Page 32 of Midnight Rules
Iven grinned. “If anything, you’re the boy in this relationship.”
Marric’s cheeks turned pink. “True.”
Iven gripped Marric’s nape. Their gazes met. “You want to bond eventually, right?”
Marric nodded before Iven even finished the sentence. “We’ve already talked about it, so you know I do. It’s just the curse that’s a problem.”
“I’ll fight for you in every way.”
“You have been since the moment we met. We barely know each other.”
Iven put his hand on Marric’s chest, over his heart. “I know you, mate. I’ve waited a long time for you.”
Marric tried to scoot closer, but the seatbelt held him in place. He undid it and moved across the seat until he straddled Iven’s lap. He thought for sure Marric intended to give his father something to look at by kissing Iven’s silly, but he learned otherwise when Marric wrapped his arms around Iven and hugged him.
Iven held him close.
When Marric sniffled, Iven’s heart sank. He pulled a tissue out of the center console and handed it to Marric.
Marric mumbled something Iven didn’t catch, so he asked him to repeat himself. “You’re perfect.”
“I’m far from it.” Several people would disagree with Marric, including Marric’s father, if his expression was any indication.
“No, you are. You’re even willing to go against my dad. No one does that. Not anyone in our pack. And I won’t be able to find a cure without your help.”
Kinnison Ransome listened to every word they said. His wolf hearing made it possible, even though their voices were low, and they were still in the car several feet away from where he stood on the front porch.
What he said next was as much for Kinnison’s benefit as it was Marric’s. “I’ll protect you with my life.”
It was a lofty promise, and one he wasn’t sure he could keep. They were gathering puzzle pieces, but it seemed like someone had broken each piece into smaller bits. They might be a little closer to who conjured the curse, but they didn’t know how, or if, finding them would end the curse. If it didn’t and Iven couldn’t find the spell to stop it, then Marric might not make it.
Each tick of the clock made Iven panic if he focused on it too close, so he tried to forget about the fact each second counted. But Kinnison was a physical reminder. It was as if he held the clock in his hand.
It didn’t help that Kinnison was a powerful wolf. Iven could feel his power even from feet away. While Iven wasn’t a wolf, he was still intimidating. He fought against the feeling, but he couldn’t help but have doubts about his ability to maintain the fight once he got out of the car.
Iven took a deep breath in and then met Marric’s gaze again. “We should get out and face him.”
Marric grinned and shook his head. “You make it sound as though he’s a firing squad. My dad might look tough, and he has his faults, but he won’t hurt you because you’re important to me.”
“Even though he clearly doesn’t approve of our mating?”
“Even though.” Marric glanced out the window and glared at his father.
Kinnison Ransome appeared as dangerous as his reputation suggested. If a Viking and a biker had a baby, they would have produced Kinnison Ransome.
Iven hadn’t been scared of anyone before meeting Kinnison. But it was less about fear for his safety and more about wanting Kinnison to approve of his mating and knowing he obviously wouldn’t. He felt like a teenage boy meeting his date’s father for the first time.
“Marric.” Kinnison’s deep voice penetrated through the glass and metal of the car, invading the little cocoon they made for themselves.
Marric’s sigh was so dramatic even Iven shook his head, but he also smiled. He couldn’t help but find Marric’s reaction cute.
Marric wrinkled his nose as if something smelled bad. “I hung up on him the last time we spoke. He’s mad about that too.”
Iven raised his eyebrows. “Why’d you do that?”
“Because he started in with the dynasty shit.” So not only were they about to face Kinnison’s disapproval, but Marric also had to reckon with his behavior from earlier.
“Let’s get this done so we can get to the conversation that matters.” Iven opened the door before gripping Marric’s waist and helping him exit the vehicle.
