“Oh, my gods, Conrad.” Kylo dropped to the floor, grabbed his mate’s shoulders, and tugged him close. “My mom would’ve been so pissed if you’d died here.”
“You made sure that didn’t happen.” Conrad’s hold around Kylo’s waist wasn’t as strong as it normally was. Kylo still took that as a win as they were both alive.
“Hang on a minute.” Conrad coughed, and Kylo pulled back, worried his mate had internal injuries.What has Selina’s magic done to him?Another cough, then a burp, and a plume of flame flew from Conrad’s mouth, catching Selina’s dress and hair as both parts of her burned.
“My lion leads,” Conrad groaned, his voice raspy as the flames died away, “but that dragon of mine likes to have the last word. Gods, I need some water after that one.”
Kylo clung tightly to his mate. He could understand the need for water, and there was some in the jeep. By unspoken accord, both men waited until there was nothing left of Selina’s body but a dirty smudge on the marble floor.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Conrad
Staggering out of the rubble, burning flesh, and blood, the scent of death filled Conrad’s nose. He turned in Kylo’s arms and took an exhausted breath and let his dragon torch the remaining bits of the building.
“Nice,” Kylo said. “Right now, though, you gotta stop ‘cause I can see your tank’s empty.”
He wasn’t wrong. There was a lot going on inside Conrad’s head and he had no energy to process any of it. In the jeep moments later, he gave a weak ass smile at Pete, who, though pale and minus a hand, was alive.
His animals felt no threat from the dude with feathers popping out of everywhere, so they ignored the fourth occupant in the car. Too tired to question his presence or where he’d come from, not when it seemed he’d been protecting Pete.
“What was that in there?” Pete asked, his gaze sweeping over Conrad’s naked body.
“No clue,” Conrad replied truthfully. He didn’t know what he was, only that he was something extra.
“Leave him be,” Kylo muttered, putting the jeep in reverse, and driving them away from the blazing house.
Conrad closed his eyes and let his animals absorb the pain that lingered deep in places he hadn’t felt in years. The exhaustion dragged him under in seconds and, for now, he slept.
In what felt like mere seconds, someone was lifting him out of the seat. He struggled to get his eyes to open even at the scent of Selina’s blood and his mate.
“I’ll walk,” he slurred tiredly.
“Yep, of course you will.” Kylo’s amusement as he tightened his arms around Conrad hardly registered when all he wanted was to sleep for a month.
“Oh, my!” The cry was female. “What do you need, Kylo?”
“Fill a hot bath, and a tray of food, and lots of drinks.”
Conrad didn’t care for any of it except the bath, only he wasn’t sure how he’d have the strength.
Folks fussed around them. He was sure of that. His animals weren’t concerned, which was a first for him. His head lolled as he tried to peel open his eyes. He didn’t succeed when the hot water hit his back, and he groaned.
Simple pleasures, like hot water, were a luxury Conrad never took for granted. He sank into the glorious heat as strong, sure hands stroked over him. Something herbal replaced the stench on him. It was not a smell he’d encountered before.
He floated in that place in between sleep and wakefulness, warm and cocooned. Another low moan rumbled up his chest as fingers stroked over his cock before moving on down his balls to cup and roll them. Those same magic fingers ran down his thighs, making the ache inside him ease and disappear.
Sounds came from afar as his head rested on the back of the tub he was in.
“Thanks, Mom, just leave the tray there.”
There was shuffling and more muffled words before Kylo pressed a glass to his lips. “Drink for me.”
His lips parted, and Conrad drank deep, now aware of the raging thirst. One glass became two, then three. Kylo placed food on his lips, and he ate, his eyes remaining closed as Kylo tended to him.
As his brain came back online, it brought with it the reality of what Kylo had seen. He’d seen Conrad at his worse and accepted him. Their mating felt… different… complete. He’d never have thought it wasn’t until he felt the difference.
He swallowed the piece of succulent meat. “Can you feel it?” His eyes remained closed, unsure of himself.
