Page 10 of No Honor Amongst Shifters (It’s a Psychic World #9)

ALCOTT EXPECTED THE next person to visit his room to be Roslin. He had no idea what he’d tell him, but he was getting anxious. Instead of sitting in the window seat, he kept walking up and down the bedroom. There wasn’t much space for him to pace, but it was the only thing he could do. The alternative would be opening the window and screaming outside to release the stress, which would alarm people. They might also think he was trying to escape through the window, which wasn’t something he wanted to deal with right now.

Misha had brought him breakfast, so he knew not to expect Roslin until lunch. That was way too many hours for him to obsess over this, but what choice did he have? The TV was on, but he couldn’t focus on anything. He hadn’t even considered reading a book.

As anxious as he was, he was also relieved when the door finally opened. He turned, wondering if he should smile or if it would look weird, but Roslin wasn’t the person who appeared at the door.

Alcott cocked his head at Olsen. He had no idea why Misha’s boyfriend was here, but he hoped it wasn’t to yell at him that he needed to be nicer to Misha. He still wasn’t sure whether or not he’d leave, but he’d been honest with his brother, and that was all he could do right now. He didn’t have anything else to offer.

“We need to go,”

Olsen said.

It sounded urgent, which probably meant it had nothing to do with Misha.

“What happened?”

“A cockatrice contacted Terrence. He has news.”

There could only be one thing he had news about, and Alcott needed to know. He wasn’t sure why Elijah had thought he was important enough to be let out of his bedroom cell and brought to a meeting with everyone else, but he wasn’t going to argue.

He followed Olsen out of the bedroom. They locked the door and hurried down the hallway. There were more people around today, but Alcott barely stopped to wonder what they thought of him. He had more important things to do. Even when he noticed a few people glaring at him, he couldn’t find it in himself to care.

They went to the conference room like the last time Alcott had been allowed out of his bedroom. The room was even fuller than it had been then, but he wasn’t surprised to see that Roslin had saved him a seat. Misha was there, too, sitting next to Elijah, a computer in front of him. He briefly glanced up to smile at Alcott before turning his attention back to his work.

“Alcott is here, good,”

Elijah said.

“Terrence, can you repeat what you just told us?”

Terrence was sitting back in a chair in front of Elijah and smiled at Alcott.

“There’s not much to say right now. One of the cockatrices we talked to last night called me.”

Alcott nodded. They’d left Terrence’s number with Bobby, the cockatrice who’d taken the lead during their meeting. “Bobby?”

“It was him, yes. Apparently, they didn’t want to waste time. Between then and now, they managed to convince more than half the clan not to fight.”

Alcott sucked in a breath. He hadn’t expected that. He’d hoped they would convince a handful of cockatrices, but he’d seen how terrified everyone was of Irwin and the coven. They all knew what would happen to them and their families if they disobeyed orders, but apparently, even the fear of that happening hadn’t been enough for them to decide to fight for the mages.

“Half of them?” he asked.

“More than half,”

Terrence repeated.

“I don’t know the exact numbers, but Bobby said he’d keep me updated.”

“Will they just stand down, or will they help us fight?”

“I don’t think any of them will help us fight. They’re afraid of Irwin and the coven, and with good reason. We don’t need them to fight, anyway,”

Elijah interjected.

“We just need fewer people to fight. It’s going to be complicated enough to take care of the mages. At least now, we won’t have to watch our backs for cockatrice claws.”

Alcott still had no idea how they were supposed to fight the mages. He could take a cockatrice in a fight since he turned into a dragon, but mages and their magic? He didn’t know how that magic worked, but considering what he knew of Damien’s coven, they would come prepared. They knew they were fighting dragons.

But the dragons had mages on their side, too. It might not be enough of them, but they would make it work. They had to.

“What’s next, then?”

Jerome asked, sounding grumpy like always. He was clutching a cup of coffee like a lifeline.

“We start planning our attack,”

Elijah said.

“We won’t wait for the coven to come to us. We’ll go to them and hopefully take them by surprise. It’ll take some coordinating and a lot of luck, but I’m positive we can do it.”

He looked around the table.

