Killian met Maddox’s gaze, and desperation surged over their connection. An intense need to find acceptance lingered in his eyes, and Maddox reached across the table for Killian’s hand. “Tell me. All of it,” he said quietly as he linked their fingers.
But in the next moment, Killian groaned, his free hand clawing at his chest. “The curse…it’s getting stronger,” he whispered as he loosed the top two buttons of his shirt. His brand, the one Maddox now recognized as his very own wings, was glowing red hot, and Killian wavered in his seat, finally collapsing back and panting through the pain.
“We need to get you somewhere you can rest,” Maddox said as he leapt up and then draped Killian’s arm over his shoulders. Now, the only thing he saw in Killian’s eyes was sorrow.
C H A P T E R NI NE
KILLIAN
H e should have kept his mouth shut. It had to have been the spell. It addled his mind. Made it hard to think. Or hell, maybe the curse. After all, he’d kissed an angel . More than once. And he’d wanted to do it again.
Until he’d admitted his darkest secret. Now, as Maddox helped him down the street, he doubted he’d ever have the chance to be this close to the angel again once they got where they were going. Maddox would leave, and Killian…he’d have to figure this curse shite out on his own.
“We should find a boarding house. Somewhere with only a few rooms,” Killian said as they wove their way through the few people out and about on the edges of the city. “They might not computerize records. And I need to make some calls.”
Maddox nodded and then handed Killian his phone, but didn’t otherwise speak. He looked shell-shocked, and Killian tried to hold on to the spark of connection they’d had ever since he’d rescued the angel outside the mansion, but the pain in his chest, his exhaustion, and the terrible look on Maddox’s face warned him that was folly.
Two blocks away, now acutely aware he wasn’t wearing any shoes, Killian spied a row house with a “Rooms for Rent Nightly” sign in the window. A place like this might not run his credit card right away. Not if he looked…normal. Which, of course, he didn’t. Fuck. He was going to have to use his magic.
“I need you to stand back,” he said as he pulled his arm away from Maddox’s strong shoulders and prayed his legs would hold him. “This could be dangerous. For both of us. But we can’t get rooms with me looking like a vagrant.”
Maddox stepped back, though uncertainty lingered in his brown eyes. Fuck, Killian wanted to reassure him, but he was too scared he’d knock down the entire building unintentionally. Ducking into an alley and turning away, he almost convinced himself it was better to face reality now. He and Maddox had no future together. They were simply two people in the right place at the right time to help one another. And that time would soon be over.
Trying desperately to center himself, Killian reached for his magic. It was always there, just under his skin, but now, without the dampening cuff, it felt wild. Untamable. And he feared it—more than he feared anything. Including his own death.
“From prying eyes, now do hide, all that frightens and derides. Those who look will only see exactly what I wish to be.”
The spell crackled over his skin, and the new brand under his shirt flared again, red hot, then cooled as the charm took hold. Behind him, Maddox gasped.
“It worked, then?” Killian asked as he turned back to the angel.
“You’re wearing a suit. Boots. The blood stains are gone. As is your stubble. You look…perfect.” The last word escaped almost on a sigh, and Killian longed to take the man in his arms and apologize for everything. But he couldn’t hold the charm for long, so instead, he pushed past Maddox and headed for the row house.
“Come on. I’ll get us a couple of rooms. We’re businessmen in town for a conference.” He kept his voice level, but inside, his heart wanted to crack into pieces.
Until Maddox threaded his arm through his. “No. One room. You can be the businessman. I’m just tagging along for a vacation with you.”
“Maddox—”
“Not here.” The angel opened the front door and gestured for Killian to enter. “The rest of this conversation requires privacy. And maybe alcohol.”
Killian shook his head as he climbed the three steps up into a small lobby. “You are a very bad angel.”
“You have no idea.”
A WHITE-HAIRED GENTLEMAN named Frank at the check-in desk took Killian’s credit card and ran it through an old-fashioned carbon-copy machine. “Just for incidentals, y’hear? Bill’s due when you check out.”
At least something was going right for him. Killian breathed a sigh of relief and leaned an elbow on the counter. “I don’t suppose there are any stores in the area that deliver? Some cock-up with the airline sent our baggage to New York City, and we won’t have it back for two days.”
Frank huffed. “Airlines don’t give a crap about service these days, do they? Paul’s Menswear will fix you up. You call them in the morning and tell them Frank sent you.” He looked them up and down. “Actually, here.” He slid a pad of paper and a pen across the counter. “Write down your sizes and what you need. You’ve probably been traveling all night and day, yeah? I’ll call them first thing in the morning.”
Killian offered the man a weary smile. “You’re a proper gentleman, Frank. Have them charge everything to the same card as the room.” After scribbling a short list for the both of them, he accepted the key from Frank and thanked the man.
Before he could say a word, Maddox snatched the key from his hand and threaded his arm through Killian’s. “Come on, love. The trip was brutal. We need to sleep.”
Killian’s cheeks heated, and he offered Frank a shrug as Maddox led him up the stairs and down the hall to their room. Their room.
As soon as Maddox flicked the lock behind them, Killian dropped the charm. His feet ached, and the brand across his chest was a constant dull burn. Stripping off his filthy socks and tossing them in the trash, he went directly into the bathroom. “I need a shower. Take the bed. Get some rest,” he said as he shut the door.
