Page 29 of Benicio

Chapter Nine

For now, Eleazar was compartmentalizing what he’d just learned. If Benicio was, in a way, his brother, he was going to save him. His entire life he thought Zakrem was his brother. If what David said was true, then how could Zakrem have been related to him?

Now Eleazar had no idea who he was, where he’d come from, and if he’d had a good life before it had been taken from him. The stranger who’d shown up at his door two years ago, that man had been the one who had done this to him. In his act of selfishness, he’d destroyed Eleazar’s life. Had changed him into something monstrous because Benicio’s father had detested his own son.

So much for compartmentalizing this.

Eleazar felt the small electrical currents of power in his hands. Why hadn’t he felt that when the book was handed off to him? Why was it slightly vibrating with energy now?

Was it because the book was close to Benicio? Eleazar hesitated. It hadn’t dawned on him until this very moment that this book had caused all the chaos in Ridgeway. Things had been normal until it had been given to him. Two days after receiving it, Fayez had declared war on the wolf shifters and things had been spiraling since.

“I have to destroy it,” Eleazar said simply, showing the book to David and Matteo.

Both of them looked at Eleazar like he’d lost his mind. “Are you nuts?” David asked. “We need that book to save Benicio’s life!”

“The book is cursed, just like Benicio. It has been causing all of the chaos in the city. If I destroy it, the curse on Benicio will be broken.” Eleazar’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. He only hoped that was true, because he hadn’t been able to decipher the words when he’d looked inside of it two years ago.

“I won’t have you playing with Benicio’s life,” Matteo snarled as he stood.

Eleazar held up a hand, stopping Joaquin from coming closer. “Can you read it?” Eleazar asked and then looked at David. “Or you?”

“I haven’t even seen what’s inside,” David argued.

Eleazar opened the cover and showed them. “Tell me either of you knows what this says.”

“No,” David finally said, “but how can you be sure destroying it will save my mate?”

Gut instinct, but Eleazar knew not to say that out loud. David would continue to argue with him, and from the way Benicio looked, they didn’t have time. He was growing paler by the second, his lips blue.

“And how do you destroy a book like that?” Matteo asked. “I can feel its energy from here.”

Eleazar had no idea.

“Burn it,” Benicio groaned.

“That simple?” David asked Benicio, but the guy didn’t answer.

“Get me some lighter fluid and matches,” Eleazar said to Joaquin.

* * * *

David wasn’t so sure this would work. He was too terrified to hold out hope that burning an ancient spell book would cure his mate. He prayed it was true, because he was holding one of Benicio’s hands and it was ice cold, as if his mate had already died.

“You’re not allowed to leave me,” David whispered to Benicio when everyone had left the study. “We just found each other, and I’ll be damned if I let you die.”

No response. Benicio was barely breathing, his chest barely moving up and down. David pressed his forehead to Benicio’s and closed his eyes, feeling the weight of despair settling on his shoulders. It wasn’t fair.

What if Eleazar burned the book and that didn’t break the spell? What was David going to do? He didn’t want to be without his mate. He didn’t want to lose the chance of seeing Benicio smile and hearing him laugh.

They were supposed to have a lifetime together.

David dropped to his ass when Benicio jerked upward, sucking in a deep breath before he collapsed back down.

“Benicio?” David scrambled to him. “Benicio!”

But his mate’s eyes were still closed. David quickly checked for a pulse and was relieved when he felt one. It wasn’t strong, but it was there.

“Did it work?” Matteo asked when he ran back inside.

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