“I know we’ll lose people. The cockatrices are dangerous, and the mages, well, I have no idea what kind of fight they’ll put up, but we all know their reputation. We’ll be as ready as we can to face them. We have numbers on our side, as well as allies.”

It would have to be enough. Alcott was terrified it wouldn’t be, but he couldn’t start thinking that way. He needed to be positive.

Something brushed against his hand, and he looked to the side to find Roslin staring at him. He didn’t know what to do in this case, either, so he just smiled.

They needed to talk, but it would have to wait. Now that the fight was so close, though, Alcott didn’t think he could stay away from Roslin. He wasn’t sure he would ever be able to fully trust the man, but he might not have the time to find out. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Roslin without knowing what there could be between them.

ROSLIN WAS READY FOR all of this to end, but he was also worried. The fight against the cockatrices and the coven had been a nebulous future until now, but it wasn’t anymore, which meant that everyone was in danger—or rather, in more danger than they’d been already. Roslin stood to lose his family, and possibly Alcott.

He didn’t know what he and Alcott were, but he didn’t think it mattered. He cared about Alcott, even though they hadn’t talked about what was happening between them. He wanted to protect Alcott and make sure nothing would happen to him during the fight so that he’d come home safely.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that. He wasn’t even sure he’d be there. He’d push to be, but Elijah’s main concern was protecting his clan members, and Roslin was one of them. He’d have to obey Elijah’s orders, so if Elijah told him to stay home, that was what he’d do.

Luckily, Elijah was reasonable. Roslin was sure that if he asked to stay with Alcott, he’d be allowed to. Elijah would probably warn him that it would put him in danger, but Roslin expected it. They would all have to fight for their lives, including the human clan members. He could be useful through his psychic ability, and he was willing to put himself in danger to help the clan and protect Alcott.

Knowing that in just a few days, they’d be sneaking into cockatrice territory and attacking them and the coven meant that Roslin was running out of time. If he wanted something more with Alcott before the fight, he needed to talk to him. If he stayed silent, he might never know what might have happened between them.

He wasn’t planning on dying, and he hoped nothing would happen to Alcott, either, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that it was a possibility. Roslin had never been into this kind of fight. He’d never faced cockatrices and mages. If it wasn’t for his brothers, he’d have left the clan as soon as he realized how much trouble they were in.

But this was where all of them belonged. It was their home.

Elijah would be working most of the night, but there was little everyone else could do except wait for his orders. That meant that once they were done talking, Alcott could be walked back to his room. Misha offered to do it, but he didn’t look surprised when Roslin volunteered, too.

“Take care of him,”

he said softly as they both watched Alcott talk to Terrence.

“I’ll do my best, but I’m only human.”

“Alcott’s capable of protecting himself physically. I was talking about his heart.”

Roslin didn’t know how to answer that. Luckily, he didn’t have to because Elijah called Misha over, and Misha rushed to him after patting Roslin’s shoulder. Roslin didn’t have to wait long for Alcott to realize that he was standing there alone and say goodbye to Terrence. He was fretting when he reached Roslin, which was endearing.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were waiting for me?” he asked.

“It’s fine. I don’t have anything else to do at the moment.”

“We should all get some sleep. I don’t know if we’ll attack tomorrow or in a few days, but we need to be ready.”

“Does that mean you’ll be going straight to bed after this?”

Alcott’s cheeks flushed, and he looked away. Roslin was learning how to deal with him, so he knew to give him some space. That was fine with him. He liked walking with Alcott even when the two of them didn’t say anything. The silence wasn’t as awkward as it might have been with someone else. Roslin wasn’t wondering whether or not he should say something or what he should say.

Well, he was wondering all those things, but waiting a few more minutes wouldn’t change anything.

Alcott was still silent when they reached his bedroom. He paused at the door and waited for Roslin to unlock and open it, then turned toward him. He bit his lower lip but didn’t say anything. It was clear he wasn’t ready, and Roslin didn’t mind taking over.

“Can I say something?”

Alcott shrugged but didn’t look at him. It wasn’t a no, so Roslin decided to say what was on his mind.

“I know we haven’t talked about the case or anything else when it comes to us, and I’m not sure you want to do it now considering what’s waiting for us, but I wanted to tell you that you matter to me. If we both make it out alive, I’d like to see where things go between us and if we can have a future together. I know you’re planning on leaving, but maybe you don’t have to.”

