Page 21 of Midnight Rules
But Marric couldn’t focus on it because he was getting cold. The temperature in the house wasn’t conducive to walking around in his underwear.
Iven frowned and felt Marric’s forehead. He seemed satisfied. “Do you want to shower? The water will warm you up.”
Marric nodded and smiled.
Iven took a step back. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen. You can talk to Zinnie about the herbs you’ll need.”
“Who is Zinnie?”
“My ex-wife.”
“You have an ex-wife? Do you have an ex-boyfriend or ex-husband too?” Marric was intrigued.
“Yes. And an ex-boyfriend as well.” Iven’s answer was a little unexpected but maybe that was Marric stereotyping since it was his ideal on what a cop was, which was some meathead alpha type with a superiority complex. Being LGBTQIA in some way didn’t negate any of that but it sort of meant he wasn’t a prejudiced prick, right? So that could mean he also wasn’t a meathead.
“I hope this isn’t rude, but can I ask you about your sexuality?”
“I’m probably closer to being bisexual, I guess. Gender doesn’t factor in for me. But I’ve never thought much about how to label it.” Iven made it sound like his sexuality wasn’t a big deal and it wasn’t a problem for Marric. He’d like to have a longer conversation about it, preferably when he wasn’t almost naked and in need of a shower. “What about you? How do you label yourself?”
“Gay. Very gay. But I’ve never had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, unless I can count Kyrsten Bass who told me she was my girlfriend and that I had to walk her to the bus every day. That was sixth grade. She’s still that bossy, although I did pull up my big boy panties and break up with her. It took me the better part of two months. In middle school terms that’s a full-on ten-year marriage.”
Iven chuckled. “It doesn’t count.”
Marric didn’t want to change the subject, but he needed to know why he felt so good. “Your ex-wife helped me?”
Iven nodded. “She gave you some herbs at the start of your fever, which is what’s making you feel better now. But she’ll be able to confirm that and give you more, just in case your fever comes back.” Iven smiled.
He turned as if to leave the room, so Marric called his name. When he stopped and met his gaze again, Marric said, “Thank you. For taking care of me and stuff.”
Iven nodded and pulled the door closed behind him. The gentle click made Marric smile. It turned out the sheriff of Fortune Falls was a very thoughtful man.
Marric got the shower going, adjusting the water temperature. As soon as he stepped under the spray and let the water warm him, he felt a million times better. All the grime from his sickness washed down the drain as if it had never existed.
He wished it was a one and done situation, but he’d get sick again. When he did, he wanted those herbs even before the delirium set in.
It was as he was washing his body that he thought about how many days might have gone by. His dad would be so mad at him for not checking in. There was no way Marric would get away without telling him what had happened, which means he’d have to explain how Iven fit into the mix. And Dad would be less than thrilled. Iven’s presence killed Dad’s dynasty dreams.
They had put the argument on hold when Emery had gotten sick, but that wouldn’t be the case when Kinnison found out about Iven.
Unless Iven had a uterus Marric didn’t know about. Maybe Marric should ask him just to save himself the headache of an argument. If Iven did have the right parts, it would be giving Kinnison exactly what he wanted, which wasn’t something Marric was willing to do.
It was unlikely anyway. He’d just have to listen to his dad bitch about not having an heir, as though Emery couldn’t give him one eventually. Or hell, Regan could too when he grew up, except he wasn’t a wolf.
Why did it have to all be on Marric? He’d never understood why his order of birth even mattered. He hadn’t thought about it when Tory had been alive, because Dad had focused on her being the oldest and left him alone.
The concept of creating a monarchy within the pack was ridiculous. No other pack picked an alpha from one family only. Most voted, like Fortune Falls. Some fought still, but it was never to the death anymore.
If Marric was to become the leader, his lack of actually being an alpha would become a problem. Sooner or later, someone would challenge Marric the same way some pack members challenged the alpha to change leadership. When that happened,he would be screwed and probably also dead. The gods knew he wasn’t strong enough to fight with just his wolf. He didn’t have a third form the way Kinnison did. Using magic would put a target on his back. The path to Marric’s destruction was rather clear to him.
As soon as he got out of the shower and got dressed, he sat on the bed and picked up his phone. He saw he had a dozen missed calls. He also noted the date and the fact that he’d been out of it for three days.
He cursed and pressed the button that would call his dad’s cell.
Dad answered on the first ring. “Where the fuck have you been?”
Marric rolled his eyes and wished his dad could see it. Instead, he gave his best sassy answer, “I missed you too, Dad.”
“Don’t fuck with me, boy. I’m worried sick.” Okay, that was Kinnison Ransome’s ‘I mean it’ voice, which meant he was about to lose his shit all over Marric. Which also meant he was halfway to the truck, ready to come and get him. And Marric really didn’t want to take Dad away from Emery or Regan.
