Page 19 of Blood Loss (The Obscura Saga #2)

K YLO

“Are you boys ready?” Maria pokes her head into the open door of their backyard suite with a big smile. “We’re almost done packing the car.”

“One second!” Kylo hollers from the bedroom, where he’s shoving his beach towel, clean change of clothes, and sunscreen into a duffel bag.

It’s finally May.

Once the last pack members disappeared back to their respective dens, life carried on as if nothing had happened. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Every painful event, every threatening and judgemental word, all stayed with Kylo, festering. It’s become ingrained in his daily routine to push it all down, pretend everything is fine—besides, there are more important things to focus on. Right?

Most professors were lenient with marking final assignments and exams, considering the circumstances. If they weren’t, Kylo isn’t sure if he would have passed most of his classes. And he needs to. If he doesn’t keep his grades up, he’ll fall behind, and Lathan will end up graduating without him. Just another tally on the list of things weighing on his mind.

If he’s honest with himself, he’s afraid.

Afraid of letting Lathan down. Afraid of bringing shame and dishonour to his pack. Afraid of being arrested or kicked out of Obscura. Afraid of meeting another vampire with bad intentions. Afraid his shifting will alienate him from the world—or worse, put a target on his back.

It’s exhausting.

Every day it’s harder to show up the way he once was—bubbly and full of life—but he’s trying. Or at the very least, pretending—hoping that one day the act will be the truth.

In the meantime, he’s giving himself some grace in the form of an old faithful—marijuana. Low-dose edibles, just to keep his nervous system in check and bring his anxiety down to a manageable level.

It’s just to take the edge off.

Snagging the bag of weed gummies from under his side of the bed, he pops one into his mouth and then slips the pouch into one of his bag’s many zipped pockets before jogging into the main room. Lathan—hair tossed into a knot atop his head, tank top and joggers clothing his body—is already waiting by the door as he slathers a heavy coat of white SPF across his arms.

“Ready,” Kylo confirms, dressed in orange swim trunks and a white tank top marked with a generic surfer graphic.

Lathan nods, looking Kylo up and down with a smirk of admiration before he puts a hand on the small of his back, ushering him out to join his mom.

“You got a change of clothes? Something lighter?” Kylo asks, not wanting a repeat of their last day in the sun, especially without Lucas nearby.

“I don’t own any shorts,” Lathan says, pulling off the sunglasses from the crown of his head to slip them on. “But I’m wearing my trunks under these.”

“Okay. Should I throw some ice packs into the cooler for you? I think my dad grabbed the beach umbrella…but I should double check,” he rambles on, hoping the Watermelon Splash indica takes effect sooner than later.

“I’ll be fine. They have a canteen there. I’ll just go in to cool off if I need. Let’s just enjoy your birthday ,” he enunciates, giving Kylo’s shoulder a light squeeze.

“ Thanks .” Kylo gives a nervous laugh, cheeks beginning to bloom. “I just want to make sure you’re alright—wait.” He stops dead in his tracks, pausing for a second before whipping around to face Lathan. “When is your birthday? And why am I only now realizing I don’t know it?” His brows furrow as he squints off into the distance, trying to think if he’s simply misplaced that information somehow.

“November,” Lathan says, slipping around him and continuing to the vehicle idling in the driveway.

“No— November ?!” he yells, hurrying after him. “We were together in November…I can’t believe I missed your birthday! What day? ”

Lathan cocks a brow at him as they approach the SUV. “Relax. I don’t celebrate my birthday.”

Kylo drops his bag beside the trunk and grabs Lathan by his biceps, holding his gaze with a serious expression. While he’s hamming it up, he is genuinely saddened he wasn’t able to do something for his partner’s first birthday as a couple. Now that he knows, he won’t be letting this mistake happen again. “ What. Day .”

“The seventeenth.” Lathan’s voice is smooth and even; he doesn’t seem to hold any emotion or sentimentality to the concept of his birthday.

“November seventeenth,” Kylo reiterates with a small smile, as if weaving the date into the fabric of his being. Sewing the number into his mind, next to his own birthday, never to be forgotten again.

“Okay, boys, enough chit-chat. I wanna get there before all the good spots are taken,” Maria calls as she opens the front passenger door and hops in.

David pops up behind the two and takes their things, placing it all in the trunk alongside a giant cooler. Patting Kylo on the shoulder as he heads to the driver seat, he says, “Time to get this show on the road.”

