Page 80 of Worse Fates

“Sleep, love,” I reply as I stroke his curls, his body loosening with each yawn as he’s pulled back into dreams. All good, I hope. “You have plenty of time.”

“You like pretty things…” he mumbles against my chest, falling back asleep.

Running my finger around the curve of his jaw, I whisper, “That I do.”

Reluctantly, gently, I pull away from my Golden and leave.

Time to feed.

???

Full and home again, I head to the kitchen, eager to find Golden. But only Rurik is there, and my pulse spikes.

“Where is he?”

Rurik looks up from his phone where he’s seated by the window. “Him, Kai and Ramy went out, but should be back soon.”

In a blink I’m in his space, towering over him. “Golden is being hunted.” My fangs don’t come out, but their sharpness is in every bitten out word. “And mages are after us and you Let. Him. Leave?”

Rurik stands, meeting my glare head-on. “Luc, they’ll be back any minute”

I want to take my anger out on Rurik, but Golden always comes first. Turning on my heel, I start moving. But Golden’s laughter soon follows, Kai and Ramy’s voices mixed in.

When he comes through the threshold, I take hold of him. Something crinkles between us as I crush him to my chest. His scent—sea breeze, cherries andhome—fills me, and only then do I realise I haven’t taken a real breath since leaving him.

“What’s wrong?” Golden looks up, his big hazel eyes full of concern.

Taking his jaw in one hand, I crash our mouths together. Golden’s taste, the eager way he so desperately tries to match my intensity, is the reassurance I need—he’s safe. Safe with me.

I pull back enough to allow him a breath, his pupils dilating. “Do not,” I say against his puffy lips, “leave without telling me.”

His honey-sweet arousal wraps around my cock and strokes it to life.

“I needed to go to the petrol station,” he whispers, cheeks flushed.

My fangs ache to sink into him, claim him on a level I’ve never claimed any of my other soulmates. Instead, I run blunt teeth along his bottom pouty lip. “Why?”

His cock swells against my leg and I see it in his eyes—just a flash—the memory of him on his knees, mouth around my cock. Golden digs his fingers into my shirt, and I watch, unblinking, as he struggles to stop his hips from moving against mine.

“I had to get you something,” he murmurs, chest heaving.

Frowning, I pull back and finally notice the flower bouquet. At most it cost £5, already half the petals have fallen and the stems droop sadly. The pinks are dull and the yellows pale, the ends of the green leaves curl inwards, turning brown.

Golden’s cheeks warm and shifts his feet. “I know they aren’t the best but…” he holds them out and when I don’t move he gives them a little shake, the cheap plastic rustling. “Everyone deserves flowers, right?”

“You bought me flowers?” My voice sounds strange, strained and surprised and…

“Well…Ramy gave me the money. But yeah.” Golden nods, chewing his bottom lip. “Because I…ya know, I love you.”

Slowly, almost hesitantly, I take the offered flowers with the same reverence as if Golden was handing me his beating heart. I’ve been given gifts before, of course; books, watches, cars. But something that is meant to show beauty—no matter how wilted—and gentleness? Is this how my lovely Golden sees me?

He is attracted to my strength, my power. But to think he could want me for…the softer aspects of myself. I…didn’t know anyone could.

“Golden.” Swallowing the growing lump in my throat, I say, “Thank you.”

All his nervousness fades and he beams with the beauty of a field of flowers. How very lucky I am. Cupping the apple of his cheeks, I kiss him, long and gentle. His hands go to my chest, running up to hold onto my shoulders, his lips following my lead.

“Not to interrupt,” Rurik says, surprising me out of the world I’d created with Golden. I’d completely forgotten anyone else was in the room with us. “But we need to talk about the blood mages, you can take your boy to bed later.”