Reggie whirled around, his eyes raw with emotion. “Colin, I can’t handle this. Yesterday, my world was simple, and now? Vampires, imps, elves, magic—it’s all too much.” He took a shaky breath, trying to contain his emotions.
“Then there’s the revelation of not one, but two soulmates. One moment, I’m living a mundane life, and the next, I’m thrust into this whirlwind of supernatural chaos. And these people,” he waved a hand vaguely at the door, “come charging in here, hurling insults as if I haven’t had enough to deal with. If I wanted that abuse, I would’ve stayed in Chicago.”
Colin closed the gap between them in two long strides, enveloping Reggie in a comforting embrace. As Reggie’s sobs muffled against Colin’s chest, I felt a pang in my heart. Pushing aside my apprehensions, I slid off the bed, my steps determined as I approached them. My glare was icy as it landed on my friends.
“Everyone who is not my spark, out. Now!” My voice was firm, brooking no argument.
“Zander, you’re awake!” Zin exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. He moved as if to embrace me, but I held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“I said leave.”
“Zander, but—”
“No arguments, Gavin. My sparks and I need to speak alone. Now go,” I interrupted, the edge in my voice unmistakable.
“Come on, son. We’ll speak with Zander later,” King Gael said.
With reluctant steps and lingering glances, my friends and brother made their way out. The room’s atmosphere shifted from tense to intimate, and as the door clicked shut, I felt the weight of the silence.
I moved closer to Reggie and Colin, my gaze sweeping over them. “They’re gone, sweetheart. They’re gone,” I whispered, trying to reassure Reggie.
Reggie lifted his tear-streaked face from Colin’s chest, his eyes searching mine, filled with uncertainty. “I don’t know if I can do this. I’m sorry.”
“Shh… of course, you can. We’ll do it together,” Colin said, glancing back at me.
I stared back at him and nodded. “Together.” I just prayed he understood my fears.
Chapter Ten
Colin
“Hey.”
Lifting my gaze from my cutting board, I glanced toward the sound of Zander’s voice. My breath caught as Zander entered. The azure color of his skin contrasted beautifully with the neon green of his hair, which cascaded over those distinct pointy ears. He was different from Reggie, but I was still very attracted to him.
“How’s Reggie?” I asked.
Zander walked further into the room and hopped on a stool by the counter. “He fell asleep. What are you doing?”
“I figured we could all use some dinner. It’s been a long day, and you’re still recovering,” I replied as I scooped the chopped bacon chunks and threw them in the pan.
“I could magic us some food, so you don’t have to cook,” Zander said.
I gave him a small smile and shook my head. “No, thanks. Cooking grounds me, you know? When things get crazy and overwhelming, it’s the one thing that makes sense to me.”
Zander gave me a tiny nod but didn’t reply. I continued to sauté the bacon. I knew we had to talk, but I was worried about how the talk would go, especially with how Zander reacted earlier.
“That smells good,” Zander said, breaking the silence.
I peered up at him. “Wait until I add in the chicken and ranch seasoning. This is one of my favorite comfort dishes.”
“I’m not sure what ranch is. It’s probably called something different in the fae realm, but I’m sure it’s delicious if this is your favorite,” Zander replied.
“You’ll love it. The flavor has a zing to it,” I said.
Zander flashed a tiny smile, and the quiet was back. I continued to prepare the meal while Zander silently watched. I focused on the food and tried to avoid my beloved’s presence. How do I begin this conversation? I asked myself. How do I explain my past and why I did what I did?
“Colin.” Zander’s soft voice pulled me out of my musings, and I glanced back at him.