Lathan follows David, taking the seat behind him, and Kylo takes the seat behind his mother. Once the engine starts, David presses a button that automates all the windows to descend. Maria leans her hand outside to catch the waves of air as they pull away from the house, but Lathan rolls his window back up, most likely to avoid a sunburn before they even reach the beach—about an hour’s drive away. But he reaches to take Kylo’s hand sweetly as they both take in the passing scenery. Kylo spots David smiling knowingly at them in the rearview mirror as Maria sings poorly to the blaring radio station.

With the CBD gummy already taking effect, the sun shining down through the sparse clouds, and his mate by his side, Kylo’s starting to feel like today could actually be an alright birthday.

Shops, cafés, houses, and local buildings gradually give way to lush forested highways as they roll away from civilization. Kylo’s head is a buzz of sweet nothings—welcomed relief from the mental chaos that’s becoming his new normal—as he watches the trees and occasional wildlife flit by. He barely notices the hour at all; time passes in a near thoughtless blur. Then, suddenly, the winding road directs them into a large, busy parking lot, the glittering beach on the horizon.

Once they’ve unloaded their belongings—David carrying the bulk of them—they head to the beach just down the path ahead.

“When’s the last time you’ve been to the beach?” Kylo asks, squeezing Lathan’s hand.

Lathan makes a face in thought as he takes an unopened floaty box from David, who’s trying to strongman everything in one trip himself. “Probably when I was fifteen.” He lowers his voice and waits for David and Maria to distance ahead of them. “Bunch of us snuck out to the docks at night to drink. Never actually been with the sun out.”

Kylo’s brows would hit the ceiling if they could. “You’ve never been to the beach? Like, when it’s beaching?” He means during the day, but this is Kylo speak—riding a mild high, nonetheless. “I know it’s difficult with you being a vampire and all—and we’ll be keeping an eye on you today, by the way—but I still can’t believe this is your first time!” He chuckles, readjusting his bag over his shoulder. “I’m honoured to be your first beach buddy.”

Lathan clicks his tongue with amusement and side-eyes Kylo as they stroll down the path toward the sand.

Reaching the boardwalk, Kylo looks around to get his bearings.

Okay. Canteen to the left, washrooms and showers on the right. Food—left. Washrooms—right. Brain, I’m counting on you to remember.

It’s busy today. Bodies are lounging on towels and foldable chairs that fence the crystal water, where people are swimming and children splash.

It’s strange, feeling this calm. As if he’s stepped into an alternate dimension for the day, one cut off from the horrors of his own life. It’s eerie, but also refreshing, to feel the warmth of the sun, the salt on the cool breeze; to see people smiling, laughing, playing; to feel completely at ease with his mate at his side, despite the panic and misery surely waiting back at home.

Here’s hoping no one notices my eyes. They’re gettin’ a bit scratchy— he thinks as he actively rubs his vision— and dry. Maybe I could say I’m getting pinkeye. Ew. Nope, not doin’ that.

“Where should we set up?” Maria asks the group.

It can’t be that bad, I only took one and no one’s lookin’ at me weird yet.

“Somewhere a bit shaded for Lathan,” David decides, already looking around for a free spot on the busy beach. “See anything?”

“What?” Shaken from his internal dialogue, he looks at his dad, then around the beach, catching up. “Oh, uh, what about over there?” He points to the water’s edge, where some trees are hanging over the sand. It’s less populated because it’s closer to the rocks—large, sharp desert boulders lining the water—and wouldn’t be a great spot for tots to swim.

“You can set up anywhere you want,” Lathan tries to assure them all. “Don’t let me be the deciding factor.”

“That looks great,” Maria says to her son, waving Lathan off. She ends up instructing her husband to drop the cooler and umbrella just outside the harsh line of shade, in the direct sunlight, but close to where the boys set up.

Unrolling his multicoloured beach towel, Kylo fluffs it out into the air before setting it down onto the sand, claiming a spot closer to the line of sun to act as a barrier between it and Lathan.

Grabbing his shirt by the hem, he tugs it up and over his head, tossing it to the sand. “Wanna head into the water with me or hang out here for a bit?”

Lathan jerks his head toward the waterline, waving up the sand, as he unties the drawstring of his sweats. “Let’s go. ”

He grins mischievously at the vampire and begins walking backward to the damp sand. “You do know how to swim, right?”

