Page 29

A pollo's feet hurt, and he was hungry and thirsty. Mostly, he couldn't stop living the attack over and over in his mind. The way Lachlan had pounced on him and used his body to shield him. He could have died protecting him, and it had shaken Apollo to his core.

He could brew any potion or make a bomb, but his fighting skills were only defensive at best. He belonged in a lab, not in the middle of a brawl with blood mages. He had never felt so fucking useless, and gods , did that make him angry.

They had been wandering about the catacombs for most of the day, following the twisting tunnels to get as close as possible to the hotel. Maybe they should have just stayed there instead of going to the apartment.

He felt sick just thinking about how that conversation with Cosimo was going to go. He loved that apartment, and they had so many family memories there with their mother.

All gone because of me , Apollo thought, his stomach clenching.

"We are about as close as we can get," Lachlan said, pulling Apollo out of his spiraling guilt. "We need to find a way up."

"Thank fuck. I am done with these tunnels," Valentine grumbled.

Minutes later, they found a ladder, and with considerable effort, including a spell of Valentine's, they emerged from a pile of dirt in a park where a garden had been built over the exit.

Thankfully, it was raining and late afternoon, so only curious pigeons were there to witness them climbing out of the hole, tired and filthy with ash, and who knew what else.

Valentine cast another glamor over them so they wouldn't be picked up on CCTV, and they walked the three blocks to the hotel.

The receptionist took one look at them dripping and filthy and stared down his nose at them.

"Ah, Monseiur Ironwood. It's so nice to have you back so soon. Will it be two rooms or three?"

Lachlan smiled. "Actually, we are going to need four rooms. We are going to have some family arriving tomorrow."

"We have two, two-bedroom suites available on the sixth floor if it will suffice?"

"Perfect. I'm also going to need to put some orders in for clothes. We seem to have lost our luggage," he replied.

Apollo had never been so grateful to have someone else organize things. He needed a hot shower and an alcoholic beverage. He was in a daze as they got the keys and went upstairs. The suites were connected by a small lounge room between them.

"Dinner in an hour," Valentine said and headed for one of the rooms, shutting the door behind him.

"He going to be okay?" Lachlan asked as they went into their own bedroom. It had a queen bed and a big ensuite bathroom.

Apollo tried to find the right words. "The apartment meant a lot to the family."

"I'm sorry," Lachlan said and ran a hand down his arm. "How are you?"

"Angry. Sad." Apollo looked at his mate. He was covered in filth and was still the best thing he had ever seen. "Strip."

Lachlan's brows shot up. "Are you okay?"

"No." Apollo dragged Lachlan into the bathroom and pulled off his shirt before reaching for Lachlan's.

He still looked worried, but he raised his arms, and Apollo dragged it off.

He kicked off his shoes and dropped his ruined pajama pants before getting into the shower.

Lachlan stripped off and followed him in.

Apollo was shaking, the stress of the day finally getting to him.

"Hey, we are all alive, and that's what matters," Lachlan whispered, stroking his back.

"But we couldn't have been. These fucking assholes won't stop coming. You could have been hurt, and the apartment is toast all because of me," Apollo replied, anger rising up to take over his fear. "You jumped right in front of me, Lachie."

"And I would again. I promised that they wouldn't hurt you while I'm here," he said stubbornly.

Apollo let out a frustrated growl and pushed him up against the wall, his arms coming down on either side of him to cage him in.

"I should be the one shielding you in this situation.

They won't have any problem killing you, Lachie.

They might hesitate with Val because he's a dragon too, but not you. I won't have you dying for me."

Lachlan stroked his cheek. "Don't ask me not to protect you, baby. You have to trust I'm a professional and can handle the situation."

Apollo kissed him hard, and Lachlan hugged him closer. "I can't lose you, you big idiot. Not now, not ever." His dragon felt like he couldn't protect his mate, and it was tearing up his insides.

"It's okay, Apollo. I'm here. I'm safe," Lachlan whispered against his lips, like he knew what he needed to hear. He lifted him up, and Apollo wrapped his legs around his waist.

Lachlan pushed him against the opposite wall of the shower, his mouth matching the crazy desperation Apollo was feeling.

"Let me take the fear, love. I got you. I always got you," Lachlan said, his mouth dropping to Apollo's neck. He ground up against him, and Apollo groaned.

"Lachie," he whispered, fingers sliding into his thick black hair and burying his face in his neck to breathe him in, like his scent was the only thing that could save him.

Lachlan's hand wrapped around both of their dicks, and Apollo whimpered with need. Lachlan stroked and kissed him until he was leaking precum, and all he could think was how good it felt. He was about to come when Lachlan stopped stroking and put him back on his feet.

"Now is not the time to edge me, Lachlan Ironwood," he growled.

"Hush." Lachlan dropped to his knees and wrapped his lips around him instead.

"Oh, fucking fuck."

Lachlan's deep blue eyes sparkled with cheekiness and lifted one of Apollo's legs over his broad shoulders.

Apollo hung onto his bobbing head to try and keep his balance, but he knew Lachlan wouldn't let him fall.

Lachlan stroked the precum off his own dick before his hand slid back to tease Apollo's ass.

"You better start fucking stroking that cock of yours so I can watch," Apollo panted, tugging on Lachlan's hair hard enough to make him groan around him. Lachlan did as he was told, and Apollo struggled not to come at the glorious sight.

"Fuck, Lachie, you are killing me with how perfect you are. Why did I fight this for so long?"

Lachlan only sucked him harder. His finger in his ass found his sweet spot, and Apollo came without warning. Lachlan moaned and swallowed. With two more strokes, his own release spilled over his hand and onto the tiles.

He slowly pulled off Apollo and rested his forehead against his thigh. Apollo dropped his leg from his shoulder before lifting Lachlan's chin up to kiss him slowly and deeply. Lachlan wrapped his arms around his legs and held him.

"I don't know why you fought this so long either," he said, kissing Apollo's thigh tenderly.

Not so deep down, Apollo knew the real reason. It was because Lachlan could see all the way to the core of him like no one else did. He couldn't half love Lachlan. He could only love him wholly and obsessively, which scared him more than all the blood mages in Paris.