Page 107 of Daman

He gaped. “Daman?” And then he threw his arms around me. “By the gods! What are the chances? I thought you were dead.”

“I thought you were too.” My throat squeezed. “How is this possible? You were so sick.”

“And on death’s door,” Lycus said, pulling back to look at me, smile wide. “The last thing I remember is hearing you scream my name as a man carried you away. I tried to stand and go after you, but I lost consciousness. That’s when Callan came for me. He took me to his pack and healed me. Turned me.”

A surge of anger flared in my chest. Lazarus had told me Lycus died not long after I left. He’d lied to me.

“This is your mate?” Lycus asked, glancing at Warrin. “Your scent is all over him, and his on you.”

“I’m Warrin.” He offered his hand, and Lycus shook it. “Commander of the ice dragon army and brother to the king. Daman is my husband.”

“You married a prince?” Lycus tossed me a smirk. “Sounds about right. You deserve the best, my friend. You always have.”

“This is insane,” I said. “You’ve been here this entire time, and I had no idea.”

Bellamy appeared beside me and slid an arm around my neck, eyes on Lycus. “Was Daman a big grouch when you knew him?”

“No. He took care of me. He was my brother.” Lycus grabbed my hand, his eyes glassy. “Our paths might’ve diverged, but destiny brought us back together.”

Warrin emitted a low growl, quiet enough that I was probably the only one who’d heard it.

“They have a connection.”I heard his envious thoughts.

I released Lycus’ hand and grabbed Warrin’s instead. He tugged me closer to his chest, his gaze locked onto my childhood friend. It wasn’t often that my husband got jealous. I never wanted him to question our relationship. No one could even come close to comparing to him in my eyes.

“I’m yours,” I whispered before kissing the base of his throat, right over the mark I’d left on him last night. “Only yours.”

“Forgive me if I overstepped,” Lycus said, studying the possessive way Warrin held me.

“You didn’t,” I told him. “We’re mates, so we both can get kind of territorial.”

“Ah. I see.” Lycus’ smile returned. “I’m so happy you’re here, Daman. I never thought we’d ever meet again.”

“Same.”

“What about you, handsome?” Bellamy asked Lycus with his signature flirty grin. “I don’t smell anyone’s scent on you. You’re not mated?”

Lycus shook his head. “I don’t have a fated mate, no. But I’m seeing someone. There he is now.”

A small-framed male exited one of the nearby cabins, his fiery red hair catching the sun. Beaming with a smile, he ran over and jumped up on Lycus’ back.

“Hektor, this is Daman and Warrin,” Lycus introduced us before arching a brow at Bellamy. “Forgive me. I didn’t catch your name.”

“Bellamy.” My brother practically purred his name. It had the desired effect. Both Hektor and Lycus got a bit flustered.

“I’m hungry,” Gray said, waddling over to us. He’d removed his coat and gloves, showing his blue shirt with a sloth on the front of it. “And sleepy.”

“You can sleep later,” Castor said, bumping Gray’s side. He and Kyo had walked over with him. “We have business to take care of right now.”

“Boo.” Gray rubbed at his eyes.

“I should help with dinner.” Hektor kissed the side of Lycus’ neck before hopping down from his back and joining the men around the fire.

Lycus stared after his lover before focusing back on me. “There’s so much I wish to tell you, but I’m afraid it will have to wait for now. Gusion says the demons will be here tonight.”

“What type of being is Gusion?” I asked as we made our way past a group of boys playing ball. Men, who I assumed to be some of the wolves that surrounded us earlier, watched us from the cooking pyre. I couldn’t blame them for being wary. “He’s no wolf. Not a dragon either.”

“I’ll let him tell you.” Lycus led us through a grove of trees and to a small cabin secluded from the others. Smoke billowed from the chimney, and water trickled from the stream cutting across the property. “I ask that you hear him out. Don’t let your impulses take over.”