We’re far from the sea now.
Night is falling over the quiet lake, and the pine trees are white with snow. It’s the kind of view I never expected to see in person. My breath is fogging in the air, and the chill is already seeping into my clothes as I jump out of the truck.
Perri and I go through the camper and find the tarp and a small shovel. I pull the tarp between the trees to create a sheltered area over the back of the truck as Perri shovels the snow, revealing the still–green grass underneath. Vex is eager to help, so we send her with a hatchet to gather wood in the surrounding forest.
TheBeetlemakes an appearance just as we finish digging a pit for a fire.
Helios jumps out as soon as the hatch is open, feet sinking in the fresh snow, and he comes running. “Are you guys okay?” He’s wearing a dark green puffer jacket and a purple scarf.
Griffin, as usual, is right on his heels. To my dismay, he’s only wearing a black tank top, revealing the red scales along his shoulders. His skin is smoking in the cold. How strange. His black horns don’t give me pause anymore, not when the man I love is one-third made of writhing tentacles as we speak.
Perri hugs Helios. “Yes. But man, it was crazy. We were doing pretty well until one of your mutant brothers,” he looks at Griffin, “rose from the dead and cut Alastair in two.”
Helios’ eyes widen. “Damn, what—”
“He’s okay. Regrowing his arm as we speak.”
“Huh—”
“But then we fought Marcus off, and Alastair rose from the dead, too. And he kicked his ass.”
“Wait,” Helios says. “Slow down and start from the beginning.”
Griffin looks at me, a question in his eyes, and I gesture towards the truck. He nods and quickly makes his way to check on Alastair. He opens the driver’s door and they exchange a few words. Seconds later, Griffin walks to theBeetlehurriedly. Perri is recounting our adventure excitedly to Helios and Beet when he reappears, arms loaded with a tray of food.
“He needs energy,” he tells me when I follow him to the truck. “I brought food that is easy to consume.”
Alastair opens his eyes lazily when Griffin drops the food on the seat by his side.
“I’ll help him eat,” I say. “Thank you.”
Griffin nods. “I’ll finish setting up camp.”
“Thank you,” I repeat, my throat tight.
I don’t know how we can ever repay them for their help. They didn’t know us, but they saved Perri and helped us rescue Vex. They fed us, clothed us, and fought for us. The Devil of the Wastes truly lives up to his legend.
I get in the truck and close the door as soon as Griffin has walked away. I survey the food and cut a thin slice of bread. “Strawberry jam or peanut butter?”
That’s when I notice the purple octopus Perri gave Alastair is on his lap. He must have grabbed it from the dashboard at some point. He’s cradling it in his good hand.
Alastair smiles faintly. “Both? I’m too tired to taste anything… but I reckon doubling on the calories can’t hurt…”
“Both it is.” I begin to spread the jam generously on the bread. It’s bright pink and sweet. I wonder what they use to sweeten it.
I handfeed it to Alastair after adding a spoon of peanut butter, and he chews slowly. It takes him a while to finish the first slice, and he sighs tiredly. “Sorry you have to do that.”
“I’m not sorry,” I say, holding his gaze. “I would do anything for you.”
His eyes widen slightly, as shocked as I am by my frankness. But I said what I said. I’m not resisting this—what’s between us—anymore.
I hold his gaze, daring him to say something—anything. I can take it, good or bad. But Alastair just reaches for me with his good hand and touches my face. He trails his thumb over my lips. I follow his gentle tugging and lean in to kiss him.
“Good,” he whispers against my mouth. “Because I would kill and die for you, Stellan.”
Joy zaps through my body. This is how men like us say I love you.
I smile. “Pretty sure you already did both.”
