“How would I fit inside as Azar?” He blinks.
“I don’t think you’d be in here as Azar,” I whisper.
His grin is slow and wicked. “Oh.”
“But right now, I need to get these gifts wrapped before anyone else sees their present.” I point. “So stop distracting me.”
“How about I help you?” He scootches over and picks up the wrapping paper. “How hard can it be?”
Five minutes later, when he has a piece of tape stuck to the side of his ear, and he’s muttering every curse word he’s ever heard me use, I can’t help laughing.
I point at the blob he wadded up and taped. Sort of. One side pops open as I’m watching. “That looks worse than if Sammy did it.”
The swear words resume.
I’m laughing so hard tears are leaking out of my eyes.
“Liz?”
Gideon’s at the doorway, and he looks angry. Really, really angry. “What are you doing?”
“We’re wrapping the gifts we picked out today,” Axel says. “I had to learn how so I could wrap her gift properly for tomorrow.”
“You got Liz something for Christmas?” Gideon scoffs. “Really? What is it? A bigger gold visor?”
Axel stands and the motion’s so sinuous, even in this form, that no one could mistake him for an actual human.
I grit my teeth, wondering how soon I’ll need to step in between them.
Axel walks toward Gideon slowly, his eyes never leaving Gideon’s. “I don’t recall what went between us before, thanks to you, I hear. I’m not pleased to have lost those memories.” He snarls, and he moves incrementally closer. “I don’t know what role you think you may play in Liz’s life, but let me be clear.” His face is now far too close by human standards. Axel inhales sharply. “I smell your fear, human, and you should be afraid. I’m in this form for Liz, because I love and adore her, and this form makes her happy, but make no mistake.” He stares at Gideon for a beat. Then another. “My true form would eliminate you from existence in a split second and never feel one shred of regret.”
Gideon flinches.
“I don’t care what awards your government has given you. I don’t care what you gained by your betrayal of your friend Liz, but know this. She’s mine, and I’m hers, and you play no part in our bond. You never will. You’re here and alive because of my love for her. But if you so much as look at her sideways or challenge me in any way, I’ll end you. Your government can take that up with me directly.”
Gideon’s face is pale when Axel turns back and returns to me. A few months ago, I’d have intervened, but I’ve decided it’s best to let the boys work things out themselves.
“We’ll be done wrapping in a minute,” I say. “I think we have ham in the oven for dinner.”
“You have an oven?” Gideon asks.
I nod. “The appliances and flooring are all thanks to the generosity of the Australian government.”
“I said it was a waste,” Axel says. “I’m more than capable of cooking anything you want.”
“But not at three hundred and fifteen degrees for two and a half hours,” I mutter.
Axel sighs. “We could have put the food in an insulated container and?—”
I stand. “Not this again.”
Axel bites his lip and smiles.
I spin and point at him. “You are not cleared to wrap.”
“I can wrap your gift for Liz,” Gideon says. “If you’d like me to.”
Axel pivots on his heel. “Not necessary. Thank you.”
