Page 43 of Dead

“I don’t plan to die.” Noah lifted his head arrogantly. “But if something goes wrong, you’ll have Eilam. You have nothing to worry about.”

Adriel frowned. “You think I wouldn’t feel your loss?”

“No. I don’t.”

Adriel sucked in a shocked gasp.

“I see what he means to you,” Noah said.

The king rounded his desk. “I was wrong to refuse your presence,” Adriel said. “I see that it’s hurt you—but it was hard enough to fight the feelings I had for one of you. Fighting you both would’ve been too much. I wouldn’t have survived it.”

Noah stared at him, his face impassive, but his eyes couldn’t lie. They glowed with emotion.

The king walked closer, stopping mere inches away.

Adriel placed a hand on Noah’s chest and could feel the bear’s heart beating wildly. It was almost as erratic as his own. “I thought… I thought putting up a wall was the only way to save Midnight. The only way to save myself. Because… if I had let either of you close, that wall would’ve shattered. Just as it is beginning to now.”

“I can’t believe I feel jealous of my own brother bear, but seeing the two of you together nearly broke me. I love him… but seeing the link you two share… and knowing I’ll never have that…” Noah looked away. “Your desire for him is palpable.”

“And we’ll never be able to share it. So perhaps I did you a service in keeping you away.”

Noah closed his eyes, pain haunting his face.

The king wrapped his arms around the big shifter, laying his head on the man’s chest. He could hear the sound of Noah’s heartbeat, and it soothed him.

Noah drew him ever closer, lifting him off his feet. The bear’s lips captured his. Hunger like nothing he’d dreamed of consumed him. Adriel was swallowed alive by need.

When Noah released him and took a step back, the king ached all the harder. Getting a few precious tastes of the men who were meant to be his was too much…

And nowhere near enough.

He turned to his potion, almost forgetting it. After a quick stir, he turned to Noah. “We go get Eilam and bring him back here. I can be gone for only a few minutes or this will be ruined.”

“Fair enough,” Noah said softly.

* * * *

Valen exited the interview room, leaving the human behind. He didn’t get a single answer that would lead him to believe the man knew anything about the vampires. Jeph’s heart had thundered in his chest, so loud Valen’s ears had easily heard the thumping. He’d seen true terror in the human’s eyes, but gotten nothing in return for it.

What if he’s innocent of the things you think of him?

He’d used fear to get answers, and he already regretted it. Valen shoved the thought aside, but his traitorous body wouldn’t let him forget.

“Where have you been?”

Valen turned his head and saw Theis walking closer. “Investigating a potential threat.”

Theis came to a stop before him. “What threat?”

Valen considered his words. Theis was mated to one of the humans and wouldn’t like to hear Valen’s theories.

“Well?” Theis asked.

“Possible conspirators with the vampires were found outside the walking portal.”

Theis froze. “Matioc told me it was Reese’s friends, returned.”

“One and the same,” Valen answered.

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