“Or three,” Kaz grunted then nodded and waved him away. “Thanks. Now get out.”
Zane turned to Nate. “We’ve both killed on your behalf.”
“Want a cookie?” Nate stared him down.
“So you aren’t just with him out of guilt or obligation.”
“Did you think I was?”
Kaz couldn’t blame Zane for the assumption. It made sense. Nate was the type of person who’d give up a piece of himself to make it up to someone else. Wasn’t that the exact thing he’d figured out about him early on and used against him?
“I’m dating him because I like him,” Nate stated, and Kaz tried not to let on how surprised that made him. “I can’t say the same about you.”
“Even after I helped save your life?” Zane persisted.
Kazimir had called him, fully intending to threaten him and risk a war between them and Kelevra, but Zane had been just as surprised when he’d learned about Nate’s kidnapping. He had, however, known all about Pious’s people.
And where they were located.
With Zane’s help, they’d managed to arrive less than two hours after Nate had been taken. To avoid Nate somehow getting caught in the crossfire, or them just outright killing him, they’d decided to send Zane in first to distract them. It’d been risky, and after the stunt he’d pulled, Kaz didn’t trust him like he used to, but…There hadn’t been any better options.
“I tried to break the two of you up for sport,” Zane added. “True. But there’s a difference between ending a relationship and ending a life. If you had died, I would have caused a major problem for the Retinue, since Kazimir would have found a way to blame me for it.”
“And here I thought you were lingering because you were gearing up to ask if we could share him,” Nate drawled. “Clearly not, though, if you’re leading with ‘I saved you because it was easier than pissing off my leader’.”
Zane cocked his head. “Would you share him?”
“No,” Nate said firmly. “Myboyfriend is just that. Mine.”
“Does that mean we’re together again?” Kaz asked hopefully.
“Shut up.” Nate continued to glare at Zane, ignoring him.
Zane sighed and took a deliberate retreating step. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. I’ll see myself out.”
“You do that.” Nate waited until they were alone then questioned, “Is there anyone else here?”
“A couple of the Brumal are downstairs,” Kaz told him. “I wanted them close in case the last Ancient discovered where we are and tried anything. Now that he’s been handled, there’s noneed for them to stick around. I’ll dismiss them.” He lifted his multi-slate and sent a message off right away, when he finished, he found Nate staring at his surroundings.
“You brought me back to your place.”
Kaz hesitated. “The hospital wasn’t safe enough and I didn’t want to risk going back to yours. I’m,” he licked his lips, “sorry. If this isn’t where you want to be, I understand. As soon as the medicine starts to work, we can relocate you wherever you say.”
“This is fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,”
They fell into an uncomfortable silence and Kaz debated whether or not he’d be allowed to sit down on the edge of the bed next to him, or if he should remain standing. “On a scale of one to ten, how mad are you still?”
“That’s what you’re leading with?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Kaz explained. “I’ve never…” He waved between them then ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve never tried to make up with anyone before. In any capacity.”
“Usually, you start with an apology, Hotshot,” Nate suggested, slowly, like he was talking to a small child.
Or an idiot.
