Chapter Twenty-Two
Sage struck at Magnus when he drew closer, not that he was within touching distance, but it conveyed the message well enough for Magnus to sit on the edge of the bed as far from Sage as he could get.
“I grew up in a small coven just off the west coast. My father was a fisherman and my mother did the accounting for a physician who specialized in birthing babies. It sounds normal, I know, but my father was an asshole who kept a blood whore in our house. I think my mother just stopped caring after a while. Alcohol certainly helped her in that regard. I’ve heard shifters had a hard time getting drunk, but vampires don’t have that problem. My mother was proof.
“Anyway, she lost her job because of the drinking and went downhill from there. One day she just took off. I kept on my dad to go look for her and all he would say was that she was a drunk whore that could do whatever she wanted. About a week into her disappearance, I couldn’t take it anymore and went looking for her myself. I foundher at Stavros’ coven a few days later. I was only thirteen at the time and Stavros was so impressed with me that he offered me a job. I took it and have been working for him, off and on, ever since.
“I’ve done some very bad things for him and never really questioned it. I’ve killed his enemies, with a bullet through their heads. I’ve gathered information. But I have never kidnapped anyone. Lucas would have been my first. I never once beat anyone. I’ve defended myself, though. And I would never touch someone who didn’t want my touch.”
It was the personal story that made Sage shift. He sat with his legs up to his chest. “My mom took off too. She’s not a drunk or anything. And I was an adult. But I haven’t heard from her for a few months now. I’m getting worried.”
“Vampires don’t usually stay gone from their children for so long,” Magnus said.
“Most shifters don’t either. But snake shifters can be different, depending on what kind of snake you are. My kind can be gone for years sometimes.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Ladon’s kind doesn’t. Dragons stay close to their young for the rest of their lives, usually. That’s why they’re so protective of him. Plus, he’s the baby of the family so Ramsey especially can get pretty protective.” Sage stiffened when Magnus came closer. “Don’t touch me!”
“I’m not going to. I told you, I don’t touch anyone that doesn’t want my touch. I wouldn’t even touch my mate if he said no. Actually, he is saying no and I’m in here talking to you. That should tell you something.”
Sage thought about that for a second and realized that Magnuswas right.
“Yeah, but it’s not because he doesn’t want to. He just can’t right now. He’s really young. Eighteen years’ old is consenting for vampires, but not for shifters. The consenting age for shifters is any time after their first shift.” Sage shoved himself into the corner as far as he could go when Magnus sat on the floor beside him. He placed a blanket over Sage. Sage hadn’t even recognized it was cold in the cabin until something warm covered him.
“I’m good at finding people. I could look for your mom.”
Sage’s eyes widened. “I can’t pay you for that.”
“You wouldn’t have to. My mate cares about you very much. Plus, it would make it easier if I kept busy while I waited for him. My balls will fall off if I stay around here for very long. Smelling his scent is driving me crazy.” Magnus smirked at him.
Sage grinned. “I identify with the ‘crazy’ part of all that. I’m learning to embrace it.”
Magnus grew serious. “I’m sorry for scaring you. And I’m sorry for what Stavros’ rejects did to you. If I would have known, I would never have taken you.”
“I think I’m not that scared of you. Or I guess I’m as scared as I am of everyone else in this town.”
“As long as no one touches you.” Magnus smiled.
“Except for…him.” Sage stood, tossing the blanket off and ran across the room. He jumped on Garridan, wrapping his arms and legs around him and let himself cry.
“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. You’re okay now. I’ve got you.” Garridan started growling a second later.
“I’m just covering him. He was shivering earlier. Plus, I’m a vampire, not a shifter. All the nakedness isn’t something I’m used to,” he heard Magnus say and then he felt a blanket on his back. “I’m not touching you, Sage. I won’t touch you. I promise.”
Sage didn’t respond. Garridan was the one who spoke for him. “You’re just lucky I don’t rip your fucking head off.”
“He didn’t do what the other vampires did to me. He told me he wouldn’t, and I believe him,” Sage said against Garridan’s neck.
Garridan growled again. “Let’s just get one thing straight between us, vampire. My mate might forgive you, but I will not. You are still standing there breathing because of him. So say thank you and get out of my sight.”
“Hey, your mate was safe the entire time he was in my care. So you better return the favor.”
Sage felt Garridan’s body harden, as if he were getting ready to shift. “Ladon is my family. Mine. I take care of my own.”
Sage felt Garridan’s arms leave him and he immediately felt someone else’s hands on his sides. Someone who wasn’t Garridan. “No!” Sage clung to Garridan’s neck harder and dug his fingers into Garridan’s back. “Please. I don’t want this. I don’t want it!”
“Woah, Sage. It’s just me.” Ladon said.
