Chapter Twenty-Three
Hacen fought the panic that threatened. Enough of it slipped that it shook his body as he bit into his own wrists. He pressed it against Jules’ mouth, which remained slack, his throat not moving. “Come on. Drink.”
Hacen drew him up tighter as a lump formed in his throat. He rocked Jules as he let the tears fall. Some splashed on Jules’ face, mixing with the blood and dirt there. “Nicolono drained him.”
The warlock, who helped Nicolono was an afterthought. Hacen barely paid him attention, but Tommy chanted a spell that would cage the fucker in quickly. This time it wasn’t a simple dome. No, Tommy had actual bars come down around the warlock, imprisoning him so tightly he only had a foot all the way around to move.
Allard pounded his fists against the bars. “You know I can’t get out of here, Thomas. I’ll starve to death.”
“You’ll likely die of hypothermia first. It’s below freezing.” Tommy ran a hand through Jules’ hair and looked at him with an anguish Hacen had never seen before. “I’m affording you the same fate as my mate, Allard. What did you think would happen to him when you caged him?”
“I did what I had to do to stay alive. Nicolono—”
Tommy held up his hand. “I’ll show mercy if Jules lives.” Tommy turned to meet Allard’s gaze. “If he dies, so will you.”
The next thing Hacen knew he was next to their vehicles, which sat on the side of a dirt road. When they had driven over, it had pissed Hacen off that Nicolono had taken Jules so far away from Saint Lakes and to such a remote area. They were three towns over and had walked three miles into the forest to get to him.
Lucas scrambled out of the vehicle the second he saw them. He gestured for Hacen to put Jules down. Just the thought of that pissed Hacen off. He growled, but he followed the little witch’s orders.
Hacen placed Jules in the backseat of Ramsey’s SUV as gently as he possibly could. Jules’ arms fell from him.
“Shit. Move. It’s almost too late.” Lucas sounded as if he were nearly on Hacen’s back. Lucas pushed his shoulder away from Jules. “He’s not gonna make it. Move, damn it.”
Hacen’s instinct was to protect his dying mate. Lucas hindered that. He turned and growled, his eyes turned red as he flashed his teeth.
Tommy sobbing was all it took for Hacen to come back to himself. He moved over, letting Lucas in the open door of the vehicle.
Tommy stood there all closed in on himself until Hacen pulled him against his chest. Tommy’s arms came around his waist.
Hacen expected to hear Jules cry out in pain like he did the last time Lucas used his magic to fix Jules, but no sounds came. Not even Jules’ heartbeat.
“I think he’s gone,” Hacen whispered. The second the words left his mouth he realized he needed them back because the thought of it seemed unreal.
“I need one of you to give him blood. Because if you don’t, he’ll take it from me, and Bennett would not like that.”
Hacen’s eyebrows drew together. “What?”
Then he heard a growl and the heavy pounding of a heartbeat. Both were just about the sweetest things he’d ever heard in his whole life. Hacen let out a breathy laugh.
“Oh, shit. Shit.” Lucas took a step away from the open door, and that’s when Hacen saw Jules.
He had…fangs. His stalked toward Lucas. Hacen and Tommy’s smell must have wafted to him because he stopped and met Hacen’s gaze before he zeroed in on Tommy.
Tommy turned just as Jules pounced like a cat. Thankfully, Tommy caught him. They both would have fallen if Hacen hadn’t steadied them. Jules wrapped his long legs around Tommy’s waist and sank his teeth in the flesh on his neck. Tommy cried out, but Hacen wasn’t sure if it were pain or pleasure. If it were the former then it quickly turned to pleasure if the moan was any indication. Tommy also got his sex face, which included that slight smile he sometimes got right before he came.
Tommy’s hands slid down Jules’ back and gripped his ass. He turned and pressed Jules against Hacen. Tommy fumbled around at the zipper of his jeans.
“Woah. Slow down, Tommy.”
“Fuck. I can’t…he’s…and it’s…”
Lucas stalked to the car. “I don’t need to see this.”
Hacen couldn’t help but chuckle.
“He’ll need blood from now on. I’m not sure why but when I heal a drained human it changes their physiology. It happened to Shawn too, although Shawn nearly starved to death after. Jules is lucky he has you guys. Once he gets enough he should pass-out. Literally. Don’t freak out. It’s a normal part of healing.”
“Thanks, Lucas.”
Lucas nodded. “Just stay at the house for a few days so I can keep an eye on him. I’d feel better if he was close.” Lucas screwed up his nose. “And, oh my god, he’s like a brother. Permanent mental damage.” Lucas scrambled into the car with his eyes nearly closed.
Hacen focused on Tommy and Jules again. Tommy had both of their cocks out and stroked them fast in his hand. Jules moved his hips into the touch. He latched on to Tommy’s shoulder still. “By the gods, Tommy. We’re out in the open here.”
