Page 5 of Elas (Mate’s Mark #2)

Elas

August’s hands wring, squeezing his fingers together over and over again.

So much tension radiates off his body that it’s nearly suffocating, making me nervous just standing beside him.

“Are you sure you can handle this?” I ask, turning in his direction.

“If you’d prefer, I can throw you back in that cell. ”

“Oh, stop it, you,” he scoffs. “Always with the threats.” I snort a laugh at his lack of fear. My size alone makes most humans turn pale and try to flee when I walk into the room.

This one tells me I’m a nice guy and treats me accordingly.

His lips pull tight and he glances over his shoulder at the cell doors, where a few inmates stand and stare as we pass. “Really, I’ll be fine. I just… feel so damned guilty. Is there nothing I can do to help any of them? There are good people here. They’d be eager to work and earn their place. ”

“No,” I say bluntly, leaving no room for argument as I see that spark of hope trying to kindle in his eyes.

“Command wasn’t exactly eager to go along with my plan, and convincing them to release you took most of my free time over the past few days.

They still aren’t convinced it’s the right decision, and, to be frank, I don’t blame them. ”

He glances at me, brows pinched like I hurt his feelings.

Fuck, he’s like a puppy that I kicked. “Look at it from our point of view, August. Things aren’t sunshine and rainbows from where they’re standing.

Between the raid on your camp, the attempted escape, and the turnover in leadership, everyone is up in arms at the moment.

The only reason they’re letting this slide is because they’re too busy putting out their own fires to argue. ”

And then there’s that other little tidbit of information… the one I haven’t shared with him yet.

“Don’t think I’m ungrateful, Elas.” He reaches for my arm before seeming to think twice about it, and his hands clasp in front of him again. “I’m in your debt.”

“Careful, there,” I tease, and his eyes lift to mine.

“We aren’t human, August, and we don’t live by the same rules.

My kind won’t hesitate to hold you to any sort of leniency you give them.

If you promise them anything, anything at all, they will consider it theirs.

If they want it enough, they’ll find a way to make you pay whatever debt they think you owe them. ”

He frowns. “I won’t be rude.”

“And you shouldn’t be. Just promise me you won’t go throwing around debts and favors, even if it’s only a figure of speech. You’ll indebt yourself to the wrong person and end up in an even bigger mess. ”

“Yeah, okay,” he mutters, kicking his toe against the floor as he works his hands again. “I’ll be more careful with my words, I promise.”

The show of nerves makes me chuckle, and I gesture towards the door. “Are you ready?”

He nods and takes a steeling breath, though his expression is still uncertain. I push the exterior door open, blinking against the bright afternoon sunlight. August grunts as we step outside, and I glance at him to find his hand shielding his eyes.

“Sorry… give me a second to adjust.”

“Take your time,” I say as I secure the door behind us.

The two guards who keep watch outside stare at him, not hiding their curiosity.

I get it—he’s a novelty. A human in our world, walking around our base like he belongs here.

But that doesn’t mean I like their eyes on him.

Protectiveness prickles over my skin, lifting the hair on the back of my neck.

“Where should your focus be, soldiers?” I bark, tilting my chin in challenge. They both snap to attention and face forward again. “Can’t properly keep watch if you’re too busy being nosey, now can you?”

“No, Officer Elas, sir. Apologies. Won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t.” I turn to find August watching me with a grin. “I take it your eyes have adjusted, if you’re able to look so smug.”

His grin stretches to a wide smile as he takes a few steps in my direction. “Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt while you were fluffing your peacock feathers.” One of the guards snorts a laugh, then covers it with a cough as I turn to give him another warning glare.

“That’s enough out of you, too, human.” August bites his smile between his teeth, trying to hide it. “Come on, then.” Nerves flutter in my gut as he falls in step beside me, and I clear my throat when we’re out of earshot. “There is… one thing I may have neglected to mention.”

“Those are exactly the words I wanted to hear as I get my first taste of freedom in two weeks.”

“Hey, now, that’s enough sass out of you,” I warn, and he chuckles. Bathed in the afternoon sun, his hair that looked brown inside has transformed into a dirty blonde, each strand shimmering with a golden light. It’s fitting that he’s a walking ray of sunshine.

