“Watching me sleep?” Jono murmured.
“Favorite pastime.”
“Thought that was getting into trouble?”
Patrick rolled his eyes before leaning over to kiss him softly on the mouth. Jono raised a hand to splay it over the back of Patrick’s head, keeping him there. When they broke the kiss, Jono brushed his lips over the edge of Patrick’s jaw.
“I love you,” he said softly.
Patrick hummed quietly, pressing his forehead to Jono’s and exhaling slowly. He didn’t say anything, but the quiet metronome of his heartbeat and the way his scent spiked was an answer in and of itself. Jono knew that Patrick would keep his promise and always come back to him.
“We need to get ready,” Patrick finally said.
Jono sighed and watched as Patrick rolled away from him, fighting against the urge to keep him there in bed. “Right. Challenge and all that bloody nonsense.”
“It’s your own fault for announcing it on the damn news.”
Jono wasn’t going to deny that, but neither did he regret it. Sometimes you had to get your hands dirty, whether with blood or with politics.
Not that there was much of a difference between the two these days.
23
Patrick had exchangedhis dirty and torn suit for clothes that didn’t smell like a soultaker had rolled in them. His jeans and T-shirt were definitely more comfortable, even with his leather jacket thrown over them. He’d upped the cooling charms on the jacket to stay as comfortable as he could. Despite the heat and humidity outside, he wanted the extra bit of protection the jacket gave him with its embedded wards.
Jono, however, was in a suit, and Patrick was staring at the other man so hard as they walked to their car that he almost tripped on the sidewalk.
“Eyes ahead, not on my arse,” Jono said with a chuckle.
“Your ass is better to look at.”
“Focus, love. We need to convince the mayor we’re the better option.”
“In that case, we should’ve taken Sage with us.”
She was long gone by then. Wade had left with her to meet with Marek and their wedding planner to deal with the florist. The pair had stayed through his and Jono’s nap before leaving, and now it was closing in on 1800 on Friday evening. The mayor had his press conference scheduled for the top of the next hour, and they were meeting with him thirty minutes before it started. So long as they weren’t ambushed in the streets, they’d be on time.
If theywereambushed again, he was going to be really fucking pissed.
Nothing was amiss with the Mustang, and Patrick got behind the wheel. Once Jono was buckled up, he started the engine and pulled into the street, heading downtown for City Hall. Patrick knew the way without GPS, though they had to fight through some lingering rush-hour traffic to get there. Friday night always had more cars on the street, especially during the summer.
Street parking was restricted due to security concerns. As Patrick circled the block to get to the underground parking entrance, he noticed the small City Hall Park that was usually in full bloom with flowers and greenery this time of the year looked as if winter had come early.
“That’s different,” Jono murmured as they drove past.
“It’s like all the other parks in the city.”
The trees were bare of leaves, the grass was brown, and the dirt beneath bushes was littered with dried leaves. The lingering feel of magic that Patrick had sensed in Prospect Park the other week was present here as well.
“What do you think Cernunnos is doing with all this magic?” Jono asked.
Patrick chewed on his bottom lip, stomach twisting in the way it always did when he thought about Hannah. “I think whatever was done to her in Chicago needs shoring up. Why else would Ethan require the aid of a second fertility god?”
Jono settled his hand on Patrick’s thigh, drawing him away from the thoughts swirling through his mind. “It’s not your fault.”
Patrick pressed his lips together, saying nothing. Jono kept his hand where it was until they’d cleared security at the underground parking garage and Patrick had found a spot, turning off the engine. Then Jono reached up to curl his fingers around Patrick’s chin, turning his head around. Patrick let himself be led, because it was Jono guiding him, and he’d never fight the other man.
Jono kissed him on the mouth, warmth seeping through his touch. “You’re not alone in this. I want you to remember that.”
