Page 40 of Thorn of Sorrow

“I’ll have the kitchen spotless before he wakes.” A soft, understanding smile curved his lips.

A raw knot lodged in my throat, and I was too grateful to be pissed about his secret being kept from me. I’d almost lost Kyson and had barely pulled myself out of the darkness that had welcomed me home.

Richard started away, but I touched his shoulder. He turned his head, gazing at me.

“How do I put what I feel into words?” I reached down and laced my hand with Kyson’s, drawing soothing circles over his soft skin. “You have my eternal loyalty and my daggers at your command. This I vow to you.”

“And my sword,” Malachi said from across the counter. “Thank you for saving Kyson.” He placed his right fist over his heart. “And my and my brother’s lives as well.”

Because if Kyson had died, I would have killed Richard for giving me hope. Malachi would have also broken his vow. I would have been compelled by unseen forces to carry out his execution then follow after my petit oiseau into death.

Kyson wasn’t just my partner, but the man who had unapologetically flipped my world upside down. He’d torn me open and laid me bare, capturing my heart and making me completely his.

That kind of power did something to a man, made them willing to do anything to hold on to that feeling.

It made him willing to lie, steal, even kill, and beg just to see a smile. To change my life completely to fit into his. The battles I’d fought had only been training, preparing me to fight like hell for the man I loved, to fight for our happiness, for our slice of heaven we needed but didn’t think we deserved. He owned every part of me—body, heart, and mind—and I would always fiercely protect the future his love had given us.

I slid my arms under Kyson, gently lifting him to me, then cradled him against my chest, keeping him close to my heart. Then I created a shimmer to get him back to his room.

“Giovanni.”

I paused and glanced at my brother.

“After you put him to bed, we clean house.”

“With pleasure.”

* * * *

Following Malachi’s interrogation of one of the vampires, we learned that every one of them had been plotting against us in some way.

When they were given refuge at Winterhaven, their sole obligation was their loyalty to their prince.

They’d betrayed that obligation.

Winterhaven wasn’t a sanctuary. It was a kingdom, and we were going to purge the rot from our home.

Not one of them survived the night.

Chapter Ten

Kyson

Random images continuously popped into my mind, like a TV show on mute. A cat in a litter box. Flipping off Osiris. Shoving Dane through the shimmer. And barbeque ribs lying in the grass. I remembered all of those events occurring at some point in my life, except the one with a tiny dog skateboarding down the street.

No idea where that one had come from.

Why was I dreaming about fragments of my life? It hadn’t been great, and I didn’t need to be reminded of it.

I scrunched my nose when I felt small electrical “pops” in my head. They weren’t painful, but they definitely shouldn’t be there either.

Weird.

Gradually, I opened my eyes, and recognized that I was in my room. The last memory I had was gathering the things I would need for my boss-ass turkey sandwich. Then…

I gazed up at the ceiling as I tried to make sense of everything. Hallway. The silent conversation I’d had with myself about confessing my deep love for Giovanni, but fear always smacked the words back down my throat. Okay, good so far. The kitchen. Toppings.

The mustard. The mustard bottle. I’d been terrified of mustard. What? That made no sense. Backtrack, Kyson. The toppings.

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