CHAPTER1
Were his eyes more silver?
Quentin tilted his head from side to side as he examined his image in the bathroom mirror.A ring of silver glowed around his pupils.
That was new.
“What the fuck?”he whispered.
“Are we indulging in my favorite pastime?”His lover’s whisky-warm voice rolled through him like the perfect summer’s day.Jaks’s handsome face reflected in the mirror as he wrapped his arms around Quentin from behind.
“What’s that?”As far as he knew, Jaks didn’t have any hobbies.
“Admiring your beauty?”He flashed a sharp-toothed smile at their image, distracting Quentin from his inspection and drawing his gaze to his lover.Damn sexy vampire.
“I think I’m changing,” he admitted, returning his attention to his eyes.His silver-ringed pupils glowed slightly in the dim lighting as if ignited by his inner magic.He didn’t know how else to phrase it, but he looked different.
He didn’t want to admit that lately he’d been feeling different, too.Stronger, more magical.His power came smoother than ever, but with a weight and density it had never held before.If he had more time and interest, he’d worry, but he was tired of life’s bullshit, and his day was already full.
“In what way?”Jaks propped his chin on Quentin’s shoulder, pulling him out of his thoughts and back into the conversation.“We look good together.”
Quentin laughed.“You’re so vain.”He reached back and lightly patted Jaks’s cheek.“Good thing you’re pretty.”He sighed when Jaks didn’t respond to his teasing.“See that silver in my eyes.”He pointed at the mirror.“That wasn’t there yesterday.”
Jaks dug his chin into Quentin’s shoulder in mild retaliation.He admired their reflection for a minute before speaking.“I see I was wrong.You can get prettier.”
An irritated shoulder jerk displaced his lover’s chin.“I’m not pretty.”He bulldozed on to put off any argument about his looks.Jaks’s belief that Quentin was the epitome of human beauty was frankly ridiculous,© and he wasn’t in the mood for that discussion again.“What do you think it means?”
Jaks spun him around to get a closer look.He brushed a kiss across Quentin’s cheekbones, one, then the other, distracting him from his concerns.It was several minutes later before they continued their conversation, and by that time, Quentin’s lips were puffy and his mind fuzzy.
“If you are truly concerned, you might want to ask your mother about it… or better yet, your father.It could have something to do with your fae heritage.”
“Why would it be showing up now?”he snapped, then winced.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to take my temper out on you.”
Jaks laughed.“You’re like a kitten taking on a cougar.”He kissed the tip of Quentin’s nose, then inhaled deeply.“You smell slightly different, too.”
“Do I?What do I smell like?”
“Spring flowers, honey, and magic,” Jaks replied without hesitation.His vampire senses had no doubt cataloged Quentin’s smell in seconds.
“What did I smell like before?”
“Lightning, but now it’s mixed in with other more nature-drenched scents.”
Quentin wrinkled his nose.“Sounds too sweet.”
“Let’s see if you taste as sugary as you smell.I wasn’t paying enough attention last night.”
Before he could comment on his lover’s lame excuse, his mouth was taken in a passionate kiss that was definitely more spicy than sweet.Heat curled in his stomach as he pressed closer, trying to merge with the vampire who was quickly becoming essential to his well-being.This he could get behind, or in front of, or in whatever position Jaks preferred.
Long minutes passed before they separated.It took Quentin three deep breaths before he could regain his voice.“What’s the verdict?”
“You taste the same.”Jaks leaned closer to speak directly in his ear.“Delicious.”
“Idiot,” Quentin scolded, trying to brush off the tingles running down his spine from Jaks’s hot breath.“I still want to know why this is happening now.I haven’t heard from Lars since he regained his human form and left with his brothers.Maybe mom has a way to get hold of him.”He scratched the back of his head.“If nothing else happens, I won’t bother.”
“You should try to contact him anyway.As much as he wasn’t there for your childhood, I suspect he would’ve shown up if you were injured or in danger.You can’t avoid him forever,” Jaks chided.
That was patently untrue.He could hide forever if he liked.
