Thirst (Hellish #4)(32)
Bleidd dipped his chin, accepting the reprimand as his due. “I apologize. It won’t happen again.”
Is it petty of me how happy I feel right now? Kiss me and then put me out. Fucker. I should bite his dick off. I would too if it wasn’t so pretty.
Bleidd’s gaze slid Evan’s way, and he covered himself with his hands. “You do realize I can hear you, right?”
Evan went still—like he thought if he didn’t as much as blink, then no one would be able to see him. Actually, no. No, I did not know that.
Baptiste bit his cheek harder, tasting blood. He moved to Evan’s side and rubbed the wolf’s head, showing his complete support. “If you’ll excuse us,” Baptiste said, stepping around Bleidd, as if he didn’t matter. They took two steps away, and Baptiste cloaked himself in magic once more. Evan looked back. Baptiste ran his hand down the wolf’s neck. “Don’t look back, gorgeous. Never let another man’s fear steal your happiness. He would be lucky to have you.”
Evan whimpered. That ass, though.
“All six feet five inches of it,” Baptiste said, chuckling. “Seriously, you’re too good for someone too weak to claim you.”
I love you. As Evan made the claim, he leaned his weight against Baptiste’s legs.
For the first time in a long time, Baptiste thought he might survive with nothing more than the love of his friends. “I love you too. Come on. It’s getting dark. I’ll hang out at the cabin and you can go play in the moonlight.”
Baptiste smiled as Evan raced ahead, as if overjoyed at the idea. He’d made the right choice coming here.
Jonathan sat on his hands and stared at the two men sitting across from him. “I’m sorry. You want me to do what?”
Eirik looked serious. “We’ve caused three years of suffering to our mate. You need to take us into custody.”
The man’s words hadn’t changed since the last time he’d spoken them, but Jonathan was having a hard time accepting them. He’d spent the last two-and-a-half weeks enjoying the peace and quiet. No one had stopped by unannounced or otherwise. He’d gotten a chance to practice his flying moves, because he totally intended to pull some freaky and kinky moves out for Niall, Cin, and his anniversary. Fuck hanging from a ceiling fan. He could fly.
Now, here Eirik and Kallus sat, suggesting something that was doomed to land him across Niall’s lap with the man’s palm stinging his… “I’m in,” Jonathan said, shifting to his feet. “Come on. I’ll have to put you in a different room this time, since you broke all my old wards and cracked my walls while you were at it,” Jonathan said, tossing an admonishing look over his shoulder.
Kallus was too busy eyeing each room as they passed to notice, but Eirik grimaced. “I’ll pay for the damages.”
Jonathan shook his head and looked away. “Don’t worry over it. Faolan’s an expert at fixing walls. You should’ve seen our living room after the…” Jonathan snapped his teeth together. No need to tell that story. “Anyhow, we’ve got it covered.”
I need help drawing wards that’ll hold a demon, god, and Druid.
Jonathan put the call out, hoping at least one of the guys could help him. Otherwise, he’d be at it all night. To his surprise, everyone appeared to do their part. Eirik even gave some suggestions on how to make their traps as solid as possible.
Once he had Kallus and Eirik on lockdown, he stood back to eye their work. “Now all we have to do is hope Baptiste comes for you. You might be here a while.”
Kallus’ mouth fell open. “Do you mean you were being serious about not knowing where he is?”
Jonathan spent a moment wondering if the request to lock them down and all the work he’d put into it had been an attempt to get him to come clean about where Baptiste was hiding. “I’m not a liar. He didn’t tell me where he was going.”
Eirik massaged Kallus’ shoulders and pulled him back against his chest. “Don’t worry, sexy. Bleidd contacted me earlier. He spotted Baptiste at the cabin and he’s been keeping watch to ensure he doesn’t get away.”
Kallus shot an irritated glance over his shoulder. “You’ve known this all day and didn’t say anything?”
Not an ounce of guilt marred Eirik’s features. “If I’d said anything, you would’ve wanted to head straight there. The moment Baptiste set eyes on us, he’d disappear again, and we’d be right back where we started. This is better.”
Jonathan nodded his agreement. “I’ll send word to Bleidd to deliver a message for me. This is our best shot at luring him out.” Every word Jonathan spoke felt like complete bullshit. There was a big part of him that expected Baptiste wouldn’t take the bait. Eirik and Kallus seemed positive Baptiste would come if they were in need. He didn’t share their faith. Jonathan loved his mates. That was the only true reason he was going along with this plan. He hoped—if the shoe was on the other foot—they’d go just as far for him to win back his loves. There was no time like the present to get this shit show on the road. All Jonathan could hope was that Baptiste wouldn’t hate him after this.
Baptiste tilted his head back and stared at the moon. He wondered what it looked like where Eirik and Kallus were. For not the first time, he wondered what would happen if he could possess Kallus the way the man had done to him. He missed the way his men looked at him. Evan’s story about the night Eirik died, and his claims of Baptiste’s mates not being strong enough to live without him, ate at Baptiste. Eirik had pretended to be someone else to stay close to him. Kallus had invaded his mind, tormenting him. In their own ways, the pair had been incapable of staying away. In truth, he wasn’t so sure he would be able to do it forever either.