Page 71 of From Frost to Flame

“Sort of.” Silas shifted uncomfortably on the blanket. “Remember that day I skipped my duties and we stayed in bed all day?”

“Sure.” Lex swallowed. It was a painful memory. “You asked me about the commitment ceremony. The next day, we broke up.”

“After you fell asleep, she found me in bed with you. My mother is possessive of me, and the idea of me having a lover made her livid. She threatened to kill you if I didn’t end things. If I claimed you, our bond to each other would be obvious. Even if I sent you away from the castle, she’d kill you. To keep you safe, I told her it wasn’t serious between us, and I broke up with you that night without claiming you or telling you the truth. To be certain of your safety, I came up with a plan to retrieve the compass and go after her. That way when I died, she wouldn’t go after you.”

Lex blinked a few times and his head sat up straight. “Silas, what do you mean when you died?”

He cringed and avoided his eyes.

“Tell me,” Lex demanded. He listened as Silas explained that if the dominant partner didn’t claim his partner for fifty years, they would perish. A well of sadness opened in his chest as he pictured Silas resigned to death. All the news about his countless victories over the past few years made sense. He was completing a checklist before the end. Lex blinked back tears. “You were going to kill your mother, never claim me, and just die to keep me safe? Did Castor know about this?”

“No. He would never let me do it, so I lied. He thought we were only out to retrieve it and lock it away in Orion again. Truth is, I was going to put it on and go after her myself before I ran out of time.”

“Going after her alone would have been a suicide mission!”

“I’m dying anyway,” he said with a weary smile. “I knew when I died, she’d piece together that you were my mate and take revenge on you. I couldn’t rest knowing that. I wanted to leave you with a life you deserved when I was gone. Free of fear and threat. You didn’t need to be claimed by me to do that.”

“I’m so livid with you right now! I can’t even...ugh!” Lex was speechless. The idea he would wake one day and hear of Silas's passing and never know it was for him, or any of the sacrifices he made broke his heart. He didn’t think he deserved to be loved like that, but he was grateful in ways he couldn’t explain. “I want a life with you. Do you hear me? I want to stay with you.”

“But I told you. I’m—”

“The son of The Ravenous One. I know.” He squeezed his hand. “You are also a werewolf and the man who has done more for me than anyone I’ve ever known. There are so many dangers in this world, but I don’t need to be protected from you. I know you’re afraid, but I’m not going anywhere, so stop pushing me away. Let me love you. That’s all I want.”

“Okay. I’m sorry for...I don’t know...everything. For not telling you the truth before, for lashing out earlier. For everything.”

Black tears rolled down Silas's cheeks, and he moved to wipe them away, but Lex stopped him. He watched the path they took to his chin, and they reminded him of watercolor paints on canvas. He pressed a kiss to his cheek, tasting the salty bitterness on his lips.

“You don’t have to hide from me, Silas. Not ever.”

Chapter Fifteen

Silas

Iwish I knew whatto say.In their tent, under the dim light of the lantern, anxiety gripped Silas's vocal cords. He had spent so long assuming Lex would disappear if he knew the truth, he didn’t know how to process that he was choosing to stay. Mercifully, Lex broke the long silence between them, going back to how to seal their bond.

“So, how does you claiming me work?”

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