Tortured Mate (Sassy Ever After Universe #62)(11)
“I’m glad you’ve found something to give you comfort, brother.” Jericho inclined his head to Rogue. “I know what a difference that can make. Before Brogan, my life was not worth that much. Now he is my life, my breath, my very reason for existence. I owe part of my happiness to you. One day soon, I hope to repay that and help you find yours.”
“Rogue, we’ve got to go. You need anything before we do? The others are on patrol. You can get some sleep. Check in tomorrow and we’ll regroup.”
“I’m good, just have a lot to think about. Thank you for everything.”
Rogue watched as Valac’s brother and his mate said their goodbyes and left. He glanced around the small porch and was surprised to see Cadence too had left them alone. Without thought, he climbed to his feet, took Valac’s hand between his teeth and pulled him down the stairs. He just needed his mate to trust him for a few minutes.
“You want me to go somewhere? Just lead the way I’ll follow. I trust you to keep me from harm.”
His wolf wanted to howl in happiness at those simple words. They may not have met as men yet, but it didn’t matter. Their connection was already growing and solidifying.
“I sure wish you’d talk to me. This would be a great time to talk and tell me where we’re going.”
Rogue snorted and kept walking, it wasn’t far from the cabin, but the view this space offered was sure to help anyone relax. At least it always had for him and he hoped it would for the demon. He had no doubt that Valac hadn’t seen a sight like this living in hell all these years after all.
Chapter Nine
If anyone had told him a week ago he’d be following a wolf blindly into the woods he’d have laughed his ass off. But here he was happily doing just that. It helped that it wasn’t just any wolf. There was something about Rogue that made him want to be close to him and trust him when all his experience called him a fool for it.
He was so lost in his head he didn’t realize the wolf had stopped until he ran into him. “What’s going on? What is it?”
It was times like this he really wished he could talk to him. Stubborn ass needed to shift. This was getting ridiculous. All of a sudden, he heard the voice again, rise above all the others. “Lay down, look up.” Without thought, Valac did just that. He couldn’t contain his gasp as he gazed upon thousands of stars in the inky black night sky.
“This is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He whispered in awe. Again, he heard a whisper of that voice. He strained to hear it clearer. “It’s my favorite place to come to when I need a break from reality.”
“Yes, a break from reality. That’s what I need too.”
Valac jumped as Rogue quickly sat up and stared at him cocking his head from side to side. “What’s wrong Rogue?”
“Holy shitballs!”
“Shitballs?” Valac repeated slowly.
“Valac, can you hear me? It’s me, Rogue.”
It was Valac’s turn to cock his head in confusion as he studied the wolf staring at him so intently. “It’s you? How are you doing that? Why can I hear you suddenly? Wait is this just a hallucination brought on by lack of sleep? Have I gone that downhill?”
“I don’t know why you can, but I’m not going to question it too much. It feels so good to be able to talk to you finally. By the way, you look like shit.”
Valac couldn’t contain his laugh at that. He hadn’t looked in a mirror in a while, but the lack of sleep had to be taking its toll on him physically. “Yeah, being on the run, losing your mind and not sleeping will do that to a person.”
“You’re running from your brother I get that. But why losing your mind and why aren’t you sleeping. Those are the things I don’t understand yet”
“Do you mind if I lay back and take in the night sky. I may not have many more chances to look at it. I want to remember as much of it as I can.”
“I won’t let you be taken back there.”
“I’m afraid there will come a time we won’t have a choice. Each hour that passes I lose a little more of my sanity. I don’t know how much longer I can hold out, even here on Cadence’s land. His reach is far.”
“Bullshit, he can’t touch you here. Her wards are too powerful. They brought you here because of that. There is nowhere safer for you.”
“I wish it were that simple, Rogue. My brother may not be here physically, but trust me he’s here. He’s tormenting me, driving me farther and farther down the rabbit hole until my only course of action is to give in and return to him.”
“I won’t accept that. I need you here. Jericho needs you here. Tell me what he’s doing. I can’t help if I don’t understand. Please, babe, don’t lock me out now that we can finally communicate.”
“This is going to sound crazy, but then again I’m talking to a wolf through a mental connection. So, here goes. Our oldest brother is Aeron. He’s, to put it mildly, batshit insane. He’s deluded himself into believing he rules sections of Hell. When Jericho escaped the first time Aeron became obsessed with the idea that Jericho meant it as a personal attack on him. He vowed to make him pay no matter how long it took.”
“Wait, to clarify, Jericho was a servant of some demon who had him locked up and only released him when he needed something, right? That’s what I’d heard at least, so I may be totally off on that.”