Page 73 of Worse Fates

For so long I hated myself for staying. For not being good enough to deserve parents, or stop Jace’s fists.”

“I promise to always keep you safe, Golden. Always.”

Maybe I’m a fool to believe him, I knew Jace longer and look how that turned out. But Lucero called me brave, and trusting him feels like the bravest thing I can do. My tear-stainedlips move as if controlled by my heart—towards my soulmate—sealing the promise in a kiss.

“You're safe, too, Lucero. I promise.”

He smiles, indulgent. “Thank you, Golden.”

Chapter Twenty-Six - Golden

“Oh yes, I forgot to tell you.”

I glance at Lucero from where I’m perched on his lap. After our long conversation we watched more documentaries, Lucero’s hands gently massaging my back as I drifted in and out of sleep.

There are things we need to do; make a real plan for the blood mages, check on Kai, and now I’ve maybe got a future that doesn’t involve running away. Damn, I could go to school or…maybe actually let my friends know what's happening in my head, and life. Be vulnerable, like I was with Lucero.

A shiver runs up my spine.

Shit, sounds scary. Maybe I’ll just let my brain melt instead.

I blink, realising I forgot to answer Lucero. “What did you forget?”

He chuckles, sleepy and amused.

“Kai and Rurik slept together.”

“WHAT!” I shoot up, my every other thought tossed out the window. “Why wasn’t that the first thing you told me when I woke up?” And climb off his lap.

“We had more important things to discuss.” Lucero tries to pull me back down, but I slap his hands away. “And where are you going?”

Raising an eyebrow as I pull on a pair of Ramy’s soft sweats (I really need to get my own clothes). “To talk to Kai about him and Rurik obviously.”

A slow, seductive hand runs up my thigh.

“Or…” Lucero’s fingers brush the curve of my ass. My breathing hitches as his sure fingers find my crease, teasing. “You could stay here.” His voice is low, eyes half-lidded

My muscles and brain—and dick—fight on what we should do. But my brain, just barely, wins out and I slide out of his tempting hands.

“Dude—” Lucero raises a warning eyebrow. “Er, I mean, my light, I’ll be right back. Or not, I dunno. But I gotta talk to Kai about this. Do you think Rurik bit him?”

Lucero drops back onto the sofa with a sigh, eyes roaming over my body as if I’d denied him a treat. He can be pretty dramatic when he wants to be, it’s cute.

“Probably not,” Lucero replies, and his fingers run up and down the hard panels of his stomach, a knowing smirk in his eyes as I follow their path. “I doubt Kai wished to see more blood after that car crash.”

Head bobbing, I chew my lip. Gaze locked on Lucero’s firm torso.

“Didn’t you need to see your friend?” The way Lucero says it, it’s more of an invite to stay.

But I snap myself out of his trance with a shake of my head.

“Stop distracting me. I’ll see you in a bit,” I call over my shoulder and rush to the door—grabbing something that's glinting on the table to shove in my pocket. But before I can leave, I dart back to Lucero, skidding to a stop and all but falling on him. “Love you.” And pecked him on the cheek.

Or I planned for just a peck. Lucero had other ideas and ten minutes later I’m out of the bedroom, lips swollen.

The sound of my bare feet hitting the carpet doesn’t have the impact of my boots, but it announces my presence before I enter the kitchen all the same. Kai already looking up, mouth open to say something—but I beat him to it.

“You had sex with Rurik!”