My senses told me it wasn’t Stevie, so I ignored it.
Unfortunately, the bastard didn’t ignoreme. When he pushed open the door, I caught Brakkor’s scent and would have groaned in irritation if I had the motivation.
“Go away,” I rasped.
Was that really my voice? Gods below, I was a pile of shit by now, wasn’t I?
Brakkor ignored my command. Shouldn’t be surprised.
He stomped into my home and plopped onto the other end of the couch. I wanted to ignore him, but then a cooler landed between us, and when he began to root around in it, I glanced over despite myself.
He noticed. Because of course he did. “No poker game tonight, we figured.”
I grunted, not sure where he was going with this. I’d forgotten about the weekly poker game. Hells, I’d forgotten it was Saturday. I damn well didn’t set it up, although maybe I should have. Maybe it would have helped.
Like you’d be able to concentrate?
Brakkor held out a beer bottle without judgment. “But your Mate’s gone, so I figured you could use this.”
Slowly, I reached out and accepted the offering. “I thought you don’t believe in Mates?” I rasped warily.
“I don’t, but you do.” He nodded to the beer. “Sounds like you need that.”
I drank.
On the other end of the couch, Brakkor made a grunting noise that might have been approval, and I hated the way myKteerpreened. I didn’t need his approval!
…did I?
We drank in silence for a few minutes, both of us staring at that dark television screen. Or maybe out the dark window. Darkness, either way, was the point.
So dark.
“So…” Brakkor shifted on the cushions. “What are you going to do?”
I didn’t answer because I didn’t know.
He waited a while, then asked, “Where’d she go?”
I didn’t answer him then, either.
Didn’t want to answer him, even if I could.
Then the asshole reached for the cooler again. “You don’t know, huh? I bet that’s galling as hells, that you can’t run off to protect her.”
Galling? Tryeating me up inside.
I turned to snarl at him, and Brakkor shoved another beer in my hand. That’s when I realized I’d finished the first one.
Seemed easier to drink than to argue.
I drank.
And you know what? I felt brave enough to answer him. “Yeah, it’s galling. But she’s strong. Stevie survived without me before.” My fingers tightened around the can, denting it slightly. “She’ll survive now.”
“Fuck,” Brakkor whispered. “You must be hating this. Where’d she go?”
I didn’t know, and that was the problem.
