Page 9 of No Honor Amongst Shifters (It’s a Psychic World #9)
ALCOTT WAS STILL THINKING about the kiss the next morning—of course he was. How could he not be thinking about the way Roslin had been so careful with him, or about how Roslin’s lips had felt against his? He’d barely slept, replaying the moment in his mind to the point he wanted to scream.
What was he supposed to do with this? What did the kiss mean?
He didn’t think Roslin would have kissed him out of pity. That wasn’t the kind of person he was, and Alcott didn’t think Roslin pitied him. They’d been spending time together, and Roslin had always treated him as if he wasn’t a prisoner.
That meant he’d kissed Alcott because he wanted to. Alcott had a hard time wrapping his mind around that. He was also wary. It was too soon after Damien. Alcott didn’t trust himself, let alone anyone else. He’d thought that Damien wanted him, just like he thought Roslin did. He’d been wrong the first time around. He couldn’t afford to be wrong this time, too. His heart wouldn’t survive.
Maybe he wouldn’t, either.
He tensed at the soft knock on the door. It didn’t sound like Roslin, but he didn’t relax until the door opened and his brother appeared, carrying a tray. When Misha walked in, Alcott flopped back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
“I know it didn’t go badly because I talked to Terrence before coming here, so what’s wrong with you?”
Misha asked.
Alcott waved. He still believed that his brother should stay as far away from him as possible, but now that they’d talked, he found it hard to push Misha away. He’d warned Misha that he wasn’t staying, so Misha knew what he was walking into. Alcott hated the thought of hurting his brother more than he already had, but he couldn’t forbid Misha from coming around, and not talking to him was hurting both of them.
Misha sat on the edge of the mattress and waited. Alcott knew that he’d stay silent until Alcott told him everything. Misha had always been quietly stubborn.
Alcott didn’t know if telling Misha about Roslin was a good idea. His brother would be happy and would push him into Roslin’s arms, but he didn’t know if he could take that step. The logical part of him knew that Roslin was nothing like Damien and that he wouldn’t hurt him, but he’d thought the same when he’d first met Damien. His heart was terrified, and with good reason.
“Everything did go well,”
he confirmed.
“We convinced some of the cockatrices to stand back, and they said they’d talk to others. I don’t think we’ll be able to convince all of them, but even with some of them fighting with the coven, I think we can win this.”
Alcott couldn’t consider any alternative.
“What is it, then?”
Alcott sat up and buried his face into his palms.
“Roslin kissed me,”
he mumbled.
“I can’t be sure because you’re covering your mouth, but did you just say that Roslin kissed you?”
Misha’s fingers wrapped around one of Alcott’s wrists, and he pulled.
Alcott looked at his brother.
“Yes, that’s what I just said.”
Misha’s smile was blinding.
“That’s good.”
“Is it? How am I supposed to know he’s not planning on using me? Right now, the clan needs me, but what will happen once this is over?”
Misha frowned and dropped Alcott’s hand.
“Roslin would never do something like that.”
“I know, but I can’t stop myself from being scared anyway. I trusted Damien, too.”
“You shouldn’t have. Damien’s a mage and belongs to a powerful coven. Roslin is nothing like him.”
“Just because he’s a psychic doesn’t mean he’s a good person.”
“Him being a good person doesn’t have anything to do with him being a psychic. I didn’t even know Damien existed, but I know Roslin. I spent time with him. I consider him a friend, and I know he would never do anything to hurt you. Besides, he knows your history.”
“Which is why he might use it to manipulate me.”
Misha shook his head.
“I know it’s your broken heart speaking, but I trust Roslin with my life. Hell, I trust their entire family with my life and yours. I want you to be happy, and I truly think that Roslin could make that happen for you.”
“You only say that because you want me to stay.”
“Of course I want you to stay, but I wouldn’t want that if it made you unhappy. You’re planning on leaving just because you think you deserve it, and I’m willing to throw Roslin in your path if it means you’ll rethink that.”
“You said he mentioned he’d follow me if I left.”
Misha grinned.
“He probably would, but his brothers would stop him.”
His smile softened.
