being blackmailed? Are you doing this, hoping I’ll help Lire with his inability to touch his mates?”
Jonathan blinked, looking surprised by Baptiste’s questions. “The fact that you would even ask that proves you don’t know me at all. No. You’re not being blackmailed. I got the impression earlier you could use some help. Celeste put me in this position for a reason because she knew I could do some good here. Go see him. Take back your life. Forever is a damn long time to have a mate who won’t be one.” He pushed to his feet, obviously intent on walking away before Baptiste could piss him off even more. “Dougal will go with you for your protection.”
Baptiste stood too. “Point me in the right direction. I don’t need protection. There’s nothing Kallus could do to me that’s worse than what he’s already done.”
The king’s golden gaze swirled as he stared at Baptiste. His face set. “Still, Dougal will accompany you. He can stand outside the door, if it pleases you, but he’s going.” Without waiting for Baptiste to argue further, Jonathan walked away. Lire followed the king from the room, leaving Dougal behind.
Baptiste’s gaze slid Dougal’s way. “If this isn’t blackmail, what is it?”
Dougal motioned toward the hallway. “Kindness. Follow me.”
“It doesn’t feel like kindness,” Baptiste grumbled. A soft chuckle floated through the air. Baptiste bit back a growl at the sound. “I’m being serious. Kallus abandoned me years ago. I haven’t set eyes on him since. This feels a lot like torture.”
Dougal stopped outside a bolted door and focused on Baptiste. “Jonathan is unfailingly kind. He’d never intentionally hurt you. Take his advice and his gift. It’s time to face this and move on. Or do you like living in limbo?”
Baptiste gave Dougal a sharp nod. He needed this over with. Dougal opened the door. Kallus stood in the center of the room. For a moment, Baptiste couldn’t move. His feet froze to the floor. Then, he was across the threshold and the door closed behind him, shutting him away—alone with his mate for the first time in years. Baptiste had seen the visions of Kallus the demon sent him when he wanted to play, and he caught glimpses of his mate in his dreams, but there was nothing in heaven or on earth to compare to the real thing. He made men greedy. Those goddamn lips. People talked about looks coming from the devil. They had no idea. One glance Kallus’ way could cripple a man with a gut-wrenching need for more. But the demon had been aptly named, because Kallus was cold and cruel, uncaring of the damage he caused. No one knew better than Baptiste. He was dressed to the nines—like they caught him at a goddamn movie premiere.