Page 4 of Unsanctioned
Waylon chewed that over. He had to admit the passion with Audor was off the charts. Surely things wouldn’t be that way if he had a mate. Maybe Audor didn’t have another half either. It was possible they could simply choose each other—like humans choose a life partner. He didn’t know.
Waylon shook his head. He had gotten off track. “I guess I’ve been alive so long and seen so many fated mates that I can’t stop believing I’ll have that one day. Since meeting Audor, I’ve swung pretty wildly between happiness and not wanting to get hurt or hurt him when a mate appears for one of us. People are moving here like crazy since they learned we have a healer. I think part of me kind of hoped and feared one of these new arrivals wasmeant for me. Then again, I’m also terrified maybe they’ll be meant for Audor. We’re more likely doomed than not.” Waylon made a wild gesture. “That’s neither here nor there. What I’m getting at is I haven’t let him in the way he’s done for me. Despite knowing this was likely pointless, he hasn’t held anything back. Last night, I decided I’d be the same. He deserves better, but then when I tried to say that, everything came out all wrong. He disappeared and is ignoring me now. I don’t know. Maybe it’s for the best.” Even as he said the words, Waylon tasted the lie. He felt the pain. Waylon didn’t want them to end. He wasn’t ready to give up Audor.
Frost set his hand on Waylon’s arm. Warmth traveled up his arm and settled in his chest. “This is a small town. He can’t avoid you forever. Maybe Gemini and I can have a small barbecue this weekend and get you both under the same roof. You can kidnap him… during the day, anyhow.”
They exchanged a smile that turned into a laugh. Waylon felt better. He had a plan. The weekend was still a couple of days away. Maybe he would manage to corner Audor before then. If not, Frost’s plan sounded like a win. He would take what he could get.
Audor hadn’t told Waylon, since he hadn’t really gotten a chance, but with more vampires headed their way, Audor didn’t have to spend every single day shadowing Frost any longer. He had extra help now. He could take some days off a week. Audor had planned to surprise Waylon today by sticking to him like glue and enjoying some time together. He hadn’t expected things to end so quickly. Now he had unexpected time off and nothing to do but think.
When Gemini had put his home up for sale to move in with Frost, Audor had quickly bought the place before it slipped away. The house was small, but he was only one vamp, and the garage was huge. Plus, the two hundred acres surrounding him gave him the illusion of the old days before the air stank of pollution all hours of the day. He had to admit people smelled better, making his meals easier. Not all progress was bad. Audoralso enjoyed a cozy bed and heat in the winter. Air in the summer too, truth be told. Okay, so he liked more than he hated about today’s world, but he was still happy with his purchase.
Between guarding Frost and spending his nights in Waylon’s bed, he hadn’t gotten around to doing the things he wanted with the property. Audor focused on that now, hoping to keep himself sane. The automatic bay door system on the garage didn’t work, so Audor fixed that first. From there, he went to work on a stack of lumber. He built shelves and a table. The daylight hours might weaken him, but he was still faster and stronger than any human. He kept his hands busy and made his muscles scream. The hole in his chest wouldn’t let him forget it was there, but Audor would be damned if he dwelled on it.
“Would you like some help?”
Audor spun so fast, he almost tweaked his back. He had been so focused on not thinking, he hadn’t felt Riku coming. “Holy shit. Where did you come from?”
Riku smiled. His skin had the glow of summer, even though they were just heading into spring. His messy dark hair made his almost yellow eyes pop. Those eyes danced with laughter at his expense. “Snakes are pretty silent.”
“I fucking guess. You nearly made me throw my back out. I’m old, you know.”
“Me too.”
Audor wanted to ask how old, but Riku likely didn’t recall. He was a godling—created, used, and discarded by Jörmungandr. Riku had probably seen the birth of several planets. He looked twenty.
Riku’s gaze moved over him, openly studying his shirtless state. “Judging by the layer of dirt on your skin, I’m guessing you’ve been at this a while.”
With a shrug, Audor looked away. “Yeah. Well. I’ve put off a lot of chores since coming to town.”
Dressed from head to toe in black, Riku pulled his coat closed tighter. “I suppose you’re accustomed to this weather.”
It was obvious he tried making conversation about anything at all. Audor wondered if Riku was lonely. Unlike Audor or the Weres of this town, there was no one else like him. Audor suddenly felt less alone. While there were creatures who looked like him and acted like him, Audor had never truly fit. He wanted to wake up with the sun and drink coffee with his mate. Audor wanted to go to bed each night and snuggle into the warmth. He wanted something he hadn’t quite captured in all his long life.
Audor moved to the corner and grabbed a large space heater. He plugged it in and set a chair beside it. After cranking the dial to the highest setting, he motioned for Riku to sit. “Please? To me, this weather closely mimics Sweden. I’ve spent countless nights sleeping in the snow. This place is nothing. I imagine where you’re from is not the same.”
While wearing a grateful smile, Riku sat. He leaned close to the heat. “Nothing is the same here, but the cold is the worst.” Riku hesitated. “And possibly the emotions. Everything is muted in the heavens. Here, well, sometimes, I’m suffocated by my own mind.”
In Audor’s world, it was rare for anyone to speak so openly about their feelings. While Leif had been his best friend for hundreds of years, they were still warriors. They weren’t supposed to feel too much. It was nice to be around someone so open.
“You’d think it would be the other way around. The gods are so powerful. It seems like they should feel more.”
“That’s exactly why heaven is kept intentionally muted. Powerful emotion leads to passionate disagreements.”
“How else is it different there? Why would you choose this mountain? I have so many questions.”
Riku laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Sometimes choices aren’t as many as you think. Sometimes, what looks like free will isn’t truly free at all.”
A sad smile tugged at Audor’s lips. “I’m certain it’s more often than sometimes.”
They shared a smile.
Audor went back to work with Riku watching him. His presence was comforting. Audor needed that today.
“It seems Frost is planning a small barbecue this weekend. You should bring a date.”
A pain sliced through Audor. He tried hiding it with a laugh. “Are you offering?”
“Are you trying to get both legs ripped off?”