But sunny smile and gilded hair aside, he looks rough. I frown as I take in his dirt-smudged skin and filthy clothing. Prisoners are only given buckets of water and washrags to keep themselves clean, but until now, it’s never bothered me.

It always felt sufficient.

Despite the shitshow the world has thrown at him, he’s happy. His bright eyes straddle the line between brown and green, assessing everything with a curiosity I haven’t experienced in decades. It’s refreshing, and I wonder what he sees as his head swivels.

Everyone we pass seems to stare, with emotions ranging from wide-eyed surprise to venomous anger. They track him as we walk, so I step closer to him.

The message is crystal clear: the human is mine to protect .

August doesn’t seem bothered by the attention. He doesn’t shy away, but simply offers a smile to anyone who meets his eyes. It’s gentle enough to appease without feeling like a threat. In his own way, that smile is his weapon, and he knows how to wield it.

His nerves aren’t obvious if you don’t know where to look, but his silence as we walk is telling. He finally speaks up as we get to a less crowded area. “This is a special brand of torture, Elas. I’m not sure I can handle the suspense much longer.”

Right.

“There’s a stipulation in your release that makes me personally responsible for you. Everything you do outside of work is supposed to be under my supervision. If you fuck up, I suffer the consequences.”

A frown pulls on his lips as he shakes his head. “I would never do anything to get you in trouble.”

“Ah, let me just finish this thought before you make that blanket statement.” Now I’m the nervous one, rubbing the edge of my chest piece between my fingers as he watches me curiously.

“Any time you aren’t working in medical, I have to be with you.

‘Can’t let you out of my sight’ were the exact words. ”

“ Any time?”

I nod, watching apprehensive understanding dawn on his face.

“Yes.” We approach a large brick building, where windows line the sides in a perfectly symmetrical grid that rises four stories high.

We step inside, then I guide him down the first hall to the second to last room.

I tap my keycard on the sensor, unlocking the door and pushing it open, gesturing for him to enter .

August peers through the opening, hesitating to walk inside as he glances around. “And this is…?”

“My barracks,” I say as he stops inspecting the living room and his eyes fall back onto mine. “And your new living quarters.”

August’s mouth drops open as his eyes flare wide, and his hands fly up in front of him, palms facing me. He takes a step backward, shaking his head. “No.”

An unexpected pinch of disappointment hits my chest as my brows slam together in the middle of my face. “ No ?”

“This isn’t… I couldn’t possibly… there must be another option.”

Fuck, that stings. Getting my feelings hurt by the doctor wasn’t on my plans for the day, and it makes my defenses rise.

“Well, there fucking isn’t,” I snap, and his eyes somehow get even wider.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me with this shit.

You’d rather go back to your cell, then? That’s fine. Let’s go.”

“Hold on… that isn’t what I was saying.”

“Backpedal faster, doc. This isn’t exactly ideal for me either, you know.

The last time I had a roommate was before your parents were even born, so don’t act like you’re the one sacrificing something.

” A scornful laugh pushes out of my throat as I reach up, rubbing my hand over my mouth.

“Ronan always said I was too fucking nice. Maybe this is a sign.”

“Elas, please,” August begs, and I snarl as he reaches for me.

He swallows with an audible gulp as he nods nervously and lets his hand fall back to his side.

“ Please , you misunderstood. I just… I don’t want to be an imposition.

You put your neck on the line to get me out of the prison, and now I’m invading your living space. Your privacy .”

Hazel eyes lock onto mine, and they’re so damn earnest I physically feel my defenses lowering. “How could I possibly accept when you’ve already done so much for me? I’m just… I don’t want you to resent me,” he adds, his voice dropping low. “I don’t think I could stand it.”

Thick silence falls between us. “Oh,” I finally say.

He offers me a hesitant smile, the hint of a dimple digging into his cheeks. “Why are you being so good to me?”

I bite at my lip, but decide that I don’t want to lie to him. “It was my last promise to my best friend. All these years, I’ve kept every promise I made to him, and I have no intention of stopping now… even if he’s never able to see it.”

“You’re a good person,” he says softly, and that simple statement feels like the highest compliment I could receive.

“Yeah, just don’t tell anyone.”

“Secret’s safe with me.” He grins, and I grin back far too easily.

