Authors: Gabrielle Evans
“Did he smell this way before?”
“Not exactly.” Syn scrunched his eyebrows. “It was similar, but more…muted, I guess.”
Transferring Echo to Syx’s lap, Hex stood from the sofa and dipped his head curtly. “Thank you for telling me. If you bite him…” He left the threat hanging as he glared at the vampires.
“We won’t,” Jinx said hurriedly. “I just thought you should know.”
Hex nodded again then walked around the couch toward the staircase.
“Where are you going?” Eyce called after him.
“To see if I can get a meeting with the Oracle.”
* * * *
It was surprisingly easier than he’d thought it would be. After stripping out of his clothes and crawling into bed, Hex closed his eyes, thinking of the Oracle, and willing her to answer.
When he opened his eyes again, he stood in a vast field, lush, green grass tickling his bare toes. The sun warmed his face, the sky bluer than any he’d ever seen, and the Oracle stood before him with a sly smirk on her face.
“You beckoned, Warrior?”
“I need answers.” No point in beating around the bush. She obviously knew why he’d sought her out, and he had little patience for riddles at the moment.
“You have neglected your heart, your mate, and the bond between you. Now, you seek answers to questions that should have never been brought to light.” She spoke softly, kindly, but with a trace of steel.
“How were we supposed to know Echo was going to be kidnapped and drained?” Hex grinded his teeth together to prevent the growl from escaping his mouth.
“By your actions, you led him into danger. Not once, but twice.”
Her words cut through Hex like a knife. If he hadn’t pushed Echo away, his mate would have been by his side instead of out in the night alone. Had he not acted like such an insufferable asshole, Echo wouldn’t have been hurt, and then Onyx wouldn’t have felt the need to go after their mate’s attacker.
Guilt slammed into him so hard, he dropped to his knees, struggling for breath. “How do I fix this?” he pleaded.
“You cannot.” The Oracle knelt in front of him, her eyes boring into his. “You cannot take back what has been done.” Her fingertips whispered over his cheek, and she smiled warmly. “Your eyes are lovely, Warrior, but they hold such sadness.”
“I let them down,” Hex whispered. “I was supposed to protect them.”
“Ah, but you take too much onto yourself. You are meant to protect one another. The war is not yours to fight alone.”
“Will Echo be okay? What is he?”
“Echo is stronger for his ordeal, both mentally and physically.” She smiled crookedly. “He is your mate, of course.”
“Yes, but he’s something more. What happened to him? How can I be sure it won’t happen again if I don’t know what to be prepared for?”
“Yes, he is something more. Though”—the Oracle laughed musically—“he always has been.”
Hex’s head began to hurt. “I don’t understand. Please just tell me what to do now.”
“Echo is special.” She kissed Hex’s cheek lightly before rising gracefully to her feet. “You will know more when the time is right. For now, keep him close. Keep him safe. More will come for him, but they mustn’t find him. Do you understand?”
All he understood was that his mate was in danger. That was more than enough. “He will be protected.”
“Do not seek answers, Warrior. They will come to you.” With that parting line, the Oracle faded away, and Hex jerked straight up in his bed.
As always when the Oracle visited him, he now had more questions than answers. He knew one thing, though. Echo would not so much as take a piss without someone watching him until the war was over.
* * * *
“So, I’m not a vampire?” Echo scratched the back of his neck and frowned. “Okay, so what am I?” The minute he’d woken up in Syx’s lap, he’d thought something was wrong. After going in search of Hex and finding him naked and grumbling in his bed, he’d
known
something was wrong.
“Does it matter?” Hex cupped his cheek and kissed the tip of his nose. “You’re alive. You’re healthy. I hope you’re happy, because I know I am. What more is there?”
Of course, Hex would go all mushy on him now. “You know I’m happy. And, I guess it’s enough for now, but I’d still like to know.”
“We’ll figure it out. Just try not to worry. Whatever you are, you’re still our mate. Nothing can change that.”
Echo rubbed their noses together and grinned. “I never doubted that. Just confused and a little afraid. What if I’m something bad?” It was his worst fear that something evil had taken root inside him out in those woods.
“Not possible. Our choices define us. Not what we are, but
who
we are. Before you met us, I’m sure you thought demons were evil.”
Echo blushed and nodded. “Okay, I see your point. I just don’t want to hurt anyone. I mean, I feel like myself mostly, but I hate not knowing what to expect.”
“Expect to be loved and adored, and nothing more. No sense in worrying over things we can’t control.”
“Where is all of this coming from? You’re usually the first one to fly off the handle and go apeshit when something bad happens.” Echo kissed Hex’s cheek quickly. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I like this calmer side of you.”
Hex chuckled and rolled over on the mattress to rest on his side. He pulled Echo to him until their chests pressed together, and Echo’s face rested in the crook of his neck. “I had a little visit with the Oracle. I’ve screwed up a lot where you’re concerned. I’ve probably done worse by the others. I have a lot to make up for, and I can’t do that if I let my uncertainty rule me.”
“I’m still under surveillance, though, huh?” Echo had been more than pissed when Hex explained that he might as well get used to having a permanent shadow.
