Apollo was crying in the bathtub, and Lachlan wanted nothing more than to climb in beside him and hold him close. He couldn't do that though. Apollo would never let him, and he wanted Val anyway.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked through the door, careful not to look in.
"No. Maybe when Val is here, and I've eaten. I'm sorry…"
"You've got nothing to be sorry for. They aren't ever going to touch you again. Hear me?" Lachlan said. He ground his teethso hard together that his molars ached. His beautiful golden boy was hurting, and he could do fucking nothing. There was a knock at the door. "That will be your food."
Lachlan opened the hotel door, and pain burst through his nose as a fist hit him hard and fast.
Valentine shook out his hand and pushed him aside. "That's for leaving without me, you fucking asshole. Where is he?"
"Bathroom," Lachlan grumbled, holding his nose. He supposed he deserved it.
Valentine went into the bathroom and crouched by the tub. "You okay, baby brother?"
"No." Apollo burst into tears again, and Valentine hugged his head to his chest.
"I brought you some clothes. Come out of there and get dressed. I don't want to talk to you with your junk out everywhere." Valentine patted his wet curls. "Can you get out of there, okay? Or do I need to get Lachie?"
"I'll be fine," Apollo sniffed.
Lachlan stepped forward. "I'd be happy to—" he began.
Valentine's eyes narrowed. "He said he was fine."
"Don't fight," Apollo said as he pulled himself out of the tub.
Lachlan saw a line of bare back and golden skin before he quickly turned away. There was another knock at the door, and he hurried to answer it, hoping Valentine didn't notice how red his ears were. It really, really wasn't the time to stare at Apollo.
Lachlan opened the door and was relieved to find it was just a waiter from the kitchen downstairs. He pointed to a brown bag and said, "And that is the special order you requested."
"Thank you," Lachlan said, signing off on the receipt. He put the tray on the table and pulled out the Coke from the brown bag.
"You got a McDonald's Coke Ubered to the hotel for him?" Valentine asked, his lips twitching in a smile.
"Shut up, Val. He likes them," Lachlan said, his ears going redder.
"I've never seen a man so whipped."
Apollo came out of the bathroom in jeans and a T-shirt, his wet curls in a jumble. "That Coke better be for me, or I'm going to burn this hotel to the ground," he said, collapsing into a chair at the table.
Lachlan passed it to him. "Of course it's for you."
Valentine had the decency to wait until Apollo had finished off a plate of crepes before he got impatient. "Tell us what happened, Apollo. What are these assholes up to?"
"They got footage of Bas as a dragon," Apollo said and screwed his face up. "No, from the start. Words are hard."
Lachlan picked at the club sandwich he had ordered, but the more Apollo spoke, the more Lachlan's appetite faded.
"They are scary fuckers, Val. I don't think they will stop until they have one of us to experiment on. They think we are their key to immortality," Apollo finished.
Valentine hummed. "Don't worry, little brother. We aren't going to let them get away with this insult. Lachlan? What's your excuse for going in without me?"
"I didn't want to wait, and I didn't want them to get their hands on another dragon if shit went south. I was trying to protect you," Lachlan said and crossed his arms. "I won't apologize for it either."
"You could have gotten yourself killed, you dumbass. No matter how noble you think your actions were. Your death affectsotherpeople. Maybe take that into consideration before you rush into danger, hmm?" Valentine replied, flinching when Apollo kicked him under the table. "You know I'm right, Apollo. Finish that food. Lachlan, get your gear and wash that blood off. We are going to the Greatdrakes apartment, where there are decent wards. We aren't safe here."
Lachlan wanted to ask who put him in charge, but he looked at Apollo and knew the answer. He wanted Valentine there to take control of the situation, and Lachlan couldn't blame him for that. He would want Ciara if he were in Apollo's shoes. He hadn't been kidnapped, and hestillwould have felt better if his sister was there.
