Thirst (Hellish #4)(6)

Dougal’s expression turned panicked. His gaze swung between them. “I’m not—”

Lire kissed him. They were both stiff, as if expecting the worse. Dougal was the first to melt. He touched Lire’s face. Baptiste thought he’d feel smug and triumphant when Lire realized Baptiste held all the answers to freeing him from using one mate to touch the other. Instead, he just felt petty and empty. They were all equally at the mercy of cruel circumstance. When Lire tore his mouth away and stormed from the room, Baptiste’s self-hatred doubled. Dougal’s expression was devastated as he watched Lire disappear. Baptiste tried looking anywhere but at the man he’d hurt for no other reason than pettiness. Because he needed them down in the dirt where he lived. His gaze landed on Jonathan.

Jonathan’s golden eyes stared a hole through Baptiste. I see you. His king’s words rang through his mind like hot coals. I see all of you.

“You take this one,” Jonathan said to Faolan unnecessarily, since the man was already rubbing Dougal’s back. “I’ve got Lire,” he added, following Lire from the room.

Faolan tugged Dougal into his arms, wrapping him in his embrace and comforting his mate. Baptiste couldn’t look away. He saw nothing. Misery truly did love company, but he didn’t feel better about himself for dragging the throuple down to his level. Instead, he realized how loving Kallus had corrupted his soul.

Dougal kept his gaze averted as he handed Baptiste’s necklace back. “Thank you.”

Baptiste had never felt crueler because—just as Jonathan did—he knew the truth. Baptiste hadn’t meant to give Dougal and Lire a kiss without the madness of touching the spawn of pure lust. Baptiste had meant to punish Lire with what he could never have. He saw too much of himself in this situation. Baptiste couldn’t stay silent.

He focused on the amethyst-eyed vampire who’d kept his silence. “You should expel him. Send the demon away before he destroys you.”

All gratitude fled from Dougal. “It’s past time you should leave. You insult us.”

Baptiste didn’t back down or look away from Faolan. “What do you think will happen if this one dies?” he asked, motioning toward Dougal. “I’ll tell you what will happen, because it happened to me when Eirik died. Your demon can’t touch you. The only thing holding you together is your blond beauty. If he goes, do you think your demon will stay? He won’t,” Baptiste answered without giving Faolan time to respond. “Having two mates is a blessing straight from Goddess Celeste. Losing one is a nightmare you can never escape. Losing two.” Baptiste shook his head. “There’s no description excruciating enough. You should expel him. Cling to what’s real.” Baptiste stood, his welcome gone. “Expel him,” Baptiste repeated before heading for the door. He didn’t need to hear Faolan’s agreement. It was in the man’s eyes. He knew Baptiste was right. He was the disposable mate. Just as Baptiste had been.



Lire hovered in the air like smoke. He had nowhere to go. Jonathan wouldn’t let him get away even if he did. Jonathan knew the demon also couldn’t join with Faolan right now. Not if he didn’t want Faolan to hear all the thoughts Jonathan didn’t have the luxury of shutting out. Lire’s mind was a mess, but he wasn’t the type to let his mates think for a second he was unhappy with their deal. Jonathan strode through the room. His steps never faltered as he headed Lire’s way. Before the demon could disappear, Jonathan’s arms encircled Lire, forcing his body to solidify. Jonathan’s wings engulfed them, creating a cocoon no one could breach. With Jonathan’s forehead pressed to his, Lire’s gaze showed his pain. Nothing escaped Jonathan. He showed Lire no pity. He knew Lire was one kind word away from losing his shit.

Instead, Jonathan handed him the hard truth. “That man is in there; he’s telling your mates to abandon and expel you. He’s saying you’ll leave. That they don’t matter.”

Lire’s expression turned pained in a way Jonathan had never seen. “I can never touch them. Being with them seemed like such a blessing, but I’m more isolated than ever.” Lire whispered every word, baring his darkest secrets to Jonathan, even though Jonathan already knew. “I’m failing my mates, because I hate this. You can never tell. Promise me.”

Jonathan nodded. His gaze never wavered. “Do you trust me?”

“I do,” Lire said without hesitation.

“We’re about to make a deal. After I do something for you, you’ll do something for me, and you’ll trust me every step of the way.”

“Everything I have is yours.” Lire meant it. Jonathan heard it in his voice. Jonathan knew Lire would follow him above all others. It was there, showing at the forefront of Lire’s thoughts.

“Call your mates.” Jonathan could do it, but he needed Lire grounded. At his demand, Dougal and Faolan appeared. They didn’t bother walking. The men appeared from thin air, looking ready to battle.

A smile that felt overly bright, even to Jonathan, stretched Jonathan’s lips. “I didn’t mean for you to be quite so intense about it, but we’re all here now. Turn around.”

Lire turned without question, facing his men. Jonathan’s arms encircled him from behind. Lire’s overheated skin warmed Jonathan’s chest. Jonathan’s skin glowed like the sun, making Jonathan want to close his eyes against the sight. He still hadn’t gotten used to odd things happening to his body since growing into his Nephilim powers. This was one time he couldn’t pretend it wasn’t happening. He needed all his strength.