Lachlan raised a brow. "Are you trying to make me hard again? Because if your dragon makes any more threats, I'm going to have no choice but to fuck you."
Apollo fought back the dragon's need to bite and kissed him lightly on the lips. "If you get hard again, you're on your own. I need my beauty sleep, and you need to spoon me because I am feeling emotional and needy."
"Whatever you want," Lachlan said with a goofy smile on his face.
Gods save me. Apollo didn't know how to cope with him being so sweet.
Lachlan dried them both off and tucked Apollo up in bed before going to get him a bottle of water.
Exhaustion hit Apollo, and he snuggled his face into the soft pillow. The last few days had been too much to process. Lachlan curled around him and pulled him close.
"Please let me keep you," Lachlan whispered against his hair, but Apollo was too sleepy to even respond.
24
Lachlan woke early and energized for the first time in over a week. Apollo was snoring softly beside him, wrapped in all the blankets like a sexy man burrito.
I can't believe last night happened, he thought. The suck marks on his chest and the overflowing amount of soft feelings of love and relief he got when he looked at Apollo proved that it had.
Lachlan kissed Apollo on the forehead before getting dressed and slipping out quietly into the kitchen. It was still too early for Valentine to be awake—magicians didn't seem to be early risers as a rule—so he got to work brewing coffee and pulling things out of the fridge to make breakfast. He found his phone and rang Cosimo, hoping that he might be awake. After three or four rings, he finally answered, "Someone better not be kidnapped again."
Lachlan grinned. "Actually, no. I wanted to let you know that last night was a success. I wasn't sure if Val had told you. They are both still asleep."
"Val sent something about everyone being alive and that he had some presents for me. Speak slow. I'm making espresso, and my brain isn't alive yet," Cosimo replied.
"Sorry if you were worried. I thought Val would have been a bit more comprehensive than that," Lachlan apologized and told Cosimo about what they had found in the labs. "I've got Layla and Ciara working on finding this other facility. I know we can't let them keep experimenting on creatures, but we need to be tactical about this."
"I agree. Gods, I can't believe we are having to deal with this shit in this day and age. I thought we were more enlightened as magicians and scientists. It's abhorrent," Cosimo growled.
"You're a good person, with morals and ethics and honor. They have none of that. So we will talk to Kian and take them out as a family. I know France isn't his diplomatic purview as an ambassador of the fae, but there were fae in their folder, so they have stolen them like they stole Apollo," Lachlan replied. He glanced at the door of the bedroom. "I don't want him involved, and I know he won't stay behind. I don't know what to do."
"You are a good man to be worried about him, Lachlan, but Apollo knows his strengths. He can build and brew whatever you need and support this in his own way."
Lachlan ran a hand over the back of his neck, butterflies in his stomach. "Cosimo? I would like your permission to court him."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Lachlan didn't want Cosimo to think he only wanted to fool about with Apollo. He wanted him to know that he was serious.
"And have you talked to him about the idea?" Cosimo asked eventually.
"He has agreed to let me date him. At leasttryto date him," Lachlan replied. "I didn't want you to think that I'm not seriousabout him. He is so smart and sweet, and I'm just a hunter, and I know he's out of my league, but..."
"Lachlan, please take a breath," Cosimo said, shutting him up instantly. Lachlan took a breath that didn't do much to settle his nerves. "I'm very touched that you asked my permission about this. No one has ever done that when wanting to date my sons. If Apollo has agreed to it, then you will get no objection from me. You love him, Lachie. I can see that and always have. You're not out of his league either, so please don't talk about yourself that way. You have a good heart, and you genuinely care for him. That's all a father really wants for his children."
"I just want to make him happy," Lachlan admitted, as honest as he could be.
Cosimo chuckled. "And I do not doubt that you will. It makes my heart happy to know that Apollo has finally come to his senses. It only took being kidnapped."
"If I knew that was the answer, I might have been tempted to do it a year ago," Lachlan said before blushing. "Ah, not that I would have... I mean..."
Cosimo's amusement turned into a loud laugh. "You sweet boy. Go and court my son to your heart's content. Make sure he doesn't do anything to get himself hurt in this fight with the alchemists."
"I will. You're not worried about Valentine?" Lachlan asked.
"Not in the slightest. I think the Sanguis Vitae are the ones that need to be worried about Valentine, don't you?"
Lachlan smiled. "I know what you mean. I will see you in the family conference call when I have actionable intel from Layla."
"Thank you, Lachlan. You had best get cooking. Both my sons are beasts before they are fed in the morning," Cosimo said before ringing off.