Tommy moaned. I can’t help it. It feels so good. As good as when you bite me. Gods, I want him inside me. Or you. Not picky. Help me hold him still.
Hacen’s cock grew hard. He palmed Jules ass with one hand and wrapped his free arm around Jules' waist.
Hacen found Tommy’s ability to lose himself during sex hot as hell. It had always ramped up his own need in the past. When I finally get you two into bed, it’s gonna be so fucking hot.
Tommy opened his mouth, probably to agree but nothing came out. He stopped breathing and then grunted. The corners of his mouth turned up the way it always did when he came.
Hacen’s cock throbbed.
Jules raised his head, his teeth sliding from Tommy’s neck right before he cried out. His hips stilled.
Cum coated both of their cocks and Tommy’s hand. Jules’ head fell back on Hacen’s shoulder. His mouth was open with his lips coated with Tommy’s blood. His eyes remained closed, and his body relaxed so much he became dead weight in Hacen’s arms.
“By the gods, look at him. He’s gorgeous like that, isn’t he?” Tommy whispered the words as if they were too big to say aloud.
Hacen understood what Tommy meant. He might have mentioned Jules physical appearance, but that wasn’t all he meant. Jules had an inner beauty, which was far less fragile than it seemed at first glance.
Hacen met Tommy’s gaze. “So are you.” Maybe Tommy didn’t carry his strength the same way Jules did, but he still had it. It radiated out and turned into confidence.
Tommy grinned and would have responded but crunching of icy snow under boots met his ears. “Shit. I need to clean us up.” Tommy searched around for something as if a wad of paper towels would magically appear in the middle of nowhere-ville Dirt Road Avenue.
“Hold him for a second, and I’ll give you my shirt.” Hacen let go of Jules until Tommy held all his weight.
Hacen took off his coat, holding it between his legs and then pulled his shirt over his head, handing it to Tommy before he put his coat back on.
Hacen took some of Jules weight back so Tommy could clean them both up. As soon as they tucked Jules’ soft cock back in his pants, Jules snuggled into Hacen and even turned in his arms. Jules, sniffing around Hacen’s neck, tickled and also gave him warning before Jules sank his teeth into his neck. It wasn’t a quick strike but a slow bite down as if Jules didn’t need the blood but the comfort.
He drank two swallows of blood before sighing and letting go.
It stung like a fat bee at first, but the pleasure took over quickly. And then it was done. Jules lay his head on Hacen’s shoulder, and his body was dead weight again.
Ramsey and Fane came out of the forest. Ramsey nodded to Jules. “He okay?”
“He will be, thanks to Lucas.”
Ramsey nodded. “Hard to believe Jules was the one to kill that bastard.”
Hacen smiled and held Jules closer. “I’m not surprised. He’s tough.”
Tommy ran his hand down Jules’ back, laying his head against him a second later. “I’m just glad it’s over.”
“For now.” Fane swung his sword around once before sheathing it. “The humans are still a problem.”
“Right. Well, it’s over for Jules. He can rest easy knowing Nicolono isn’t a threat.” Tommy covered his mouth with a yawn.
“Speaking of rest.” Hacen moved, urging Tommy to get in the vehicle. “Let’s go home.”
Hacen had Thomas resting against his side and Jules sitting on him. Both were breathing heavy with sleep. Lucas sat on Thomas’ other side, staring at them as if they were the subject of a painting or a science project.
Hacen met his gaze. “What?”
Lucas shrugged. “Just wondering about the dynamics of your relationship.”
“Why? Because there’s three of us.”
Lucas waved his hand in the air. “No, not that. How will Jules fit in? He’s worried about that. Always has been. He might have a point.”
Hacen shook his head. “Not sure why he’d be worried. Jules has no problem telling me where he stands with everything else. Why should his place in the relationship be any different?”
Lucas chuckled. “See that’s where I’m confused. He’s always been so quiet and gentle with the rest of us.”
“He’s that way with Tommy. Most of the time anyway.”
“Not with you.”
“Nope.”
“Why do you think that is?”
Hacen shrugged. “Because he knows I’ll give in if he throws a big enough fit probably.”
Lucas grinned.
Speaking of giving Jules his way... “Hey, Alpha, I wondered if you could give me advice about something.”
Ramsey met his gaze through the rearview mirror. “Depends.” If he was surprised by Hacen using his title it didn’t show on his face. “You know Ladon’s taking over the Alpha position for me soon. Call me Ramsey.”
“Right. Ramsey. Do you know of anyone hiring? I need a job if we’re going to stay here.”
“Check with Bennett. He may need help in his garage.”
Oh man, the dragon shifter he had picked a fight with may be his boss. Great. Thank the gods, Bennett seemed to be the forgiving type.