Page 10 of No Honor Amongst Shifters
With Roslin visiting so often, Alcott kept it empty.Misha used it, too, when he didn’t get frustrated with Alcott’s lack of answering when he talked to him.
Alcott liked that Roslin came to talk to him often.He didn’t usually say much, but it was nice to hear someone else’s voice.Misha was still trying to get him to talk to him, too, but things were different with him.He was Alcott’s brother.Alcott owed it to Misha to stay as far away as he could so he wouldn’t pull him into his mess, but the same couldn’t be said for Roslin.They were technically family, but Alcott didn’t share the same relationship with him as he did with Misha.He didn’t want to protect Roslin the way he did his brother.
“It’s a shit show,” Roslin continued.“We have allies, but Elijah wants to attack the coven before they can attack us.He’s not wrong because I do believe it would make a difference, but I’m not sure he knows where to start.To attack the coven, we need to get into cockatrice territory and doing that would makeusthe attackers.”
“We’d be the attackers even if we didn’t enter cockatrice territory,” Alcott pointed out.
If Rosen was surprised to hear Alcott speak, he didn’t show it.“Well, of course, but the cockatrice leader would take advantage of us sneaking in.”
“He’ll take advantage of anything if it means he’ll win this fight.”
Roslin slowly nodded.“You know him.”
Alcott looked away.He did know Irwin.That was why he didn’t want to talk about him.Some of the bruises on Alcott’s body had been placed there by the cockatrice leader, and it still gave Alcott nightmares.“I do.”
“What do you think about Elijah’s plan?”
“I think that Elijah knows what he’s doing.”Hopefully.Alcott didn’t know for sure, though.He’d never had to lead anyone or protect anyone but Misha.
“So you think we should attack first?”
“I think that the coven is too powerful and that they’ll destroy the clan, no matter what Elijah decides.”It was hard to breathe, and Alcott tried to relax, but he couldn’t.He needed his brother to be safe.Elijah would get Misha killed if he attacked the coven and the cockatrices right now.
“Relax,” Roslin said gently.“Elijah hasn’t decided anything yet.I agree that we can’t continue waiting for the coven to do something, though.”
Alcott shook his head and reached out to touch the glass of the window he was leaning against.It wasn’t enough.He could feel the room closing around him.
Misha couldn’t die.Alcott couldn’t lose the only person he loved and who cared about him.
Gentle hands cupped his cheeks.He blinked and tried to say something, but the only thing that came out of his mouth was a croak.Roslin rubbed his thumb over one of Alcott’s cheekbones, and Alcott allowed himself to be distracted by the gesture.
How long had it been since anyone had touched him so gently?Damien had been nice initially, but as soon as Alcott had left the clan, he’d shown his true self.Even before then, though, he hadn’t been eager to touch Alcott.Alcott should have known something was wrong, but he’d told himself that Damien was just careful because their relationship was new.
He’d been an idiot.
He was breathing more easily now.He tried to smile at Roslin, but Roslin was still watching him with worry.He was also still touching Alcott, which, for some reason, made Alcott want to lean forward.He knew that Roslin would hug him if he wanted to.
He desperately did.
Damien hadn’t hugged Alcott.The only one who had in years was Misha, and Alcott couldn’t ask him for comfort right now.He couldn’t ask Roslin to do so, either, but that didn’t seem to be something he needed to do.Roslin’s arms slid around him, and he pulled him closer.
Alcott went.He pressed his face against Roslin’s stomach and closed his eyes.He had no idea why a hug from someone who was barely more than a stranger was so comforting, but he never wanted it to end.Roslin’s arms around him were solid, and they made him feel safe.
“I can’t promise you everything will be all right,” Roslin said.“But no one wants to die.I’m sure that many cockatrices will say yes to anything that means they can avoid fighting, especially for people who don’t respect them.We’ll come up with a plan.”
Alcott hoped he was right.He wouldn’t survive if the coven won this fight.
Damien had promised him that.
* * * *
ROSLIN WAS RELIEVEDwhen Alcott calmed down.He’d been thinking about calling Misha and asking him to come and help, but he wasn’t sure if it would have made things worse or better.The brothers still weren’t talking, even though Misha was incredibly worried.
He held Alcott because it felt like that was what Alcott needed.He wasn’t pushing Roslin away.Roslin wanted to say something about how this would be easier if Alcott let his brother back into his life, but he didn’t dare.He felt like Alcott was starting to trust him, and he didn’t want to ruin that.
“Elijah won’t do anything stupid,” he continued.“He wants to protect the clan.He’ll think about every detail hundreds of times, and even though he’s the leader, I doubt he’ll make decisions on his own.At the very least, he’ll ask Gunther what he thinks.”
“Will he ask you, too?”Alcott asked.His voice was slightly muffled because he was still hugging Roslin, and his face was pressed against Roslin’s stomach.
