Page 261 of Icy Cold Death

When Lucian was facing him, his shoulders were slumped, and he looked…defeated. There was so much misery in his one eye. It was hard to miss it.

“Yes?” he asked, his voice soft.

Ridge moved at him, and when he did, he didn’t stop. He crashed into him, and he was against Lucian. His hands went to the back of his neck, and his mouth found his.

The kiss exploded around them, and in that moment of love, the silence came.

The voices stopped.

The static calmed.

As Ridge kissed him, he knew this complicated their world more than simplified it, but this man was part of him now more than ever.

How?

Why?

He didn’t know.

Only, he knew something bad was coming, and they were going to lose if they were divided. He could hear the voices warning them in the static, telling him that if they came together, they’d survive.

Lucian was caught off guard, but he didn’t push away. In the static, he heard it.

They began communicating on some wavelength that hadn’t been open before.

Ridge’s third eye was open too.

I love you, Lucian. We’ll get through this. I don’t understand what happened when we kissed before, but I’ll be here to save you. I won’t let anything happen to you.

Lucian wasn’t sure why he was being given this chance. Only, he was taking it. He remembered what his wife said, and he held onto the fact that she would be okay if they had this connection.

He didn’t want to lose Bishop.

But he couldn’t lose Ridge either.

He was in a difficult position with them being bonded together.

I love you too. I’m scared. I don’t know what’s happening. Oracle is coming, and someone will die. I’m scared, Ridge. I couldn’t do this before, and now, here we are. When you touch me, I can do this with you. I can feel your feelings and emotions. We’re one on that plane. You’re the key, and I’m the lock.

They could both see it in their mind’s eye, and they knew that everything had changed.

Because when their auras were joined, it was the only time they weren’t overwhelmed with emotions, so they didn’t want to stop.

They kept kissing.

There was the mating of mouths, but neither man was out of control. Instead of there being uncontrollable lust, there was peace.

What do we do?

Ridge considered their options.

Go into the static. Ask Oracle. I have you. I’ll get you out, Lucian. I’ll fight hard to make sure you’re safe.

He believed he would, and Lucian knew the truth.

He needed to go back under. For both of their sakes, he prayed the man had him.

I do. I swear.