“I know that telling you to trust him isn’t helping, but he really is a good person. Why don’t you give yourself time? Give him a chance to show you that he’s not in this to hurt you?”
“It’s not like I have any alternative,”
Alcott murmured as he looked around his bedroom cell.
It still felt a bit like a prison, but having Misha and Roslin coming around regularly and being allowed to leave made him feel like he had when he and Misha had moved in with the clan. He probably shouldn’t be hopeful that he’d get a second chance, but he couldn’t help it, just like he couldn’t help but hope that Roslin would be part of that second chance.
ROSLIN COULD TELL THAT his brothers knew something had happened. They kept glancing at him around the breakfast table, to the point where he was considering fleeing back to his room. He might have if he wasn’t starving.
He was looking forward to seeing Alcott after last night. He was a bit afraid of what Alcott would say, but he was also confident that Alcott liked him as much as he liked Alcott. That didn’t mean they would be able to figure things out, and their situation was more complicated than any new relationship should be, but they’d taken a step forward, and he couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
That was if he came out of breakfast alive. The way his brothers were staring made him feel like prey. He wouldn’t be surprised if they pounced.
“Where’s Misha?”
he asked to distract Olsen.
“With Alcott. He brought him breakfast.”
Okay, maybe that wasn’t a great distraction because Alcott was the topic Roslin needed to avoid talking about.
“That’s nice.”
“It is. It’s also where you were last night, isn’t it?”
Roslin cleared his throat.
“I wasn’t the only one with Alcott last night. Terrence was there, too, as well as Tim, Marcel, and Leo.”
“But none of them want in Alcott’s pants.”
Roslin shook his head.
“I’m not doing this with you.”
He looked around the table.
“With any of you.”
There was no reason for him to talk about his love life with his brothers, especially in a public place where other people could hear.
There were plenty of empty tables in the dining hall, but some were occupied, and with Roslin’s luck, someone would hear that he and Alcott were together. They weren’t, but he wouldn’t be surprised if some of the dragons had a problem with him wanting to be. He didn’t care, but Alcott would, and it could create problems for Elijah.
“The two of them looked really cozy yesterday,”
Donahue announced as he leaned forward.
“It looked good on both of you. We just want you to be happy.”
Roslin sighed. His brothers always knew the right thing to say to make him cave. Maybe it was because they were younger, but it was annoying.
“Fine. I kissed him when I walked him back to his room last night. That’s all that happened, though, so don’t start planning a wedding.”
Donahue laughed.
“The fact that you’re thinking about marrying him is a sign, though.”
“I’m not thinking about marrying him. I’m thinking about kissing him again and whether or not he’ll want that.”
He frowned.
“The situation is delicate. He was hurt, and a lot of people don’t trust him. I don’t think he trusts himself. He’s also a lot younger than me, and with the upcoming fight, I don’t even know if both of us will make it out alive. This is the worst time to start something.”
“Or maybe it’s the best time,”
Victor said.
“It’ll give him something to hope for once this mess is over.”
Tim, who was sitting next to Victor, nodded. He wasn’t the only one. When Roslin glanced around the table, all of his brothers and their partners were nodding or smiling at him.
He huffed.
“You’re a bunch of meddling assholes.”
“Like Donahue said, we just want you to be happy,”
Victor said with a smile.
“And if you think you can be happy with Alcott, then you should pursue that. He’s been hurt, but he’s young. He’ll get over it. You might have to give him time, but I’m sure things can work out.”
Roslin groaned.
“Please don’t remind me how much younger he is.”
“Fourteen years isn’t that much. I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.”
Roslin did worry that he couldn’t be what Alcott needed, but that wasn’t the main thing he was fixated on. Age difference could be dealt with, but he wasn’t sure that Alcott’s heart was ready to give love another try. If he was in Alcott’s place, he’d be terrified to open his heart to anyone, even someone he could obviously trust. Hell, how could he trust anyone, including Roslin? The last person he’d trusted had betrayed and hurt him.
If Roslin ever got his hands on Damien, he’d make sure the mage knew what he thought of him. He wouldn’t even use his ghosts. His fists would be enough.