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L uke was moving chairs to the left to widen the walking area for the conference guests who were expected to arrive shortly. Rhonda stalked into the main ballroom, and her brown gaze scanned the room. She headed straight for Luke. Although Rhonda smiled at him, it was a brief upturn of lips instead of her usual friendly greeting.

“Luke, Gabe wants you to come upstairs to Clark’s office,” Rhonda said.

Grateful that his task was complete, Luke nodded and wasted no time falling into step alongside Rhonda.

“Is everything okay?” Luke asked once they were in the hallway and headed for the elevator.

“I’ll tell you what I know in a minute.”

Luke bobbed his head again in agreement and was thrilled the second the elevator doors whooshed closed so he could learn what was going on.

“Calls from several people in the resort went to Gabe and me to inform us that there was an unknown necromancer in the resort,” Rhonda explained. “The man headed directly for conference services. Gabe headed there to investigate.”

Shock had Luke’s mouth dropping open. “It was Foxe Arwynn, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. When Gabe arrived, Arwynn was in Richard’s office. Gabe’s been rapid-firing texts at me and asked me to bring you upstairs. He took Richard and Arwynn up to Clark’s office.”

As they left the elevator, Luke wasn’t sure how to handle the barrage of emotions flooding him. Immediately, he was relieved to know Foxe was alive and, hopefully, well. But his relief was complicated by sorrow, surprise, and anger. Why would Foxe show up at the Marwood casino after not bothering to talk to Luke for months? What did he want?

Rhonda led Luke to Clark’s office, and Luke distractedly greeted people as his mind spun. He ignored the cold sweat soaking his dress shirt as Rhonda opened the door to Clark’s office. A necromancer immediately had Luke’s attention, but it wasn’t Foxe. Luke headed straight for Richard.

“I’m sorry, Dragonfly,” Luke said. He hated that Foxe had barged in and sidelined Richard’s workday.

Richard’s mouth curved into a smile despite the tumult in his blue eyes. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

Needing some comfort, Luke kissed Richard’s cheek. His soulmate laced their fingers together and rubbed his thumb on the clammy skin on the back of Luke’s hand. It was as reassuring as being pulled into Richard’s arms. Luke pulled his strength around himself and turned toward the man he hadn’t seen in months.

Foxe looked no different from the day Luke had left him to get a job with the Marwoods. His clothes were clean, which was interesting since the man hated doing laundry. But what Luke disliked immediately was the way Foxe was staring at him. There was a mixture of betrayal and rage in his hazel eyes.

“You left a few things out in your texts and voicemails,” Foxe drawled.

“Oh, you did receive them?” Luke asked. “I wasn’t sure since you didn’t bother to reply.”

“You stopped sending money. I didn’t have time to sit around and catch up on my correspondence. Some of us don’t have rich soulmates to rely on for everything.”

“From what I understand, the Arwynns are quite wealthy,” Clark said.

“Didn’t you tell them that my brother cut me off?” Foxe asked. “Yeah, that’s right. My own brother. Tossed me out like trash. I went to his house a week ago. Rowan wouldn’t let me through the front gate. What no one seems to understand is that I can’t get a job like a normal person. I’m a necromancer. My family won’t hire me. It’s too dangerous for me to work for humans.”

“Your father offered you jobs,” Luke remarked.

“I can’t sit in an office, Luke. You know that.”

“Because you don’t want to be too tired at night to gamble,” Luke pointed out. “That’s not a valid reason to avoid being employed.”

“Why are you suddenly judging me for everything I do?” Foxe demanded. “For ten years, we were together. Friends. We did everything together. Suddenly, you’re out here in Vegas and changing everything. You were supposed to be providing for us both. That’s the way we’ve always done things.”

Luke remembered those years—likely in greater detail than Foxe. What he recalled was how the burden of feeding them and driving them from one spot to another had fallen on his shoulders. He hadn’t minded. Luke liked to care for others.

But what he’d learned was that there was a vast difference between giving freely and being expected to perform a role for a selfish prick who couldn’t raise a finger to help himself. Not even to fight the addiction eating away at himself. All Foxe had wanted to do was gamble, so that was what he did. Without care for each dollar he spent or what Luke had to do to find the next one.

“It was the way we did things,” Luke said. “But that was because I didn’t understand how I was being used.”

“I summoned you. Inspirits like to help. It’s their job. You liked doing everything.”

“Inspirits get to decide how or if they want to help,” Richard stated succinctly. “They are under no obligation to do shit for anyone. That rule applies to demands from their summoner too.”

Foxe’s expression soured. “So, you’re fine with tossing me out on the street too, Luke? When you know I don’t have any money or a bed to sleep in tonight?”

“There are choices you can make to improve your life,” Luke told Foxe, dearly hoping the necromancer would help himself. “But you have to be willing to learn to cope with your addiction.”

“Gambling addiction isn’t a real thing,” Foxe responded, his gaze darting around the room and his cheeks reddening. Luke didn’t know what he was thinking or how to get through his thick skull. It was sad to realize that Foxe had used him, but thankfully, Luke was no longer in that position and could live however he wanted.

“Yes, it is,” Luke corrected. “We can offer you information to prove that it is, and there are programs available, but I can’t force you to take the first step toward a new life. That must come from you and be your choice.”

Bowing his head, Foxe stared at his feet for several tense minutes. Luke glanced at Richard, and his soulmate shrugged.

“I don’t know if I can do it, Luke,” Foxe eventually said.

A sense of relief flowed through Luke, but he couldn’t celebrate yet. “You can, Foxe. I believe in you. We can be friends as long as you are trying to get better.”

“I abandoned you,” Foxe argued. “Sent you over here with these rich-ass Marwoods to send me money. Why would you want to be my friend?”

