Page 27 of The Shapeshifter’s Secretary (Charmed Away Temp Agency #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Taron paced the walkway, his mind turbulent. He knew he shouldn’t have come here. It would have meant nothing to send Zephyr and Tony here without him. Now his past relationship with the stupid thunderchicken was out in the open, and Tony looked devastated. He wanted to talk to him, but they shoved him out the door without a care for his or Tony’s comfort, and now he was stuck out here.

Zephyr stood nearby, his expression clouded, staring at the front door like he wanted to go back inside just as much as Taron did. Taron didn’t care. He just wanted to get back to Tony.

“Do you plan on wearing a hole into the stone?” Zephyr grumbled when he paced by again.

“Shut up,” Taron snapped.

Zephyr watched him for a moment, his eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

Spinning around, he raised an eyebrow at him. “Tell him what? That the guys he’s interested in can’t stand each other?” He flinched internally for the lie but kept going. “I didn’t think I needed to. If you would’ve just left well enough alone, it would’ve been me and him.”

The thunderbird rolled his eyes in response. “Just because you met him first doesn’t mean he’s yours. It’s not like I sought him out. We met naturally. He could’ve chosen me instead.”

“Right, because I’m such a shitty boyfriend, I would’ve chased him away immediately.”

“No one said that,” Zephyr growled. He was losing his temper. It was hard to get the man to that point. Yelling was rare for him. It always drove Taron mad. He wanted Zephyr to meet him on his level, not continue to talk calmly while Taron was feeling so out of sorts. It always felt like he didn't care. Like Taron was no more than a nuisance he had to deal with since they were in a relationship. And seeing how sweet he was with Tony only made it worse. Why did he have to miss the guy and hate him at the same time?

Before they could continue their fight, Elan, Zephyr’s father, stepped outside. Taron’s gaze whipped to the house and back to him suspiciously. Elan saw right through him and shook his head.

“He’s fine. Shima wanted me to make sure you two weren’t killing each other.” He switched to their native tongue, speaking to Zephyr. “Are you two fighting over a human?”

Zephyr looked like he was biting a scowl when he replied, “Somewhat. We both want him. We’re giving Tony the time to choose.”

The look Elan gave his son said he thought the plan was stupid. It took work for Taron to mask his laugh. Neither of them knew he understood them. He spent enough time here in his youth to pick up on a few things, and when he and Zephyr started sleeping together, he thought it would be a nice surprise to learn the language properly. They broke up before he could tell him.

Their conversation switched to family matters that Taron wasn’t interested in. He wasn’t part of the convocation. He never had been. As friendly as Shima had always been to him, he’d always been an outsider. One of the many reasons he refused to settle here with Zephyr when the man had asked in their youth. It wasn’t all because he’d wanted to work with Ozen. He just never felt the need to tell Zephyr all of it. It didn’t matter what reason he gave. They weren’t compatible either way.

A familiar sharp stabbing pain lanced through his chest and he resisted the urge to rub at it, turning away from Zephyr so he wouldn’t see the pain on his face. He held a lot more regret than he’d ever truly admit when it came to their relationship. There was a point once where Zephyr was his everything. Being so close to him now, seeing his smile and feeling his touch, even if it was by accident, only brought that regret and pain to the forefront. Where would they be now if they’d figured out some way to make it work?

Just the thought of it hurt too much to bear. The itch under his skin grew unbearable and he hated how his first thought was to ask for a hug to help him settle. It wasn’t going to happen and he couldn’t think about it anymore.

He was contemplating leaving and coming back when Tony was finished when Shima opened the door and beckoned them inside. Zephyr was closer to the door but still talking to his dad, so Taron got there sooner. Shima blocked the doorway until Zephyr joined them, which irritated Taron to no end. Only once they both stood in front of her did she step aside and allow them to see Tony. He sat on the chair, a blanket draped across his lap and a patch of brownish paste on his leg. He didn’t look in their direction when they came in, and for a moment, Taron worried he was still angry, but when he stepped around the chair to look at Tony properly, he realized the poor man was asleep.

“I did not wish to add to his pain, so I made him a tea to encourage him to rest. He needs it. He does not sleep well,” Shima explained, puttering back to the kitchen.

“Considering where he’s been living, I’m not surprised,” Taron grumbled. He squatted in front of the chair, studying Tony’s face. He looked so much more relaxed when he was sleeping. A part of him wanted to reach out and trace the spots that were no longer creased with pain lines, but he didn’t want to wake him up. The poor man needed the rest.

