Thirst (Hellish #4)(25)
Even to Baptiste’s ears, he sounded tired when he spoke again. “I would’ve gladly died for either of you, but I can live without you. These past three years have definitely taught me that. It’s beyond obvious neither of you needs me, so you can just keep it that way.”
Baptiste moved through space, landing in his living room. He chanted under his breath, locking his house down with ancient Druid spells. His feet moved quickly from room to room. Baptiste didn’t think it likely they’d give him much of a head start. By the time he finished, there was no chance anyone other than himself could enter the home. He couldn’t trust anyone any longer. Baptiste was finally alone. The pain was swift, nearly doubling him over. There was no Ethan to leech it away. He should’ve known something wasn’t right about the twins. Evan’s presence never soothed Baptiste.
Baptiste rubbed his arms. His skin felt chilled—like he’d never be warm again. The lack of clothes didn’t help. With no real plan, Baptiste headed for the bathroom. After flipping the stopper closed, he turned the water in the Jacuzzi tub to as hot as it would go. Steam rose with the water. He should’ve been scalded as he stepped in, but Baptiste felt nothing beyond his internal pain. Kallus and Eirik had each other. He had no one. It was hard to say who angered him most. Baptiste leaned back, letting the water engulf him. Kallus had abandoned him, but at least he’d openly walked away. Eirik had hidden, equally yet just as willfully stealing his love and affection. He’d broken Baptiste down, making him believe he was moving on with another man. There were so many lies. So much deception. Baptiste didn’t know how to move past this. What if he never could? If there was a place lower than having no hope, Baptiste was there.
7
A chiming interrupted Cin’s story about the Scottish games he’d won. Jonathan glanced around, trying to figure out where the sound came from before giving up and going back to enjoying the way Cin’s mouth moved when he spoke.
“How shocked were they when you hit the thing dead center?”
Cin ran his fingers through Jonathan’s hair, smiling. “What makes you think I did?”
Jonathan shrugged. He loved these moments, curled up in their favorite chair, stroking and soaking up one another. They’d lost Niall five minutes earlier to his latest sword creation. Jonathan didn’t mind. He just wanted to hear every detail of the minutes he’d missed. “You always win.”
“Could you love a loser?”
Jonathan cuddled closer, needing more. “If you lost, yes.”
The chiming sounded again. This time, Jonathan ignored it. Cin’s hands roamed his body. That was all Jonathan cared about. He stroked one of Jonathan’s feathers. “Did you know, at least three people asked me questions about your wings. It seems they are perversely fascinated by them.” He stroked Jonathan’s wing as he made the claim, causing Jonathan’s eyes to fall closed. He couldn’t describe the sensation of having his wings stroked. It was almost orgasmic.
Dougal strolled by, heading for the front door. “Does nay anyone else hear the doorbell?”
Jonathan’s gaze shot to the door. “We have a doorbell?”
Dougal opened the door, and Evan stood on the other side. Jonathan rolled from Cin’s lap onto his feet.
“Evan?” Even Jonathan heard the surprise in his voice. “What brings you by?” Jonathan asked as he headed for the door, setting Dougal free.
Evan’s smile screamed discomfort. “I was out last night, and when I came home this morning, the house was warded against me.”
“Damn,” Jonathan muttered under his breath. He took a step back and waved Evan inside. “You’d better come in.”
Evan crossed the threshold. “I can’t reach anyone and have no idea what’s happened.”
“I’ll be back,” Jonathan told Cin as he passed.
Cin kicked back as if prepared to wait.
Jonathan headed down the hall with Evan in tow. “I’m thinking you might want to stay here for a while. Baptiste, Kallus, and Eirik are trying to work things out. It doesn’t sound like it’s going well.” He opened the first bedroom door he knew to be empty. “You can have this room, if you’d like.”
Evan glanced inside the empty bedroom before focusing his dark blue gaze on Jonathan. “You know about Kallus and Eirik?”
Jonathan nodded. “And you. Did you know, you’re the first werewolf I’ve ever met. I have so many questions.”
Evan chewed on his bottom lip. His gaze swung back to the empty room. “Maybe I should stay with Dante? I don’t want to put you out, and all my things are locked up inside Baptiste’s.”
Jonathan snapped his fingers and Evan’s things appeared inside the room. “Stay. We have plenty of room. Just be warned, the guys tend to forget their clothes and you might walk in on anything around here. But, for the most part, everyone pretty much does their own thing.” Evan still looked unsure. Jonathan didn’t hold back. “Things with Baptiste are pretty ugly right now. Even if they work things out, they probably need some time alone. I promise you’re not imposing.”
Evan shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. “Well, my stuff is all here now.”
“It is,” Jonathan agreed.
“Werewolves roam a lot,” Evan warned.