Impossible, actually.
Then the pain started to get real. Like, really fucking real.
He tried to breathe through it. He pressed his hand harder against his sternum and stood up.
But he couldn’t make it stop.
Only one person could.
Then his phone started ringing, and god, how he hoped it was Ciaran... but nope. He saw Hadeom’s name on the screen, and he knew he should answer it, but he couldn’t concentrate.
He couldn’t focus.
Fuck, he could barely even breathe.
And he was out the door before he knew it, phone in hand and running. Running to the only person who could make it stop, like he was trying to break the surface and breathe. He was fucking drowning and running...
He didn’t know where to. Just to wherever the fuck Ciaran was, to where this pain would stop. His antiques store was dark, the door locked, so he kept going, and his phone kept ringing, and he kept on drowning, unable to breathe.
Then the door to Fray’s shop swung open, and Ciaran appeared, breathing hard, his hand pressed to his chest, his face twisted...
Then Sawyer was running even faster, running to him, to the surface, for air, the only air he could breathe, and they collided, holding on so damn tight, both of them panting, gasping.
“Holy fuck,” Sawyer whispered.
“You felt that?” Ciaran asked, voice tight.
He nodded, pulling back so he could see Ciaran’s face, and touch him, his neck, his chest. Fuck, he could feel the thrumming of his hearts. “What the fuck was that?”
Ciaran was fisting Sawyer’s sweater, but he turned when someone spoke, and Sawyer only realised then that Kellan and Fray had followed Ciaran out, and he could see two more faces inthe doorway. He didn’t know who spoke or what they said, but at least he could breathe now.
“What the fuck was that?” Sawyer asked again, the question probably mostly aimed at Kellan but also at anyone who might know. Then he looked directly at Kellan. “I thought you said we’d still be us, still able to function, but now we can’t be apart for ten fucking minutes?”
Kellan’s eyes tightened, and Sawyer tried to feel bad, but fuck!
“Most newly mated pairs have more time alone together in the beginning,” Kellan said. “Months, not days. And I don’t need to remind you that the human aspect is unknown.”
Aaaaand now he felt bad. “Sorry, Kellan. I know it’s not your fault.”
Ciaran cupped Sawyer’s face, their bodies pressed together from chest to thigh. “You’re okay?”
Sawyer nodded. “Am now. Much better. I tried to ignore it. Until I couldn’t.”
“Same.”
Someone scoffed distastefully, and Sawyer glanced over in time to see Tobin roll his eyes and walk back inside. He didn’t miss the way Fray flinched, but Ciaran didn’t see it because he had his forehead against Sawyer’s neck.
Then he sighed, and Sawyer felt the ache in Ciaran’s hearts, and he realised then that Ciaran hadn’t missed it at all. His consortium had discord within itself, and Sawyer knew it was because of him. Was Tobin pissed that their leader wasn’t as focused or devoted as he used to be? Because Sawyer was a distraction, their mating bond an inconvenience.
He remembered the few comments about “the worst timing” or whatever they’d said, with this threat that may or may not be coming.
But it wasn’t Ciaran’s fault. He couldn’t help it any more than Sawyer could.
Sawyer ran his hand through Ciaran’s hair. “Are you okay?”
He drew his forehead from the crook of Sawyer’s neck to rest it on his shoulder, and he nodded. “Yeah.”
Then Sawyer’s phone rang again. He’d forgotten he was still holding it. He looked at the screen and groaned. Hadeom. He had to answer. He’d missed too many calls....