“Because I think you are more than your addiction,” Luke responded. “I believe you can change and be a better person.”

“No one believes in me, Luke.”

“I think the problem may be that you don’t,” Luke said. “I can’t do anything about that, all I can do is offer you resources to help you figure out why you lack that conviction in yourself.”

Foxe lifted his head, and there were tears sliding down his cheeks. “I’m scared. What if all I am is a gambler?”

“I know it’s frightening. It’s a big change. But no one is just one thing, Foxe. No one.”

“Fine,” Foxe said, brushing the wetness from his face with the heel of his hands. “Fine. I’ll go wherever. I don’t have any other choices anyway. I have no place to go, and my car is out of gas. It ran out a few blocks away. I had to abandon it and walk here. It’s not even mine, I borrowed it from a gal I met in Utah.”

Delighted that Foxe was interested in doing something about his addiction, Luke walked over and hugged him. “We’ll take care of it, Foxe. Right now, stay focused on you.”

The necromancer clung to him, and Luke hoped Foxe was truly ready for change. If not, Luke would have to send the man on his way and ensure Foxe stayed far away from the Marwoods. Luke was past the point where he’d be manipulated by Foxe again, and he sure as hell wouldn’t allow anyone in the family he’d found with Richard and the rest of the Marwoods to be used either.

???

It’d been a long day, but Richard was alone with Lucas. They’d settled Foxe into a nearby rehabilitation center, and Richard was delighted the man had accepted help. Not because Richard gave a fig about Foxe Arwynn, but because he was important to Lucas. And Richard would support his soulmate in every way possible.

As for Lucas, he was currently staring at Richard with shock on his beautiful face.

“Douglas called you a bitch?” Lucas asked. “Wow.”

Richard nodded. With everything that had happened with Foxe, Richard hadn’t had a chance to fill Lucas in on his little chat with Douglas until now.

“Maybe it was wrong to keep things a secret. I don’t know. I’m not perfect, and it’s possible I did more harm than good. Douglas is entitled to his feelings. Hopefully, he’ll have the opportunity to put his feelings for me behind him. He needs to get out there and search for his soulmate.”

“I highly recommend soulmates,” Lucas said.

Richard caressed his beloved face and kissed his dimple, then his lips. “That makes two of us.”

“Thanks for not punching Foxe.”

“I considered a kick. One hard enough to fling him right off the planet. Did I tell you he called me sweetie ? What’s up with that?”

“Did he try to flirt with you? He’s not gay.”

“I’m not sure if it was flirting. Honestly, I don’t know what his intent was, that wasn’t what pissed me off. It was how he thought he could show up here and pick you up. Like this was a fucking lost and found. This journey of dealing with his addiction should give him a better perspective on life. Maybe he’ll finally realize that inspirits are people, not minions.”

“Why did I think he loved me?” Lucas asked, hurt darkening his gray eyes.

“I can’t answer for him, but we don’t know that he doesn’t love you. It’s just a limited love because he can’t find that kind of adoration for himself, let alone another person. He’s fucked up, Lucas.”

“Thank you, I needed to hear that. The future is what matters in my relationship with Foxe.”

“Yes, because now you know what his patterns are and can avoid being used to feed his addiction.”

“I’m so relieved he accepted help. I want him to make the most of this opportunity.”

“Me too,” Richard said, brushing their lips together and wiggling closer to Lucas. To his delight, Lucas cupped his ass and hauled him up so Richard was straddling his soulmate.

“I have a confession.”

“Spill it.”

“I didn’t need to go to the main ballroom, but everyone kept congratulating me, and it was overwhelming.”

Richard laughed. “I was hiding in my office for the same reason. It was beautiful to have so many people thrilled for us. I’m not complaining. But it was like being smacked in the face with a happy ball full of glitter, cake, and hugs.”

“Your mother horrified me at dinner, by the way.”

Scanning through the conversation at dinner, Richard couldn’t pinpoint why Lucas had been frightened, but he petted his pecs through his shirt to soothe him anyway. “What did she say?”

“At the end, as we were heading out of the room, she mentioned wedding planning. Are we starting that already?”

“I’m honestly surprised it took her so long to begin that conversation,” Richard said, amused at Lucas’s befuddled expression. “You’re an event planner. It’ll be great. Speaking of which, I think you should take Douglas’s job and join me as co-director.”

“No, Dragonfly. I appreciate the offer, but I’m underqualified for his position. I’d love to work alongside you and maybe share an office someday. However, I have a lot to learn first.”

Disappointment filled Richard, but he understood. He would’ve been fine with Lucas picking up experience along the way, but he respected the inspirit’s drive to earn his role. “Okay. I’ll do it by myself until you’re ready.”

“You may not want me to share your title after you’ve soaked up your role as leader.”

Richard rolled his eyes. “No, I want the shared office and titles too bad. Back to the wedding planning, why are you scared?”

“I’m not sure. It’s such an important event.”

“We’re planning it together, and it’ll be perfect. What do you think of black and white for us and purple accents to remind us of the flowers you’ve bought me and this stunning ring I get to wear?”

“Exactly what I had in mind, Dragonfly.”

Richard wrapped his arms around Lucas and rested his cheek on his shoulder. “We make an excellent team.”

“The very best. I love you.”

“I love you. Forever.”

Shifting, Richard caressed Lucas’s lips, then pressed their mouths together. Destiny had frightened Richard. The last thing he’d wanted was to find his soulmate. But that was because he hadn’t believed a man as wonderful as Lucas could possibly exist. Richard had been charmed right out of his stalwart conviction that he was better off alone.

It had never been so rewarding to be so wrong about anything. For once, Richard was glad to know that there were forces beyond his control. And that, thanks to destiny, he had an eternity as Lucas’s dragonfly.