“You will never get him to choose,” Shima said plainly as she came back into the living room. “If you truly wish for his happiness, you must work together.”

* * *

Neither Taron nor Zephyr were willing to discuss Shima’s warning. Working together wasn’t an option. They were only sticking to the truce for as long as Tony needed until he chose whoever he preferred. After Tony had woken up and Shima said the paste could be removed, they helped him dress and brought him home so he could pack. He still looked unhappy about it, but he’d gone quiet again like he had after that first week working with Taron. He didn’t argue. He sank in on himself and stayed that way until Taron couldn’t take it anymore.

“A thaisce… Please talk to me. I know you worry about feeling like a burden, but this really isn’t the place for you. I can’t stand to see you suffering here.”

Tony just shook his head slightly, his gaze locked on his feet. Zephyr was packing his clothes while Taron was boxing up what little he had in the kitchen, so he could only stand nearby and wait.

With a heavy sigh, he set the box down and moved to stand in front of Tony, cupping his face to make the sad man look at him. Except even lifting his face wasn’t enough, and Tony avoided eye contact by looking off to the side. It hurt Taron deeply, and he had to fight the urge to lash out about it. He refused to treat Tony that way.

“If… If you really would rather not live with me, I’ll understand. You can stay with Zephyr, or I’ll get you a new place somewhere. Please don’t ask me to leave you here, though. I couldn’t stomach it.”

He didn’t admit out loud how much it would hurt if Tony chose Zephyr over him. Zephyr had a lot more to offer with his ability to ease Tony’s pain. The thunderbird was a natural caretaker, he liked to baby his partners. Tony would thrive with that kind of attention. They suited each other. And Taron… Tony wouldn’t believe him but Taron was more of a burden on both of them than Tony ever would be.

He moved to take a step back and put some space between them. If that was what Tony wanted, he cared about him enough to not make him feel guilty about it. Maybe Tony would be more welcome in the convocation than he’d been.

Before he could pull away completely, Tony’s hand came up and pressed against his, keeping it trapped against his cheek. Taron froze instantly, looking at him in surprise. Tony looked pained but not physically. Emotionally pained. Like it was hard for him to say what he truly felt.

“I don’t… I don’t want to choose. I can’t.”

Taron’s stomach twisted. He was tied up in knots. Elated that Tony wanted him just as much as he wanted Zephyr but conflicted about the idea of sharing him. He was afraid of rekindling anything with Zephyr. He wouldn’t survive it if they broke up again. He’d nearly not survived the first time. He wanted to be selfish, to keep Tony to himself, and protect his heart at the same time, but he risked losing them both if he tried to make the poor man choose.

“You know, there are plenty of polyamorous relationships that have a center,” Zephyr said, pushing to his feet to join them. Tony shifted automatically, so he was angled to face them both, which made it so very obvious how he felt about both of them. Even his posture was split between them.

“What does that mean?” Tony asked.

“It means we’d each be dating you without dating each other,” Taron explained. It was similar to what they’d already discussed but without making Tony choose. He wasn’t entirely thrilled with the idea of sharing Tony forever, not with how wild his emotions seemed to go whenever Zephyr was around, but after seeing that heartbroken look on Tony’s face earlier, he realized he was being selfish, asking him to choose. They could both keep him. They didn't have to keep each other at the same time. And he’d deal with the stupid ache in his chest as long as he could keep Tony happy.

Tony still looked uncertain, but Zephyr was quick to reassure him. “I’d rather have you part-time than not at all, baby. I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t agree to it. Right?”

He looked at Taron for confirmation, and Taron dipped his chin. “He’s right. I don’t agree with things I’m not comfortable with just to appease people. I want you happy. If sharing you will keep you happy, I’ll accept that.”

Tony still looked uncertain, but Taron couldn’t blame him. It was a lot to consider.

“Why don’t you think about it? For now, we’ll get you packed, and you can stay with me tonight since it’s closer. You can decide tomorrow where you’re more comfortable living for the time being. Even if you’d prefer your own space, there are much better options than here.”

He tried to keep the disgust out of his tone, it wasn’t Tony’s fault this was all he could afford, but he didn’t think he did a very good job of it because Tony looked embarrassed. Zephyr cuffed him, and he pinched his side hard in retaliation. He wasn’t entirely sure how he’d put up with Zephyr for long periods, their natural state since the break up was combative, but he’d do it for his a thaisce. He’d do anything for Tony.