"I'm sure it will come back to me when I have some clothes," Apollo replied.
Lachlan headed out into the rain and returned with a horse blanket.
"There you go. You okay? We are in Kian's back yard, by the way," Lachlan said and wrapped the blanket around him.
Apollo might have a foggy memory, but he felt good. Strong. He took Lachlan by the waist and lifted him a few feet off the air.
"Something is wrong," he said.
Lachlan huffed out a laugh. "No shit. You turned into a big fucking dragon last night. Put me down, and let's find a shower."
"I was going to say you smell ripe."
Lachlan bent down to pull on his boots. Damn, he really had the nicest ass. "What you are smelling is dragon saliva...from when you licked me…as a dragon."
"Lachie, love, can we talk about that when we are in the shower in my room in the castle? I'm no good when I first wake up—you know that," Apollo said, and rubbed at his forehead.
Lachlan put an arm around him. "Okay, let's get you upstairs. Maybe the kitchen will already have some coffee brewing."
Apollo walked in a daze as they went through the stables and into the kitchens. Hedera took one look at him and shook her head, spraying flower petals from her hair.
"Dragons," she huffed and handed them two mugs of coffee.
Apollo could have kissed her, but that would have been a bad idea for both of them. They headed up the staircases, past the lab, and into Apollo's apartment. He didn't know what time it was, but it was early enough that they didn't encounter anyone. That was a good thing. He didn't want anyone but Lachlan right then.
He slid the bolt shut on the door just to ensure they wouldn't be disturbed by some well-meaning relative eager to check on him. Apollo rummaged around for clean clothes and elixirs. Someone had left Lachlan's beat-up duffle at the end of his bed like they knew he would find his way there eventually.
"This shower better have room for two," Lachlan said, pulling off his dirty black T-shirt. He had a purple bruise on his ribs, and Apollo hurried to find a proper healing potion.
"Here, drink this. What the fuck happened to you?" Apollo asked, giving him the vial.
"Met Kovacs. He got in a few good hits with some brass knuckles before taking control of me with blood magic and almost made me slit my own throat," he said. He drank the potion and turned the shower on. He climbed under the spray and groaned.
Apollo frowned, pausing by the shower door. He remembered watching Lachlan join the fight at the main house through binoculars. He had seen Kovacs tackle him, and he had tossed the binoculars and started running. There hadn't been any pain, but he had suddenly been running on four legs, and all he could think of was...
"My mate was in trouble," Apollo whispered. He put his hand over his mouth as his dragon memories rushed back.
A soap-covered Lachlan was staring at him through the steam. He took Apollo's other hand and pulled him under the spray. He had told Lachlan that he was his mate.
"You remember something," Lachlan grumbled, squeezing out more soap into his hand and rubbing it over Apollo in slow circles. "I need to know if you are going to spew."
"I-I'm not," Apollo replied as his eyes closed. Fuck. He had told Lachlan he was his mate. He was sure of it.
"Are you hurting anywhere?" Lachlan demanded, and he shook his head. "Good."
Lachlan's mouth crashed down on his, and he wrapped his arms around him. Apollo rallied and pulled him closer, his nails digging into his back. Lachlan pulled back but held him firm.
"Now, you're going to tell me the truth, Apollonius," he growled.
"I am?"
Apollo was still a little dazed from the kiss. He opened his eyes. Lachlan looked pissed. He wriggled, but Lachlan only tightened his grip.
"Nope. No running for you. Am I your mate?" he demanded.
Apollo swallowed hard. "Maybe?"
"I said the fucking truth," Lachlan said, and there was hurt in his blue eyes now.
