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“Best. Prize. Ever.”

Chapter Seven

WHATEVER STRENGTHJake Carson had drawn on to present a façade of a man coping with his reality, it was running out. The only thing keeping him going was the upcoming mission to locate Theron. Seth’s psychic gifts were impressive, but Fielding’s interrogation had left Jake with no illusions as to which of them possessed the greater skill. That… encounter had cost him a lot of energy, and he’d hated being so relentless, but he’d had no choice.

Horvan and Aelryn needed him. And they were going to need him again.

All he had to do was keep going, keep pretending….

Jake wasn’t sure how much any of them had guessed about his mental and physical state. He’d done his best to lock away his thoughts during the last few days, but while that prevented Dellan from seeing his inner turmoil, it hadn’t kept Nicholas out.

Maybe that’s as it should be. A mate should know the truth.

“And what truth is that?”

Jake gave a start. “You know, for a man who shifts into one of the largest animals on the planet, you move as silently as—”

“A mouse?” Nicholas offered as he rejoined Jake on the patio, handing him a tall glass of water. “And you’re not the first to remark on it. I had a boyfriend once who claimed I was a secret ninja.” He smiled. “I didn’t dissuade him from that theory. It added to my… mystique.” He sat on the chair next to Jake’s and gazed out at the lake, the setting sun reflecting in its still waters. “This is a beautiful place. Horvan told me the first time Vic visited, he was out of the car and into the water in a heartbeat.” He pointed to the piles of building supplies. “Do you know about the house Dellan is having built for them?”

Jake nodded. His son had grown into a thoughtful, loving, generous man.

Nicholas cocked his head. “But I’m not out here to talk about Dellan. I’d rather talk about you.”

Jake’s heartbeat slipped into a higher gear. “Oh?”

Nicholas’s large warm hand covered his. “It’s okay. I understand more than you think. Such as why you’ve been out on the patio most of the timesince we got here. And I don’t think you give your new family in there enough credit.Theyunderstand too.”

“Understand what?” The lake was a sheet of molten golds, reds, and oranges, like oil flowing on the surface of water.

Nicholas cupped Jake’s chin, and gently but firmly, he forced Jake to look at him. “No one gets out of captivity after thirty-one years and slips right back into a normal life.No one, do you hear me? Not even Jake Carson.”

Jake’s breath caught in his throat.

“I know you don’t want to admit it, but there’s a truth you need to accept if you’re going to come through this.”

Lord, the pain in his chest…. “What truth?” Jake croaked.

Nicholas took hold of his other hand and faced Jake. “You need to be right with yourself and everything that’s happened to you before you can believe life is real again.” He swung out his arm, encompassing the view. “That all this is real.”

Jake had never felt so seen, andGod, the relief. The damn burst, and he sobbed.

Nicholas knelt on the slabs and put his arms around him, Jake’s face buried in his neck. “Let it out, love.”

Jake’s tears soaked into Nicholas’s shirt, and it felt good to finally let go. Nicholas stroked up and down his back, a constant soothing reminder of his presence. When his sobs ebbed, Jake drew in a long shuddering breath and smiled.

“You need to get up and sit on a chair. At our age, concrete wrecks the knees.”

Nicholas chuckled. He released Jake and retook his seat. “Now let’s talk about sex.”

Jake blinked. “Wow. You’re a fast worker. Out here? Sure, I’d be up for that, but youknowCrank’ll want to sell tickets.”

He laughed. “Idiot. Can you be serious for a moment? And don’t think I can’t see past that smokescreen of humor you put up.”

Jake bit his lip. “Okay. No smokescreen.”

“I know we’ve talked about taking the next step, and Lord knows, I want you inside me, but….”

Jake smiled. “The feeling is mutual. In fact, I thought about it a lot while I was in that camp.” He sighed. “But the thing is? Mentally I need someone to help me get back into a good place. Don’t get me wrong, please. I reallydowant you. It’s just….”