Page 39 of Hold my Reins

Lynck shut the truck door, fear and fury pulsing through his blood.

Rox walked around, lips pressed together, and got in.

It took everything Lynck had not to snarl at him. How could Rox betray him like that?

He stared at his human boyfriend. The man who had only been trying to help him. It wasn’t Rox’s fault. Lynck had never said what kind of monster Bothvar was.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Arn was a frost giant,” Rox said as he put the key in the ignition.

“I know.” He pushed the words out through gritted teeth, annoyed with himself for agreeing to remove the bridle. He should’ve known better. If he’d stayed away, Rox’s boss might have never seen him…but their paths would’ve eventually crossed. He’d have stopped by to see Rox, or they’d have passed in a shop.

He was surprised Rox’s boss had never been into Beastly. Unless he was deliberately avoiding other monsters, which meant he had secrets of his own.

“That’s what Bothvar is?” Rox stared straight ahead as though driving, even though he hadn’t put the truck into gear.

“Yes. Even if I’d told you about frost giants, you wouldn’t have known that your boss was one.”

“He looked human. If I’d known, I’d never have asked you to come around.”

Lynck exhaled, forcing out the anger. It had all been for nothing. He was still bridled, and now a frost giant knew where he lived. Where else could he run to? Even if he moved to another monster town, Bothvar only needed to be in the human world to summon him back to the monster realm.

He’d felt free but hadn’t been.

“I want to be free.” His voice cracked.

Rox turned and put his hand on Lynck’s thigh. “I want that, too. What do we do now?”

“Now? I go to work, and you come to dinner as planned.”

“Are you sure you want to spend the evening with me?”

No, he wasn’t, but he also didn’t want to waste time when his life in the human world could be taken away at any moment. “I was shocked and angry because I thought I was safe. But it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

Rox nodded. “Arn is away next week. He is going to his brother’s wedding.”

“That means he is going home.” Lynck didn’t trust a frost giant as far as he could kick one. Arn might seek out Bothvar to earn favor. “If Bothvar turns up, you need to stay away from me, or he’ll command me to kill you.”

“Lovely.” Rox started the car. “Is there no way to stop him? Surely the soldiers guarding the portal won’t let him through.” He glanced over.

“They won’t if he goes through the main one like I did,” Lynck agreed, and that gave him a measure of safety. There was a part of him that hoped Bothvar wouldn’t come after him because it was too much hassle, but by escaping, Lynck madehim look weak. “But there is another portal in the forest near the lake.”

“Do soldiers guard that one, too?” Rox stared at him, and Lynck wanted to reassure him.

“I have heard it is less guarded due to its isolation and the wolves in the woods.”

“Oh…so monsters can come and go more freely.”

“In theory, though, there is a Leshy village near the other side.” Would they let Bothvar through, or would Bothvar kill them if they tried to stop them? Perhaps they would kill Bothvar. The thought gave Lynck a little too much satisfaction.

“What’s a Leshy?”

“They look human…or they look like they are made of tree and hide and bones.” He wanted to say they looked like a nightmare, but plenty of monsters found them charming.

Rox grimaced. “Can we not warn the military that Bothvar might appear and cause trouble?”

“He doesn’t need to cause trouble. As soon as he’s in the human world, he will be able to summon me, and I will not be able to resist. I will be the one making trouble on his orders. I will be the one banned from the human world.”

Rox gripped the steering wheel as he drove. “There must be something we can do.”

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