He nods. “We trade with communities up there. They fared better than the US during the Rise. They didn’t enrage the old gods as much.”
“Must be nice,” I say, watching the gray horizon.
There’s a commotion from behind us, and to my utter astonishment, Helios and Perri are carrying trays loaded with food and drinks from theBeetle.
When I walk up to them to help them carry items, Perri says, “Helios has been cooking for the last two days for us. Isn’t he adorable?”
Helios chuckles. “I was just bored. And it’s been a while since we got the chance to entertain.”
Entertain. What an odd concept for survivors after the Rise. But I guess Griffin and Helios aren’t survivors anymore. They’re thriving.
“Thank you,” I say to Helios as he places what looks like a giant bowl of fruit salad on a camping table.
When we set out from the Traveling Market weeks ago, I never thought we would end up here, at the northern part of the Broken States in the company of new allies. Perri and Stellan have taken me farther than I’ve ever been from the Market. It feels like I can really breathe for the first time in years.
Maybe this could become a thing… Maybe both men could let me stay with them for longer than just a rescue mission and we could travel from time to time.
It feels too good to be true for a monster like me.
As if sensing my train of thought, Perri comes to me. “All good?”
I smile and pull him into a hug. “Wonderful,” I say in his hair.
Stellan walks by us on his way back from theBeetleand trails a hand over our shoulders affectionately. I resist the urge to pull him into our embrace. Helios is watching us with a smile, a question burning in his eyes. I wonder if it’s the same question that is haunting me:What are we?
We all gather around the stone table—three humans, two mutants, and a disembodied AI voice—to eat. We don’t dare to light a fire, afraid the smoke will be seen by the cultists lookouts, and only use solar lamps. The warm glow illuminates the faces of lovers and friends, and I marvel at all the choices and events that led us here. Two mutant brothers and their three wonderful partners. I bless the day we made it out of the labs.
At some point during dinner, Jude calls on the radio and Beet connects him to Helios’ wristband. He and Oliver are somewhere along the coast to the south, getting ready for the night. I’m surprised to find that I don’t mind hearing his voice.Maybe his apology really did help, and the last remnants of my resentment and rage truly fizzled into nothingness. In time, Griffin’s anger might cool down enough to let Oliver into our inner circle. There might come a day when we need his help. We aren’t the only mutants out there.
We talk and laugh, until at last exhaustion catches up to us and we bid the others good night. Griffin and Helios disappear inside theBeetle.
We take turns each taking a quick, hot shower and the condensation covers the windows of the camper. I only open the skylight for a moment to let in fresh air; it’s too cold outside.
It’s a tight fit for all three of us on the bed, but we’ve gotten used to it in the past week. As we traveled north, the late fall made itself known, and we could no longer sleep under the stars without risking hypothermia.
Stellan climbs on the bed, naked, and I can’t stop drinking him in as he leans against the wall, legs slightly open and abs flexing. The light above his head makes his short, blonde hair appear like a golden halo.
“What?” he asks. His cock is already hardening.
I chuckle. “You know what. You’re tempting me with your beautiful body.”
His lips twitch. He won’t admit it, but he loves to be praised.
Perri comes out of the shower behind us, wringing his long hair in a towel. “Gosh, that was good. I can feel my toes for the first time in hours.” He pauses when he notices both our hungry stares, now aimed at him, then laughs. “I thought you were tired.”
“We’re never too tired to fuck you.” I offer him a hand and pull him to bed.
He gets rid of the towel and crawls between Stellan’s legs to kiss him, offering me a premium view of his backside. I can’thelp but to bite his ass and he laughs. But when he tries to move, I get a hold of his hips.
“Stay right here,” I say before burying my face between his cheeks.
Perri’s groan is near feral as I lick his hole. There’s an aftertaste of soap on his skin, but not enough to disguise the aroma of arousal emanating from both of them. I make it my mission to drive Perri wild with my tongue, until the only reason why he’s still standing on his knees is because Stellan has a hold of him.
He’s reduced to a begging mess. “Holy shit… yes…. yes…. Fuck! Please… please…”
I give him one last suck before pulling away. Perri’s face is pressed against Stellan’s chest, his wet hair clinging to his skin. Stellan is watching me with feverish eyes. I grab his ankles and pull until he’s lying flat on his back with Perri on top of him. I want to fuck Perri like this. I want Stellan to stare at his face as I rail Perri within an inch of his life. All I want to smell and taste is their arousal in the air. To drive them out of their minds, just the way they drive me out of mine.
“Alastair…” Perri begs, mouth latching over Stellan’s nipple.