Roslin didn’t say he’d follow if Alcott left because he didn’t want to push him too hard. Besides, it wasn’t something he’d given a lot of thought to. It would be ridiculous for him to follow a man he wasn’t dating, right?

Alcott opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. He looked a little lost, so Roslin decided to make it easier on him. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against Alcott’s forehead, then stepped back.

“I’ll go down to the kitchen to get some food. I’ll be right back.”

Alcott nodded. He didn’t try to stop Roslin when he walked away, but that was okay. He clearly needed some time and space, so Roslin was giving him that.

He turned the corner but waited until he heard Alcott’s bedroom door close before heading to the kitchen. Alcott was in his room, which meant he was safe. Maybe it would be a good idea for Roslin to waste some time. He’d told Alcott what was on his mind and what he wanted. Alcott needed to think about whether or not it was something he wanted, too.

Roslin hoped the answer would be yes, but he wouldn’t push if it was no. They didn’t have enough time left, but he’d do his best never to hurt Alcott. He’d already been through enough.

THE FAINT GLOW OF THE setting sun filtered through the window of Alcott’s room, casting long shadows across the floor and the bed. Alcott sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders tense, hands clasped tightly together as he thought about what was coming.

He might not survive it. Roslin might not survive it. In fact, since Roslin was human, there was a good chance he wouldn’t. Alcott could defend himself from a cockatrice shifter as long as he shifted, too. Roslin only had his ghosts to protect him.

They hadn’t known each other long, but Alcott couldn’t imagine losing him. Roslin had taken care of him when most of the clan despised him. Maybe it wasn’t a surprise that Alcott had fallen for him. Maybe what he felt was fake, and he wouldn’t have felt it if they’d met in normal circumstances.

Or maybe he’d always have fallen for Roslin.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He didn’t need to guess who it was since Roslin had told him he’d be right back. The sound of the key turning in the lock sent Alcott’s heart racing. Roslin stepped inside, his tall frame filling the doorway. He carried a tray, as promised. There was a gentleness in his gaze that always seemed to soften the edges of Alcott’s anxiety.

“I brought you dinner,”

Roslin said, his voice low and calm. He set the tray down on the dresser, and the scent of roasted meat and herbs filled the air.

Alcott stood. He crossed the room, his eyes never leaving Roslin’s face. There was something about the way Roslin looked at him—like he wasn’t a traitor, like what he’d done was understandable—that made Alcott’s chest ache in a way he couldn’t quite explain. He didn’t need to explain it, not tonight anyway.

“Thank you,”

Alcott said quietly. He glanced down at the tray. He wasn’t sure he could eat, but for Roslin, he’d try.

Roslin shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“You need to keep your strength up. We all do.”

Alcott’s jaw tightened. He didn’t know if he’d survive, and if he’d ever have the chance to finish making amends for what he’d done. He didn’t know if he’d ever have the chance to be free. Or if he’d be allowed to stay once all of this was over. He was afraid to find out, and he’d decided not to obsess over it for now. Fight first, worry later.

“I’ll be ready,”

Alcott said, his voice firm. He looked up at Roslin, his gaze intense.

“I’ll fight for the clan. I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”

Roslin hesitated.

“You’ve done a lot already,”

he said softly.

“You’ve earned your place back, Alcott. You’ve earned Elijah’s trust.”

Alcott shook his head.

“Trust? I’m still locked in this room because the clan doesn’t trust me. They’ll never truly trust me again, no matter what happens next.”

Roslin stepped closer, his hand reaching out to rest on Alcott’s shoulder. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down Alcott’s spine.

“I trust you,”

Roslin said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“And that should count for something. Misha trusts you, and Elijah. He’s our leader, and he’ll be the one to decide whether or not you’ve earned your place here.”

Alcott’s breath caught in his throat. He’d never expected this—never expected Roslin to see him as anything more than a traitor. But here he was, standing so close, his hand on Alcott’s shoulder, his eyes filled with something that made Alcott’s heart race.

“Why?”

Alcott asked.

“Why do you trust me?”

