Page 14

Story: Darkness Echoes

“You have been avoiding me for weeks. Weeks! I know you sleep in our bed. I can smell your fake attempts at pretending to be at Quest. I can smell the lies and the bars and the—the dogs that one weird time. But you have been avoiding me. Don’t act so surprised!”

Instead of picking up steam, Luca’s rant peters out.

“Honey, I’m sorry,” Gideon says softly—and it’s enough for his mate to burst into tears and throw himself into Gideon’s arms.

Gideon lifts him and finds yet another bench to sit on, outside in the fucking cold. He puts him sideways across his lap so he can get his icy fingers under the ankle of Luca’s sweatpants to feel his hot skin, and puts his nose in Luca’s neck.

It goes a long way to settling his wolf, who, until now, has been suspiciously quiet. Gideon realizes he hasn’t heard from his wolf in days. It’s shocking, when he’d been sure it was the wolf pushing so hard to end Carnell.

“I’m sorry.”

Luca pulls out a used tissue from the pocket of his coat and blows his nose. “Don’t say it unless you mean it. I—I miss you, and if you aren’t planning to fix this shit…then, well…fuck. What am I saying? I’ll take your apologies even if they’re fake because I’m stupid, and it’s probably my fault, whatever it is that has you in bars or out with dogs.”

Gideon chuckles; Luca has a good nose but terrible self-esteem. “You aren’t stupid, and it’s not your fault. You deserve better.”Better than me.

It’s not an explanation or even half of what Gideon has to say, so he sits with it for a minute. He’s already lied more than he ever thought he would to the people he loves most in the world—but he’s never done it while looking his soulmate in the eyes.

Their relationship has always been built on absolute trust. It has to be. But Gideon has not been holding up his end of the bargain. No matter if it’s important, he’s dragged Luca down without meaning to.

No—that’s not being completely honest, either. He’s been so focused on protecting his mates that he’s let them all down.

“Hey.” Leo is standing without his coat by the doors to the ER. “Sorry. But if you guys want in on this, Nix is waiting.”

Luca slides off his lap, smoothing down the hem of his jacket, and pulls Gideon to his feet.

“You gotta mean it. Please?”

He looks up into Gideon’s face, eyes scanning his features like Gideon has changed since he saw him last.

He seems satisfied with what he sees there, although what that could be escapes Gideon for the moment.

Luca picks up Leo’s hand and they walk away, with Leo raising an eyebrow behind Luca’s back.

Gideon is left standing by the bench, wondering what happens next.

He’s got some decisions to make and maybe some promises to keep.

The Moon Moves (Nix)

Artem drives his compact car carefully into the familiar ER drop-off area and leaves it running.

If the third time’s a charm, then maybe four times is a habit? Nix certainly hopes not—he’s already been here three times too many.

Nix sighs, not ready to get out and face what’s coming. Artem stays put, and he’s grateful for the older man’s calm support.

“Thank you again for today. I’m sorry you were called away from your errandsunnecessarily,” Nix says with obvious emphasis, unable to resist the subtle dig at Luca, and reflecting his frustration with the entire situation.

“Not at all, Nix. Areyoufeeling better?”

Nix’s eyes go wide at the subtle jab, as well as Artem’s friendly betrayal.

Luca giggles and offers the older man a fist bump in solidarity.

“You two aren’t funny,” Nix huffs. “Yes, much better.”

The cookies from Matteo had been the perfect thing to settle his nausea, and the mint tea would have been too, if he’d been able to drink more than the last mouthful out of the semi-crushed cup.

Artem chuckles and pats Nix’s arm. “I am glad you’re better now, but it might not hurt for you to have your Dr. Merritt take a look, no? You wouldn’t want to ignore anything that could turn serious.”