Lathan collects his shirt from behind his head and lets it fall to his towel. His wounds along his side from the werewolf attack are healed and scarred, though fresher and brighter than all his others. “If I drown,” he says, slowly following Kylo’s feet as they sink into the sand, “will the big, bad wolf save me?”

“Saving someone isn’t very bad, now is it?” Kylo’s smile softens as his eyes flick between Lathan’s gaze and lips before the backs of his heels are licked with cold water. “But for you? Always.”

Twirling around, his steps quicken, splashing less and less as his legs are swallowed and water tension makes it too difficult to run. It’s quite icy despite the hot weather—or maybe in contrast to it—and makes his hairs stand on end. Pushing through the discomfort, he dives down under the surface. The plunge forces his foggy brain into a state of alert, but it’s not long before he acclimates.

Bobbing back up, he whips his head back, throwing the wet mop that was once chocolate curls behind him. Orienting himself, he spins around to find his mate.

Lathan walks slow, as if dragging his feet through the sludgy sand, taking every bite of the water as it reaches his hips, his waist, his chest.

Kylo smirks, watching his nipples harden while he lets out a sharp breath, as if attempting to blow away the chill coursing through his limbs. It’s kind of funny how out of place Lathan looks, but it’s also incredibly endearing that he’s enduring it for his birthday.

“Too cold?” he asks, an implied offer to turn back.

Lathan shakes his head, loose strands of raven hair rippling around his shoulders. “I’d rather be cold,” he says. His skin is even paler against the glistening water, the relentlessly bright sun. He wades closer to Kylo and takes the werewolf’s dripping face in his hands to kiss his cold lips.

Kylo’s heart skips. Closing his eyes to savour the moment and share some warmth, he’s suddenly grabbed around his waist and tossed sideways into the water like a ragdoll. The chill nips his nerves but quickly wears off as he finds his footing and pops back up.

“You sneaky son of a bitch!” He snickers, wiping off his face and slicking his hair back. As soon as he can see again, he gives Lathan a sinister grin.

Not thinking clearly—completely disregarding any potential consequences—Kylo’s body morphs within seconds. An odd mix of humanoid and fuzzy, wet wolf. He winds a paw back and uses his advantage in power to shove a hefty wave at Lathan.

Lathan’s jaw drops, eyes wide as he stiffens in shock against the powerful splash of cold against the parts of his skin that are still dry. He gawks at Kylo a moment before lunging to grab him around the waist and drag him backward with him into the water, both heads dunking under.

When they come back up, Kylo smiles genuinely, pleasantly amused by their sudden water battle. Lathan chuckles out a breath as well, wiping his face; his bun is soggy and loose against the nape of his neck, his long hair heavy with liquid.

He runs his fingers up the patchy fur of Kylo’s arm, glancing around to verify no one’s close enough to see—except maybe his parents, if they’re paying attention. “You’re getting good at that.”

Kylo grins widely with his enlarged fangs on display. “You love it, don’t you? You little beast fucker.” His voice is a gruff alto before he giggles. But these giggles grow louder, probably due to what he’s ingested, and he unknowingly shifts back to his daily self, clutching his stomach, as he snorts with belly laughter.

Lathan splashes him with a curse. “Idiot,” he breathes; Kylo’s laughter teeters off with a sly smirk. “Besides, am I really the beast fucker?” Lathan cocks a brow as if to add, if I’m the one getting fucked . But then his expression smoulders and he looks off into the lake’s distance. “Maybe tonight I will be,” he mumbles, pulling the elastic from his hair and tossing the length back to dip in the water and untangle.

Kylo’s expression drops and his cheeks bloom. When Lathan reemerges, so does Kylo’s devious smirk. “Is it my birthday or something? Oh, wait. It is .” He swims closer to Lathan and kisses his cheek, then leans into his ear to whisper, “Can’t wait to taste what you have in store for me.” Then pushes off his chest to swim away, further out toward the shaded, rocky edge.

He’s never had sex in a body of water before, and has never wanted to, but suddenly decides he wouldn’t be hard to convince if his parents weren’t less than a hundred feet away.

“I should get Lucas’ number,” Lathan mentions.

“Ew, why do you wanna talk to Luc?” Kylo chuckles, casually backstroking.

Lathan hums at Kylo’s reaction and pushes forward into the water to float in the same direction with the halfhearted kick of his feet. “He’s a nurse. He might know how long until my hearing comes back fully.”