He didn’t even trust himself.

Roslin’s gaze softened, and he stepped even closer, his hand sliding down Alcott’s arm to grip his hand.

“Because I see you, Alcott. I see the man you are, not the mistakes you’ve made. And I believe in you. I know why you did what you did, and I understand.”

Alcott’s chest tightened. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears. He’d spent so long wallowing in his guilt and his shame that he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be seen. And here was Roslin, offering him something he hadn’t realized he could have.

Forgiveness.

“Roslin...”

Alcott’s voice trailed off. He wanted to say something, but what? He didn’t know how to express the emotions swirling inside him. Instead, he stepped closer, his hand reaching up to cup Roslin’s cheek. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching Roslin’s face for any sign of rejection.

All he saw was warmth, acceptance, and maybe something more, something he felt, too. He’d hoped for it when Roslin had kissed him, but he’d also told himself not to.

Roslin leaned into the touch, his eyelids fluttering closed for a moment before he opened them again, his gaze locking with Alcott’s.

“Are you sure?”

he asked softly.

Alcott’s heart was pounding. He’d never felt this way before, not even with Damien. He was terrified, but the thought of the coming battle and of losing Roslin before he ever had the chance to really know him was too much to bear.

“I don’t know if we’ll have another chance,”

Alcott said, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned in, his forehead resting against Roslin’s.

“I don’t know if we will, well, I don’t know what will happen when we fight. And I can’t—”

Alcott trailed his fingers down Roslin’s cheek, his touch feather-light.

“I want you, Roslin. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. And if this is the only chance I have to be with you, then I’m taking it.”

Roslin’s eyes widened, his lips parting in surprise. For a moment, he seemed to hesitate. He stared at Alcott as if searching for something. But then he leaned in, his lips brushing against Alcott’s in a kiss that was soft, tentative, but filled with the same intensity as their first kiss.

The kiss deepened, the world around them fading. Alcott moved his hands to Roslin’s waist, pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed together as the kiss grew more urgent and desperate. Roslin’s fingers tangled in Alcott’s hair, holding him close.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless. Alcott’s heart was pounding, his entire body buzzing with warmth. He’d never imagined that this would happen, especially after Damien.

“Stay with me,”

Alcott murmured.

“Stay with me tonight.”

For a moment, Alcott thought Roslin might say no. But Roslin nodded, and his voice was soft but steady when he answered.

“I’ll stay.”

The words were barely out of his mouth before Alcott kissed him again. Their hands roamed, exploring and discovering each other. The heat between them was threatening to consume both of them, and Alcott wanted it to.

Alcott fumbled with the buttons of Roslin’s shirt, his fingers trembling with a mixture of need and fear. He didn’t know what would happen to either of them. He didn’t know what would happen between them if they both survived. But he had Roslin in his arms, so for now, none of that mattered.

Roslin’s hands weren’t any steadier than Alcott’s as he worked to remove Alcott’s clothes. Their bodies pressed together again, skin against skin, the heat between them growing with each passing second. Roslin’s lips trailed down Alcott’s neck, his breath hot against Alcott’s skin, sending shivers down his spine.

“Alcott,”

Roslin whispered.

Alcott kissed him again, silencing any words with the urgency of his lips. He didn’t need to hear anything but the sound of their breathing.

They fell on the bed, their bodies tangled together in a mess of limbs and heat. Alcott tried to map every inch of Roslin’s body. The feel of Roslin’s skin beneath his fingers, the soft moans escaping Roslin’s lips—all of it was overwhelming, but Alcott wanted more.

Roslin’s hands were just as eager. His fingers dug into Alcott’s back as he pulled him closer, leaving no space between them.

Alcott tried to put every feeling he had for Roslin into the kiss. He couldn’t bring himself to say them out loud, but maybe Roslin would understand anyway.

Roslin’s lips lingered on Alcott’s, soft and warm, as if he was savoring the taste of him. When he pulled away, his eyes were filled with a tenderness that made Alcott’s chest ache. He still didn’t understand how any of this had happened, but he was grateful it had.

Alcott touched Roslin’s cheek.

“Thank you,”

he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“For everything.”

Roslin brought Alcott’s hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles.