“Come on,” I say as I gesture inside, dragging my eyes away from his. This weird tension between us is making me jittery, and I need to get a break from it. “After you. ”

It’s strange seeing August here in my apartment.

Aside from Ronan and a few other occasional friends, I don’t like having people in my space.

Even with casual hookups, I insist on meeting at their barracks.

Having others here, in my tiny sanctuary, has always felt invasive, but I find I don’t mind his calm company.

“I hope the couch is okay. There’s only one bedroom.”

“It’s more than okay—a million times better than sleeping on the hard floor of that cell.”

“Kitchen’s over there,” I say as I gesture across the open living area.

It’s nothing fancy—a small fridge and stove, a few cabinets and a sink, and a two-person round table pushed into the corner.

“They’ll feed you lunch at the clinic, and I normally grab dinner from the galley.

It won’t be a problem for me to bring an extra plate for you.

If you need anything specific kept here, let me know. ”

“Can I leave this apartment when I’m not working?”

“If I’m with you, yes. You are not allowed to be anywhere alone, and right now I’d argue it isn’t safe, anyway.”

He nods, gaze drifting over the room. “That’s fair.”

He falls in line behind me as we step into the cramped hallway. “My bedroom is through that door, if you ever need me. The bathroom is here.” I frown as I let my eyes drift over him again. “You’d probably appreciate a shower right about now, wouldn’t you?”

His hazel eyes light up as they move up to mine. “I would do unspeakable things for a shower, yes.”

A quiet chuckle leaves me at his excitement. “Why can’t I imagine you doing anything unspeakable? Have I even heard you curse yet? ”

“I can curse,” he insists with an adorable scowl as I laugh. “I can! It’s just that certain words are more impactful when they’re used sparingly.”

“Does the F word bother you, doc?”

“Of course not,” he mutters, a pretty blush forming on his cheeks.

“Say it,” I tease, and his nose wrinkles as he attempts to glare at me. “I want to hear you say it. C’mon… tell me to fuck off.”

“No, thank you.”

“Come on, August… it’ll be good for both of us. Do it! Fuck off, fuck you, fuck this… there are so many options for you to choose.”

“You are a menace,” he grumbles, and I throw my head back in a laugh as he blushes deeper. This is fun.

“Alright, alright,” I chuckle, walking in to my bedroom. He stands in the doorframe, watching as I dig through my drawers. I pull out a pair of sweatpants and a plain white undershirt. “They’ll be providing you with a few uniforms.”

“Uniform?” His eyes dart up and down my frame, but I shake my head.

“Not like mine. You aren’t military, more like a civilian contractor. They wear scrubs in the clinic.”

Relief smooths the stress wrinkles forming on his forehead. “Those I’m used to. I’m not sure I could pull off the leather quite as well as you.”

Unable to help myself, my eyes skim down his body. August is slightly above average height for a human, though he’s still an entire head shorter than me. The time spent in the cells has affected his condition, but his shoulders and chest are broad while his biceps are nicely defined.

“I think you’d be just fine in leather, doc.” I toss him a wink as I hand over the stack of clothes, and I’m thrilled when a faint blush colors his cheeks. He accepts the clothes with a low murmur of thanks.

“Those will be big on you,” I say, still grinning, “but they’ll be a hell of a lot better than what you’re wearing right now. Go ahead and get cleaned up. Take your time. When you’re done, we’ll go over to the clinic.”

August is quiet for so long, I’m afraid I’ve said something to upset him. When he finally meets my eyes again, he’s wearing a sad smile. “Thank you, Elas. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for your kindness.”

Something inside my core rumbles at his words, like my soul is purring in response. “What did I tell you about indebting yourself?”

“That rule doesn’t apply to you. You won’t take advantage of me.”

“If I did, I’d make sure you enjoyed it.” My eyes flicker down his frame, and his blush burns all the way down his neck.

“Troublemaker,” he mutters, and the smile he gives me is more relaxed than I’ve ever seen.

“Always,” I agree, nodding towards the bathroom.

“Now get a hot shower. Soap and shampoo are in there, and I grabbed you a toothbrush.” His eyes soften again, and he opens his mouth like he’s going to say something, but shuts it without a word.

With a small shake of his head, he gives me one final sweet smile before he disappears behind the door.