Page 31 of To Fall for a Dragon

Hakko made his way back to the basement, trying to get to Poe, but every few steps, someone else stopped him. His tail lashed out, slamming hard against the stone walls. The next person who stopped him for no reason was going to be hurt. A lot. Poe was in pain and needed help. Why couldn’t anyone see that Hakko had to find him and comfort him? Poe would… Fucking hell.

“Hakko, what can I do?” Hakko closed his eyes and held back the snarl before facing Caden, who was wringing his hands in agitation. “The spirits are worried and keep pushing me to ask.”

“They were helpful. If you’ll excuse me, I need to be somewhere else.” Hakko slid around more people, ignoring all their entreaties for his time. He hadn’t meant to come into the main exhibit hall.

Hakko found his way back to the storage room where Caden had stashed Poe. He nodded to the corners where the spirits were and swept the empty space with a careful eye. Panic overwhelmed him when he couldn’t find Poe anywhere. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his racing heart and listened for a minute. A slow, stuttered heartbeat caught his attention. Someone was still in the room.

“Poe? It’s me. It’s just Hakko,” Hakko called. He remained where he was, waiting for Poe to give him a sign.

“I don’t like this, Hakko. My head is screaming, and my body is turning itself inside out. I don’t—I can’t,” Poe said, an edge to his voice. Hakko hunted the room looking for Poe. He had hidden himself well in a room with very little to disappear into.

A foot kicked out from the side of a filing cabinet, and it jiggled rapidly before it pulled back. Hakko tracked it until he found all of Poe.

Poe wasn’t in good shape. He hadn’t wiped his mouth from Hastur’s blood, and he was an unnatural shade of white, even for a vampire. His eyes danced between blood-black and the abyss. Terror filled Hakko’s soul as he gazed at his beloved. What had happened to him? Was Poe lost to him? Fuck, this whole night was a shit show, and it was Hakko’s fault.

“Poe!” Hakko gathered him in his arms and held tight, hoping his touch would ground Poe and help him find his way.

ChapterSeventeen

Poe hadn’t meant to swallow Hastur’s blood when he bit the knuckle off. He expected to distract Hastur into letting him go. It’d been a knee-jerk reaction, and some of the nasty-tasting blood went down his gullet.

And the world shifted and changed on him before he could process.

Images of snakes and tentacles wriggled their way into his head. Dark thoughts of possession and destruction warped his senses. His head throbbed while his digestive system fought the demonic sustenance with a vengeance. Poe’s body was at war, and he didn’t know what to do.

The ghosts gathered close to him, offering him ethereal support. The most aggressive spirit clutched at Poe, protecting him.

“Hakko, I’m scared,” Poe whimpered as Hakko cradled him. He buried his nose into the slick fabric of Hakko’s jacket. He was getting it dirty and stained, but he had Hakko offering him a shoulder and shelter.

“I know, sweetheart. I know. Come on.” Hakko lifted him to his feet and waited until Poe was steady. Poe held his breath, worried that his stomach would expel its contents.

“I don’t think I can do this.” Poe curled in on himself as he tried to stave off the pain. Hakko rubbed his back soothingly but didn’t let Poe sit until they were in Hakko’s private space. Carefully, so carefully, Hakko lowered Poe until he kneeled in front of a toilet. He eased Poe out of the ruined jacket and set a towel beside him.

“I have to—Someone else has to know what to do. I don’t. I am out to sea, and I need… Fuck, Poe.” Hakko kissed the crown of Poe’s head and left him alone.

It was as though the demon was waiting for when Poe was the most vulnerable. It attacked then, cramping his stomach and threatening the already fragile state of mind. The worms of negativity wheedled their way into his thoughts, telling him Hastur was a much better match, that Hastur would protect the people. Poe shuddered as the poisonous words took hold. He felt himself weakening as they continuously pummelled him with suggestions about how much more pleasant his life would be if he just gave in. He ached to give in. Life would be better than his half existence now, and he’d have ready food. But Hakko. God, the pressure to submit to the idea of humans being his livestock was seductive. One always protected the livestock. It was a food source. Poe could revel in the power over the humans, along with Hastur, as long as Poe passed along the connection he needed to bond with the land. It was the common factor between the realms, and Hastur required complete control over it.

Poe searched the bathroom for anything that would help sort this mess of thoughts. He was willing to do whatever it took to remove Hastur's head. Nothing availed itself, and Poe panicked. If he became unconscious, the voice would stop. Poe eyed the porcelain rim of the toilet bowl as a possibility.

“No! Poe, no. Terrible idea.” Two warm hands pulled him away from the rim and into a warm and comfortable lap.

“He won’t stop. I don’t know what to do,” Poe fretted. The worms retracted a bit when Hakko appeared. Poe picked at the cotton of Hakko’s shirt as he fought the urge to gag.

“Hurting yourself isn’t going to help. I spoke with a friend, and they suggested just letting the blood run its course. We need to be patient.” Hakko cuddled Poe close, and it was everything Poe liked, but not now.

“I don’t want that. I can’t have that. Fuck, Hakko. You don’t understand.” Poe’s stomach clenched, making sweat break out on his face.

“I don’t know what else to do, Poe. You’re one of the first good vampires in this fucking town.” Hakko growled. He stood and brought Poe to his bedroom. And Poe fought by kicking Hakko, while desperately holding onto his sanity as the worms bore holes in his head.

He wasn’t going to allow Hakko to carry him when he wasn’t happy. It meant bad things. Hakko was going to do away with him. Poe wasn’t worthy of Hakko.

“I have an idea,” Hakko said as he settled on his soft bed, Poe cradled in his lap. He didn’t meet Poe’s eyes as he unbuttoned his shirt, which gave Poe great concern.

Poe didn’t say anything, and he didn’t move as he tried to catch Hakko’s gaze. “Okay, but this sounds like a bad idea already.”

“You have to drink my blood from me,” Hakko whispered with a vulnerable expression.

Poe blinked. It made some sense; however, he wasn’t himself. “I can’t ruin you.”

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