Page 39 of The Bull's Head

There was a teasing lilt to Ivan’s voice that was pissing Teddy off. “If you have something to say, just get it out.”

“I ask again, what is it you do here?”

“I’m supposed to be sorting Hyde’s files and scanning them into the computer.”

“And what records are these?”

“Pretty much everything. They were packrats and seem to have kept every scrap of....” The light came on. “If they did something to Byk, there has to be notes!”

Ivan smiled. “And now you understand, brother. Gwyneth and the woman doctor can do nothing, but you? If you were to find the papers that show what they did, it could give them vital information, da?”

Teddy grabbed Ivan’s face and kissed him on the lips. “I love you!”

“Yes, I see that,” Ivan teased. “Go. Hunt down this information. I will sit here with your Byk until you are able to return.”

“Ivan, I?—”

“Must learn to kiss better,” Ivan said, wiping his lips off. “That was hardly even noticeable. If you kiss your bull like that, he might be as turned off as I am.” He reached for Teddy and pulled him in. “You will save your Byk,” he whispered in Teddy’s ear. “Of this, I am most certain.” He stepped back. “Now go. Be useful, but first, I beg you to shower. You are making me look bad, and I don’t want anyone here knowing I am related to the walking garbage pile.”

“Thank you,” Teddy whispered.

Ivan cupped his cheek and looked at him fondly. “Theodore, my brother, my best friend, I will always be here if you need me. This you should already know.”

And he did, but sometimes it was nice to have a reminder.

There was a change in the current of energy that surrounded Byk. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but it no longer felt the same, and that bothered him.

“So, you are the one who has my brother all twisted up in knots” came a voice Callum was fairly certain he’d never heard before. “I can see why. You are very beautiful. I approve of Teddy’s taste.”

Beautiful? Callum?

“The thing is, we have a problem here, and you are at the root of it all. Teddy is aching because he cannot help you. This bothers him. He does not like the fact that he cannot reach you, cannot get you to open your eyes, cannot speak words of love to you.”

Love? Teddy loved him? Was that even possible?

“I must tell you, I’m disappointed. Of the two of us, Teddy has the much softer heart. He is the one who is hurt more easily. And believe me, you are hurting him. Oh, I know it isn’t intentional. Who would choose to lay there like a lump when he could be held by someone who adores him, am I right?”

Yes! He wanted Teddy to hold him. Things weren’t so scary when Teddy pulled Callum to his chest.

“And the fact that he calls you his Byk? That tells me what you mean to him. Never before has my brother become so attached to someone that he gives them a name.”

Byk? Yes, he was Teddy’s Byk. No longer Callum, but Byk. He liked being Byk, because the name helped him wash away the pain of his past.

“So I must ask you, Byk, what is it you want? Teddy is willing to give anything to save you. Are you going to let all the effort fall on him? Will you do nothing to help him?”

It was so dark, and Callum—Byk—knew that Cooper was out there, waiting on him. He was afraid.

“Will you let Teddy fail you? Will you let him fall apart like he did before? Will you allow him to not have love in his life? Only you can make that decision, Byk. Only you have the power to unshackle Teddy’s heart again and find love.”

He had the means to help Teddy? To prove he could be a capable partner? To show he could love and be loved? Yes! Yes, he wanted that more than anything.

“Teddy” came the harsh whisper. “I love you.”

Chapter 13

Teddy clenched his hands as he stared at the mess he hadn’t even made a dent in. There were far too many files, too many stupid scraps of paper. Too much information to sift through. A needle in a haystack would have a better chance of being found.

“I’m here if you need help,” Alp said from the doorway.

---