“Just for a little while. The Oracle says you’re special, and while I already knew that, I think she means something different from my definition. You could say that I’ve been ordered to keep you out of danger. I intend to follow that command to the letter.”
Echo chuckled under his breath and snuggled closer to his mate. “Fine, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. You guys were already overprotective before. I can just imagine what it’s going to be like now. When this war is over, I’m going to have to have each of you surgically removed from up my ass.”
Hex tickled his ribs, pulling a yelp from his mouth. “I thought you liked having us up your ass,” the alpha growled seductively.
“You know what I meant.”
“I do, and I’m sorry. You’re just going to have to deal with it for a while.”
“Has Onyx talked to you?” Echo didn’t want to ruin the moment, but he’d been concerned about the man for days. “He hasn’t said a word about what happened to him. It’s not good for him to keep it inside like that.”
“He hasn’t said anything to me.” Hex sighed and nuzzled the top of Echo’s head. “We’re warriors, baby. Until you came along, we never talked about feelings or stuff like that. It was just easier to pretend they didn’t exist. You can’t expect all that to change overnight. If anyone can get him to open up, it’s you.”
“Should I go talk to him now?” Echo worried his lower lip between his teeth. “Or, do you think I should wait?”
“He’s been spending a lot of time by himself,” Hex whispered. “I know for a fact that he’s been sleeping alone as well. I think the sooner, the better.”
“Will you come with me? I understand why you think he’d open up to me, but it’s not the same. I’ve never tried to hide my feelings. I think he needs to know that at least one of you guys supports him as well. What do you think?” Echo hoped he was explaining it right. Unless Onyx believed all his lovers would be there for him, love him no matter what, he’d never fully heal.
“I think you’re smart and sexy. I’ll give you a few minutes alone, but I’ll be right there. Don’t let him hide, baby. He needs us, even if he won’t admit it.”
Echo couldn’t agree more. “Okay, but don’t take too long. Oh, and, Hex?”
“Yes, Echo?” Hex leaned away and smirked down at him.
“I love you.”
“And I thank the gods for it every day.” Hex patted him on the hip. “Now, go.”
Echo squirmed out of the bed and pulled on a pair of sleep pants. This wasn’t about sex after all, and he wouldn’t allow Onyx to distract him. He reached the door and eased it open before Hex called his name, making him pause and look over his shoulder.
“Yes?”
“I love you, baby.”
Echo’s heart flopped over in his chest, and his stomach made a slow roll. He smiled like an idiot, dipped his head, and hurried out of the room.
It amazed him that his big, bad alpha had the power to turn him to putty with those four softly spoken words. He wouldn’t trade anything in the world for it.
Chapter Ten
Suppressing a groan, Onyx rolled to his back and stared up at the ceiling. “Come in.” He said the words grudgingly. He didn’t want to see anyone.
The door eased open, then closed. Still, he didn’t move his eyes from the ceiling. Soft footsteps padded across the carpet, and the bed dipped. Onyx continued to ignore whoever was in the room with him.
A small body curled against his side, a tiny hand stroked his chest, and Echo’s long, golden hair tickled his arm. “Can I stay?”
All resistance faded, and Onyx finally looked down into his mate’s eyes. Even in the dim light from the moon, Echo’s brilliant blue eyes shined. Turning to face his lover, he tucked Echo closer to his body and kissed his forehead. “You’re always welcome here.”
“Are you upset because I’m different now?”
There was so much uncertainty and fear in that one simple question, it broke Onyx’s heart. “No, baby, I’m not upset. Am I sorry for what happened to you? Yes. That doesn’t change how I feel about you, though.”
He expected Echo to probe deeper into that statement. If Echo asked exactly how Onyx felt about him, he knew he wouldn’t be able to lie. Instead, Echo sniffled softly against his neck. “I’m sorry that I messed everything up.”
“Oh, Echo. None of this is your fault. You didn’t mess anything up.” Onyx slipped his fingers under Echo’s chin and applied gentle pressure until the man looked up at him. “There is nothing you can do that would make me not love you.” It wasn’t nearly as scary to say the words as he thought it would be. It felt
right
.
“Kiss me,” Echo whispered.
Who was Onyx to deny such a sweet plea? Dipping his head, he pressed their lips together, slow, sweet, and tender. “You’re playing me, aren’t you?” he asked a moment later. The knowledge didn’t bother him in the least.
“Not really. I am sorry for being stupid and getting myself kidnapped. I do worry that things will change because of what I am now.” Echo smiled and pressed their lips together again. “And I do love you, Onyx.”
“Good enough.” Onyx didn’t want to talk anymore. He wanted to feel his mate beneath him, their bodies moving together as Echo wrapped around him like a silk glove. He wanted to hear Echo gasp and moan, calling out Onyx’s name as they both raced toward the same goal. “You have entirely too many clothes on.”
“Do you hurt anywhere?”
With a sly smirk, Onyx took Echo’s hand and guided it to his naked cock. “There seems to be a lot of swelling and throbbing here. Maybe you could kiss it and make it better.”
Echo didn’t remove his hand, but he didn’t stroke Onyx’s aching length. He didn’t smile, either. “I’m being serious. Is your body healed?”