Alastair’s gaze slipped to him, his eyes going even wider. “Foxx…when did you…?”
“Alastair, there is too much going on right now. I need you to leave!” Foxx was practically begging now in his tone, if not with his words.
The man took a step forward and Foxx hissed. “I SAID LEAVE!”
Alastair hesitated. “Foxx, you… You’ve never changed anyone before. I have. I can help. Whatever is going on, I can help. Let me help.”
“You can’t help us, now leave!”
The vampire clutched the puppy to his chest, the thing barking now. Alastair’s gaze flicked back and forth from him to Foxx. “I can…”
Harlow sighed. “Foxx, why don’t you?—”
“SHUT. UP!” Foxx snarled. His boyfriend’s eyes had gone wide, the fear even more visible now. Where the man’s hands were clenched on the counter, they were trembling.
He closed his mouth and nodded.
“Foxx…” Alastair started softly. “What’s going on?”
“No,” the vampire hissed.
Foxx’s friend took a deep breath. “Foxx, whatever is going on, just know, I’ll be here waiting to listen, once you are ready.” Alastair’s gaze traveled from Foxx to Harlow one last time, before he turned and left.
Foxx’s shoulders sagged at the sound of the door closing.
“What was that, Foxx?” Harlow drawled.
He slowly looked at Harlow, the man’s tone was clearly suspicious. “Nothing… We…just…can’t risk him knowing…”
The dhampir’s brow pinched. “Foxx, he’s your… Not that I… Well, I don’t feel anything in particular about Alastair whatsoever, but like, heisyour friend. Couldn’t you have told him?”
“That’s just it. It’s because he is my friend that he can’t know. And let’s be real, he’s never liked you.” Foxx frowned, his gaze flicking to the hallway. “I’ll have to change the locks for now.”
When he glanced back, he flinched at finding Harlow’s gaze narrowed on him. “What?”
“What aren’t you telling me?” the man said blankly.
“W-what?” he rasped, hands clenching together nervously.
“You were terrified that I’d say something. And you clearly think Alastair would tell the council. The question is: why do you think that? Because as much as Alastair hates me, I seriouslydoubt you’d remain friends with someone who’d betray you that way for no reason. So, what is it? What haven’t you told me?”
Foxx swallowed thickly as he slowly pulled out a chair and sat down. “I…”
“Foxx,” Harlow growled in warning.
He sighed. “The truth is…the council didn’t leave that couple…or the people that helped them…alone by choice. They left them alone because they had too many connections to risk offending.”
“Fucking hell, Foxx,” Harlow cursed, rubbing at his eyes. “How much danger are you putting yourself in by doing this?”
He winced… There was no way he could get out of saying it, was there? It wasn’t like Harlow would let him brush the question off… Fuck a duck!
“Death…” Foxx sighed. “I’m risking death.”
The dhampir let out a string of curses. The man’s hands clenched into fists, shaking likely from anger. Harlow honestly looked like he was about to scream at him…but then he dropped his hands back to his side, completely relaxed. As Harlow’s gaze turned piercing, the man snapped, “Don’t!”
“Don’t, what?”
“Don’t do this! I’m…” Harlow slapped his own chest. “I’m not worth it!”
