Page 46 of Sweetheart

“Levi?” Mason said quietly before sobbing out. “Are…are you not…dead?”

He shook his head.

“Oh, thank Christ!” Mason said. “How are you not dead? You were shot! In the throat!”

Some of the conversations he’d overheard made Levi believe that Mason and his father knew more about the paranormal world than Levi would have suspected. Some other paranormals wouldn’t have survived but Levi’s species was pretty unkillable. Not that Mason would know that.

“I’m so sorry, Levi. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Mason sounded wrecked and that bothered Levi. He kicked his legs before yanking down hard on his chains. The bolts holding his chains broke and Levi dropped. The hard landing made his already painfilled body ache, but Levi ignored it. On shaky legs, he stepped over to Mason.

Cupping Mason’s battered face made Levi’s heart ache. Both of Mason’s eyes were swollen and bruised. His boy should never look like this. Levi was so angry but he needed to take care of his mate first.

“I’m so sorry,” Mason said as tears fell from his eyes.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Levi rumbled. Okay, his throat was not completely healed.

“This is all my fault,” Mason told him. “My father—”

“Is a monster,” Levi said. “That’s not your fault.” They had a lot to talk about. How Mason knew of the paranormal world.Did he know they were mates? All of Levi’s questions could wait though. He needed Mason safe and then he’d get his revenge.

“I…I was going to tell you. Today. I swear I was.”

Levi believed him. “I was going to tell you my secret today too.”

Mason gave him a small smile. “What…how are you still alive?”

“I’m immortal, baby. A bullet can’t kill me. Your father can’t kill me.”

Mason nodded. “Thank God! I thought…I thought you’d died because of me.”

“Even if I had, it wouldn’t have been your fault.” Levi reached for Mason’s chains. “Let’s get you down.” Mason’s body had been so abused, cut, blood everywhere Levi didn’t know where he could touch him.

“No! Don’t…”

Levi paused. Had he hurt his mate? “I’ll be as careful as I can.”

Mason shook his head while grimacing. “Just go. Before my father gets back.”

Levi jerked back. “What?”

“You can get away,” Mason said. “Leave me.”

“I will never leave you,” Levi vowed.

“I don’t deserve…I don’t deserve you.”

Fuck this. Levi kissed Mason hard, ignoring the split lips and cuts. He tasted his mate’s blood, which helped fuel his need for revenge. Mason kissed him back. While his mate was distracted, Levi yanked on the chains, catching Mason as he fell.

Levi caught his mate before easing him up and into his arms.

Mason broke the kiss as he groaned.

“I’m sorry you’re hurt,” Levi said sincerely.

“Don’t…don’t apologize to me,” Mason responded. “I…this is all my fault.”

After carrying his mate to the corner, Levi crouched and sat with Mason on his lap. Levi needed to find a way out of the room or at the very least prepare for when Mason’s father and that horrid other man returned.

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