Page 3 of The Death God
He’d search all the news sites again tomorrow. It had been two months. Someone had to have found the other seers. Though, if someone had taken over the operation, he feared they’d never be found.
Chapter 2
Something was poking Gregory in the shoulder. He grunted. When the poke came again, he swatted at it without connecting. His mind was about to drift again when there was another poke.
“For fuck’s sake!” He flew to his feet with a snarl, only realising that he’d been seated when he shot up to his feet.
Thanatos scrambled backward, a rattan carpet beater in his hand. He held it as if ready to swing at Gregory. He took a moment to look around. He was in the kitchen. The empty bottle of gin was on the table.
Dawn was painting the sky rosy, which meant it was early as hell. When did the sun rise in June? Four in the morning? “Why aren’t you asleep?”
Thanatos’ expression went from terrified to confused, but he didn’t let go of the carpet beater.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
Gregory grunted. When he wasn’t drinking himself to sleep, he heard the screams. Jaki’s weren’t too bad, but he suspected it was because Rufus woke him before the nightmares could dig their claws in. Or maybe he slept better since he had his mate with him. Gregory suspected he’d sleep if he had his mate in his arms.
He didn’t have a mate.
“So because you can’t sleep, I’m not allowed to?” He glared.
A frown appeared between Thanatos’ brows. His dark hair was tousled and threatened to fall into his eyes. “I figured you’d be more comfortable in your bed.”
Gregory held on to his glare, ignoring the kink in his neck and how numb his ass was from having been seated for hours. “I was comfortable.”
“I’m gonna bake.” There was a defiant look in Thanatos’ eyes, and he tilted his chin a fraction. Gregory almost smiled. He was trying, but Gregory could smell the nervousness on him. It was both gratifying and felt like a punch in the gut.
Thanatos feared him.
Gregory didn’t believe it was personal. The seers feared everyone, but Gregory was his mate. Almost. He slumped his shoulders. Partial bond. Thanatos didn’t sense the pull; didn’t understand they were connected.
“Go ahead.”
After the last job he and Rufus had done, some fucking rapist they’d killed in a dark alley in a town a three-hour drive away, they’d bought everyone phones. He and Rufus already had phones, though Rufus’ was ancient, and he refused to upgrade. Fucker. But the seers hadn’t had a way of reaching them when they were out, which had Rufus in knots every time they left. He always believed someone would come and hurt Jaki.
So phones. Now everyone had phones and access to YouTube. It had resulted in Thanatos more or less moving into the kitchen. Some things he made were great, some not so much. Gregory never tasted anything when Thanatos was watching him, unless he cooked for everyone. Then it would be weird to refuse to eat. All the cakes, bread, and cookies, those he stole from when Thanatos wasn’t looking.
“I’m going to bed.”
Thanatos nodded, and Gregory snarled at the relief blooming in his eyes. The moment the sound reached him, Thanatos tightened his hold on the carpet beater and glanced at the knife rack. His eyes turned white as he looked at Gregory.
Was he planning to kill him? When Thanatos’ eyes turned white, he was predicting someone’s death—Gregory’s death. He shuddered and rushed out of the kitchen faster than necessary. Creepy fucker.
Gregory slammed the door to his room shut behind him and kicked off his shoes and clothes. He stretched out on the bed and waited. Would Thanatos try to kill him? He didn’t think so. He didn’t stand a chance, and he knew it.
Soon he heard things being moved around in the kitchen. He huffed to himself. It was in the middle of the night, and Thanatos was baking.
* * * *
Exhaustion tugged at Thanatos, but he dreaded going to bed. The moment he fell asleep, the white walls of the house of horrors surrounded him, the blue of his scrubs was always there, as were the beige linoleum floors under his slippers.
A shiver worked its way through him.
He made coffee. They hadn’t been allowed coffee in the facility, but he’d come to appreciate it. He wasn’t sure he liked the taste, but Rufus had shown him how to brew it right, and then he’d made Thanatos taste one cup black, one with milk, one with cream, one with milk and sugar, one with cream and honey, and so on. Honey. He liked coffee with milk and honey. Warm and sweet, but still a little bitter, and it made it easier to stay awake for another hour or two.
He was sipping on his cup when Rufus came stumbling into the kitchen. He’d cut his hair a couple of weeks ago, and Thanatos was still getting used to it. Long red hair was more dramatic than short. It was a little longer on the top. The hairdresser had left enough for the flaming red to fall to its right. Thanatos could stare at it for long moments. He had never seen anyone with such intense color.
He poured a cup of coffee without a word and handed it to Rufus.
