Page 70 of Free Me

“Actually, I’d love a drink,” Miko replied. “Come on.”

They made their way into the ballroom. The first half of the room was a dance floor already half full of dancing couples. The back half had dozens of round tables with chairs, the appetizer buffet and two wet bars. Linus spotted more clusters of people he knew, including some guys from the university soccer team, and wished he could wave at them. He also battled a sharp pang of grief for the career he’d lost. The dream that had been taken along with half his leg.

He wasn’t paying attention when Miko stopped walking, and Linus nearly crashed into the man in front of him. They were in line for drinks, and Linus needed to stay focused on the present, on his reason for being here, not on all the things he’d lost.

“What do you feel like?” Miko asked. “My treat.”

“I would love one beer,” Linus replied. He hadn’t had a sip of alcohol since the night of the party, not with all the painkillershe’d been on. Now that he was weaning down and managing his pain better, he could indulge on a night like this. “Just the one.”

“Okay.”

On their turn, Miko ordered a bottled beer for each of them. He paid and carried them to the nearest empty table so they could settle and sip. The first taste of the yeasty beer warmed Linus’s throat and stomach in a pleasant, familiar way.

He’d only managed a second sip and was searching for something to talk about when a tall body slid into the chair next to Linus. Danyel grinned at him, a tall mixed drink of some kind in his hand. “Look at you, out and about like a normal person, Higgs.”

Linus laughed. “You’re one to talk, dude. You hate this kind of formal shit.”

“Yeah, well, my oldest alpha brother just made constable this year, so my siblings kind of insisted we make this a big family affair. I have a mandatory two hours, and then I can jet. What about you, though? Just showing off your new leg?”

“My new leg.” Linus squeezed Miko’s wrist. “And showing off my bondmate.”

“Dude, really?” Danyel looked between them with wide eyes. “You’ve known each other for, like, your entire lives. How did you just figure it out? Didn’t Miko heat the night of the accident?”

Linus gently knuckled Danyel in the shoulder. “My nose, dumbass. Remember that after the accident, my sense of smell was out of whack for a while? It took me time to understand what I felt for Miko, and we finally figured it out after I got home from rehab. But even before all that, we promised each other we’d dance at the gala, whether I was in a wheelchair or on my own two feet.”

“Why am I both impressed and nauseated by the sweetness of that?”

“You’ll change your mind when you meet your bondmate,” Miko shot back with humor in his voice.

“Probably,” Danyel replied with a smile. A smile Linus suspected was forced. “But I still have another year of university, so plenty of time to worry about that. And since you never afforded me a single date, Miko, can I have one dance later?”

Miko raised an eyebrow and looked at Linus. Linus might have bristled if he didn’t know Danyel well enough to sense his melancholy. Despite Danyel’s oldest brother achieving constable and the siblings being out celebrating, he probably missed his parents. “It’s up to Miko, not me,” Linus said.

“One dance,” Miko said. “After I’ve danced with Linus.”

“Of course. I’ll see you guys later.” Danyel tapped the lip of his glass against each of their beer bottles, and then he melted into the moving crowd. Alone.

Linus empathized with Danyel, himself being the youngest of five siblings, both alphas, both trying to make a career out of playing soccer. When Linus put the idea of losing both his parents within two years, which Danyel had, against Linus losing part of his leg to a terrible accident but still having choices in terms of his future mobility, plus Linus having his bondmate by his side….Linus had it pretty damned good.

“Hey, you okay?” Miko asked.

“Yeah.” Linus leaned over and kissed Miko’s cheek. “Really good. Danyel’s a great guy, and I really do hope he finds what we have. He deserves it.”

“Well, he’ll never have what we have, because I am yours and no one else’s. And you’re mine.”

“Pedantic dork. And you’re right, you are mine, Miko Tovey. I love you.”

Miko smiled warmly. “I love you too.”

More friends passed by over the next twenty or so minutes, while he and Miko finished their beers, and Linus soaked in theattention. For the last two months, his life had revolved around his leg and his recovery. Tonight, his life revolved around Miko as his bondmate, and them being out in the world as a couple. Dad and Papa even came by, and Linus couldn’t swear to it, but Dad seemed almost energetic. Which was an odd observation for someone Dad’s age, but Linus wanted his sire to live forever.

The music changed to something softer, more romantic, and Miko looked at him with hooded eyes. Linus’s heart melted. Time for their dance. Since his parents were still at the table, Linus left his walker in their care. Miko helped him up, and he stood on Linus’s right side, helping him both walk and balance as they headed for the edge of the dance floor.

This wasn’t a romantic movie where Linus would suddenly sprint forward and show off with his prosthetic, no assistance needed. No spotlight was going to shine on them as he and Miko danced in a perfect rhythm to a sappy love song. This was real life, and it was absolutely perfect.

Linus struggled a little and clung to Miko so he didn’t fall on his face, and he felt no shame in that. Only a blast of love that Miko was by his side, no matter what. They reached the edge of the dance floor where fewer people were. It was odd not to feel the smooth surface under both feet, to not be certain of where his right foot was going to land in relation to Miko’s feet. He looked down a lot and allowed Miko to lead them.

Miko led him in a slow, beautiful dance all their own, the music barely there as Linus concentrated on existing with his boyfriend. On moving carefully but also somehow sensually, all because of the man in his arms. This gorgeous omega he’d loved his entire life and in all the ways: as a friend, then a brother-in-law, and now as his romantic partner. His life partner.

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