Page 97 of Bound in Blood
“?? ???… ?? ?????? ???…?*”
He choked on the last word, breath stuttering like it physically hurt to say.
Logan couldn’t understand a word Alexei was saying, but he didn’t need to. He felt it. This sheer, overwhelming force of devotion. Love so absolute that though August was feral and covered head to toe in the evidence of his sins, Alexei looked at him like he was perfect.
Logan took a slow step back, into his place between Mateo and Marco, where he belonged. Because this moment didn’t belong to Logan.
It was Alexei and August’s.
Alexei took another shuddering breath, his hands trembling like he was holding something fragile between them, though they hovered over nothing but empty space. His lips parted, but whatever words he meant to say never came.
August blinked again, caught somewhere in the world between feral and stable. He swayed forward, just a bit, like the instinct to collapse into Alexei’s arms was strong, but his confusion was stronger.
Alexei kneeled, unmoving, like if he shifted too quickly, August would vanish. Like if he breathed wrong, he’d wake up.
Slowly, carefully, he tilted his head. “?? ??????? ?????”
Logan didn’t know the words, but he knew the body language.Do you remember me?
August’s throat bobbed, recognition flashing in his expression. Along with hesitation, andhope.
Mateo dipped his head, putting his lips to Logan’s ear. “How does Alexei know the feral?” he murmured, at least having the decency to keep quiet. Through the bond, Logan could feel the betrayal Mateo felt. That Alexei would be so cozy with the vampire that caused him so much pain.
Logan tipped his head up to look at the twins, who wore matching confused expressions. Marco met Logan’s eyes, his expression softening as he wiped away a tear Logan didn’t even realize he’d shed.
“Oh,amore mio,are you okay?” He put a hand around Logan’s waist as Mateo’s wrapped around Logan’s shoulders, holding him so tight, like he might vanish if they let go.
“Sh…” Logan said, leaning his head onto Marco’s chest. “Watch.”
Marco frowned, but did as Logan asked, turning his attention back to Alexei and August.
Neither one of them had moved, caught in a fragile moment somewhere between recognition and collapse. Logan, Marco, and Mateo watched while August struggled to catch up to where he was, who he was. His eyes flicked back and forth like he was searching the room for a tether to reality, and only Alexei held still enough to offer one.
Then, finally, August nodded.
Just once.
And Alexeibroke.
A sharp, shattered sound tore from his throat as he surged forward, standing and stepping into August’s space. His hands grasped at August’s arms, his shoulders, his face. Touching like he’d been starved of it for far too long.
Alexei’s hands roamed with careful reverence over August, who leaned slightly into the touch, like he wanted to trust but he was afraid.Cheeks, jaw, shoulders, throat.Once Alexei had mapped out the formal feral’s face entirely, he cupped it reverently, thumbs brushing over blood-stained cheeks.
August inhaled the type of inhale that rattled around in your chest as you struggle not to break into sobs. He leaned into Alexei’s touch as the tears flew freely, pressing their foreheads together, his mouth beginning to form words before his vocal cords could catch up.
“Mein Herz,”he said finally, voice scratchy but getting better with each use, “Mein Herz, Mein Herz, Mein Herz….”
Alexei made another broken sound, something between a laugh and a sob, his fingers tightening around August’s face like he’d die if he ever let go again. They stood together, shaking back and forth, Alexei whispering soothing words in a language that Logan couldn’t understand, his breath shuddering with every pause.
August’s hands moved after a moment, reaching out totouch.To grip Alexei’s coat with desperate, clawing fingers. He barely blinked, and Logan knew it was because he was afraid Alexei would disappear if he closed his eyes again.
“I’ve known Alexei for eighty-one years,” Mateo said in disbelief. “I’ve never once seen him…” His voice trailed off, like he wasn’t exactly sure how to finish his statement.
“Think about it,Teo,” Marco murmured, keeping his voice low, doing his best not to disturb the reunion. “He’s drunk all the time. Not interested in hooking up with anyone, ever. He was… incredibly protective of Logan when we first met, but backed off the second the mate-bond took hold.”
Logan nodded. “He also knew a lot about the mate stuff, even though he admitted it’s incredibly rare.”
They were silent for a moment, then it was as if a light bulb had gone off above Mateo’s head, “Oh!”He whisper-shouted. “The feral is…”