“ Aahh ,” Kylo sings back. He doesn’t know the first thing about medicine, or vampire anatomy—other than Lathan’s anatomy . Maybe it takes longer to heal because of their low blood volume? he thinks, grasping at the only straws he can find.

“Fair enough, I’ll give you his number when we get out of the water. How are your ears doing?” he asks, tipping back up to tread water—his feet far from reaching the beach floor. Lathan doesn’t complain, and he hasn’t shown any signs that it’s been bothering him since he’s gotten some of his hearing back.

“Fine,” Lathan says to the clear sky above, the water creating a gentle membrane around the edges of his face, “it’s just annoying. Thought the ache would be gone by now.”

“Mm,” he hums with concern, brows drawing in close. “I didn’t know it hurt. Is it bad?”

His ears still hurt…but he can still hear, so that means they’re getting better, right? Maybe, but that doesn’t make it much better. The whole reason he’s still injured is because of that godsdamned attack. I should be hurt, not him. For what I did. The man I killed… He should be a live, swimming with his family. Gods—his family .

His expression must go blank as his thoughts spiral deeper and darker, staring at the vampire still swimming toward him on his back.

“No,” Lathan says easily. “Just annoying,” he says again, and then swirls to face Kylo. “Hey. You okay?”

Lathan yanks him from his descent and he refocuses on the face in front of him. “Hm? Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Glad it’s not bad, though.” He shrugs a shoulder then turns to look at the large rock face beside him.

Stop it. Not today. I’ll take another gummy when we get back to shore…

◆◆◆

The sun at its peak, the beach has only gotten busier—the water crowded with families horsing around or groups of friends on colourful inflatables.

Maria is taking in all the rays she can, reading her latest mystery novel, while David naps with his hat covering his eyes—sure to burn if he doesn’t reapply prevention soon. Lathan disappeared to the canteen on a lunch run, more than willing to soak up a few minutes in the small air-conditioned restaurant.

Kylo flicks his pen against the cover of his beat-up pocketbook.

“What to write, what to write…”

He hasn’t been able to write since his last poem recounting the murder, how he woke up after the attack. All the blood on his body, the metallic tang in his mouth, the terrified looks of people on campus, the rage, the guilt, the agony of not knowing if he had hurt Lathan in his state, the fear that he’s now just like the man that harmed him .

The page is too painful to look at. As if it were a blade, carving the wound back open to ache and fester. So he taped it to the page in front, blocking it from being opened or seen. But even with the tape, he knows the darkness lingering so close to his pen, his fingers, his eyes.

The notebook shuts.

The pen is disarmed.

And a quiet yet oh-so-familiar voice at the back of his head says, “You’ll never escape it, wolf boy .”

◆◆◆

With a stomach full of birthday cake, the taste of vanilla buttercream lingering on his tongue, Kylo flops onto his back on the bed.

Their day in the sun—or shade, for Lathan—was spent lounging, snacking, and chatting. It flew by faster than anticipated, though that was certainly aided by his second, and third, gummy— thank the gods for vampire-strength eye drops . They rolled out of the parking lot just after three to make it home for an early dinner, so everyone would have room for dessert. Or, at least, that was his mom’s logic.

“Hope you’re not too tired. You have one last birthday present to open,” Lathan primes as he leans against the bedroom door frame, a black box in hand.

Kylo’s eyes narrow. “I thought I already got all my presents with cake.”

“This one isn’t exactly family friendly.”

Kylo sits up and wiggles to adjust his posture as Lathan stalks up to the bed. The box is placed in his lap and he smirks as his fingers find the edge of black ribbon, tugging it to unravel across his legs. Lifting the lid with an exhaled pop , the gift inside lies on black tissue paper, and Kylo’s skin flushes red.

A black ball gag.

His stare drifts up from the box to meet Lathan’s smug expression.

“Happy birthday.” His smooth voice is like whiskey, only turning up the heat in Kylo’s body. It’s hard to sit still, to not jump him and stick his tongue down his throat while he still can.

“Now shift like you did at the beach.”

Lathan’s words remind him of what he had said this morning.

Beast fucker.

Following orders, and keeping his gaze locked on his mate’s burnt ember eyes, his whole body grows until he’s at the juncture between man and wolf and his clothes threaten to tear.

“Good”—Lathan’s smirk widens, eyes almost sparkling after witnessing his body change—“now open your mouth.”