The change of subject made Axel frown, a migraine beginning to ache. “Sam?”
“So you won’t mind if I have a go with the cat then?”
Axel almost burst from his skin, his fist snapping out to knock Lucy’s jaw with a sharp crack. The ferocity of his attack surprised him, especially considering Lucy didn’t retaliate.
Anger lit the Daemon’s eyes, his hand coming up to rub the already bruising mark. “I’m convinced you’re all fucking idiots.”
“Stay away from Sam,” Axel said, his voice deadly calm despite the burst of violence.
“Do you think that was a normal reaction? I'm not interested in the leopard, you prick. But clearly you are.” Lucy dropped his hand, his face uncharacteristically devoid of humour.
“I’m… It’s not what…” Axel’s voice drifted off.
“Sam was one of my first friends up here in the light, and last night he was attacked at the concert.”
“Attacked?” Blood turned to ice in his veins.
A smirk slashed Lucy’s face. “Sam asked me not to tell anyone, but I’m an arsehole so.” A shrug, a knowing glint in his eye. “You better go check on him.”
Chapter18
Sam
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Why the fuck was someone knocking on his door like a bad-tempered child so early in the morning?
Sam groaned as he rolled out of bed, blinking at the light that seeped through the curtains.Okay, so it wasn’t morning,he thought with a frown. Waiting for his legs to stop shaking, he passed the mirror, quickly turning to check he had all his appendages in the right place. The bruises had already lightened to yellow, the ache from them just a memory as his body readjusted to standing on two legs rather than four.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“I’m coming,” he grumbled, sucking in a pained breath as he descended the stairs. He’d lost count how many times he’d shifted, healing any wounds that would have otherwise required medical attention. He’d taken a few dangerous hits to his head, but bar the headache he, was confident there wasn’t any permanent damage. Probably.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“I said I’m…” Axel stood on the doorstep, the sinking sun creating an angelic halo around him. “Coming.”
“I can see that.” Axel raised a brow, eyes taking their time to slowly trace down his body. His eyes darkened at each bruise and cut, but he seemed to hesitate when he got lower.
It was then that Sam remembered he was naked. “Looks like Lucifer has a big mouth,” he muttered, leaning against the edge of the door to better steady himself. “Remind me to buy him coal for next Winter Solstice.” He didn’t bother to hide himself, not because Axel had already seen it, but because he was a shifter, and nakedness just wasn’t something that bothered them. Bodies were beautiful, every size, shade, wrinkle, mark, and scar. And Sam’s was covered in scars.
“I’ll help you pick out the biggest one,” Axel said before his attention flicked behind him, his entire body stiffening.
Ah, shit.Sam let out an exhale, turning back inside. The paint was still smeared across his wall, the words barely readable.
“What happened?” Ice cooled Axel’s voice.
“My father,” he replied with a humourless laugh. “He wanted me to join his pack. I said no, so they decided to hit me with several blunt objects.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Aye, I’m sorry, when did you expect me to do that? When I caught you trying to hurt yourself, or when you were busy fucking me?” Sam flinched at his own bitterness. “Why are you even here?” He turned, faced with a beautiful man with an expression carved from stone.
“Because, I’m not going to keep pretending like you don’t matter to me.” Axel stepped closer, a wall of masculine heat. “Because I can’t get you out of my head, and the sheer fear I felt when I found out someone had hurt...” He cleared his throat. “I’ve lost everything. I can’t lose you too.”
Sam licked at his lips, and Axel’s attention dropped to the movement. “This is just sex.” He waited for Axel to close the distance, tension strung taut between them.
“Is it?”