“You don’t have to thank me. I care about you, Alcott. More than I should, considering we barely know each other.”

The admission hung between them, heavy and hard to believe for Alcott. The words wrapped around Alcott’s heart like a lifeline. He didn’t know if he’d survive the upcoming fight, but if he had Roslin to come back to, he’d do everything in his power to do so.

Alcott leaned in to press his forehead against Roslin’s.

“I care about you, too,”

he whispered.

“More than I ever thought possible.”

He hadn’t thought he could ever trust anyone again after Damien, but Roslin was proving him wrong.

Roslin’s breath hitched, and he closed the distance between them to kiss Alcott. It was different from their first kiss—less hesitant, even though they didn’t know how many more kisses they would share.

Roslin’s hands moved to Alcott’s hair, his fingers tangling in the strands as he deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing Alcott’s lips until they parted with a soft moan.

The sound seemed to ignite something in Roslin, and he made quick work of removing their clothes before he pushed Alcott back onto the bed, following him without breaking the kiss. The bed creaked, but neither of them cared. All that mattered was each other and the way their bodies fit together as if they were made for each other.

Roslin traced the lines of Alcott’s body, sending shivers down Alcott’s spine. He was everywhere—his lips were on Alcott’s neck, his hands on Alcott’s chest, his hips pressed against Alcott’s groin.

Roslin’s eyes met Alcott’s when he leaned back.

“Are you sure?”

Roslin asked, his voice rough.

“After what happened, I don’t want to push you—”

“I’m sure,”

Alcott interrupted, tracing the line of Roslin’s jaw with his fingertips.

“I want this. I want you.”

Roslin’s eyes darkened, and he leaned down to kiss Alcott. He traced his lips down Alcott’s neck again, then his chest and his stomach, leaving a damp trail in their wake.

When he finally took Alcott in his mouth, it was all Alcott could do not to cry out. It was too much.

The heat of Roslin’s mouth, the way his tongue teased Alcott’s body and the way his lips wrapped around him, all of it was maddening and left Alcott trembling. He pushed his fingers into Roslin’s hair.

“Roslin,”

he gasped, his voice breaking.

“I’m—I can’t—”

Roslin pulled away, his eyes meeting Alcott’s, dark and filled with something fierce. “Let go,”

he whispered, his voice rough and low.

“I’ve got you.”

Alcott did. He let go, letting the pleasure wash over him, letting Roslin take him apart piece by piece until he was nothing but pleasure. He trusted Roslin. He could hardly believe it, but he did.

When he came, it was with Roslin’s name on his lips. Roslin held him through it, his arms strong and steady, his lips brushing against Alcott’s skin in soft, soothing kisses.

“I’ve got you,”

he murmured.

“I’ve got you.”

Alcott’s breathing slowed down, and he reached up to touch Roslin’s cheek.

“You’re amazing,”

he whispered, his voice hoarse.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

And wasn’t that surprising?

Roslin’s eyes softened, and he leaned down to press their lips together in a kiss that was slow and sweet.

“You’ll never have to find out,”

he said, his voice firm.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The promise hung in the air between them, and Alcott felt something finally starting to heal. He’d been wrong to trust Damien, and he was afraid to trust Roslin fully, but Roslin was a good person. He wouldn’t betray him.

Alcott wrapped his arms around Roslin. They lay there, tangled together. Alcott could feel Roslin’s soft cock against his thigh. He hadn’t even realized that Roslin had come.

The room was quiet, and the only sounds were their breathing and the soft rustle of the blankets as they shifted closer together. Roslin’s hand was in Alcott’s hair, his fingers gently combing through it, and Alcott felt a sense of peace settle over him. He wasn’t sure he’d felt anything like it since before he’d been kicked out of his birth clan.

“Stay,”

Alcott murmured.

“Even when I fall asleep.”

Roslin pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“I’m not going anywhere,”

he promised.

“I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Alcott’s eyes felt heavy, and he let himself relax. The tension in his body melted away as he drifted off to sleep, Roslin’s warmth wrapped around him like a shield. He didn’t know what the future held or if they’d survive the fight against the coven and the cockatrices, but right now, he had Roslin, and that was enough.