“I’m not ever going to be okay, Garridan.” Just saying those words aloud made them less true, as if there was something about verbalizing it that made things better. He might have taken two steps back today, but he was still standing there. Alive, with all of the same power he had before the incident happened. Hell, he thought maybe he had a bit more power back. “You said I needed to accept myself the way I am and this is me.”
Garridan didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to because Sage knew what he was thinking. “Dr. Tucker says that I need to try to be okay without you around. He says that it’s not healthy or fair to you. So, I’ll try it at work, sometime next week. I already know I won’t be ready before then, not after this.”
“Sorry,” Magnus whispered.
Sage met his gaze. “We’re friends now, right?”
Magnus smiled. “Right.”
Sage turned to Garridan again. “Will you do me a favor and just tell me when you’re leaving? It throws me off when you just vanish and then I start panicking so much I can’t even remember that we’re permanently connected through our bond. We both have issues. You get all menacing and bite when you get stressed and I have panic attacks. Different reaction, but still the same. Do you see what I’m saying?”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“Good. Then I just need that one little thing from you.”
“I can do that.” Garridan smiled and Sage started across the room.
“Wow, you’re like a miracle worker,” Magnus said.
Sage turned in Garridan’s arms and smiled at Magnus. “He’s a big softy.”
Magnus took a step closer to Ladon but stopped when Garridan growled. “Maybe not.”
Ladon took a step toward Magnus instead. “Do I really need to shift?” Magnus’s eyes changed and his teeth dropped down as he looked at Ladon. “You have really nice lips. I really want to kiss you right now.”
Garridan was just getting ready to say something when Sage laid a finger over his lips.
Magnus smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He cupped Ladon’s cheek. “You’re so young. I see that now. Even if you had shifted already, I don’t think you’re ready for a mate.”
“Jeez, fuck you very much.” Ladon took a step away from Magnus.
“You know it’s true.”
“You’re just going to leave. I can tell you are. Everyone fucking leaves eventually. Why should you be different?”
“Ladon, I risked my life trying to get you away from your family. Do you really think I’m going to stay away forever?” Magnus took a step closer. He pressed his lips to Ladon’s, holding them there for long seconds.
“Wow! Yeah, who needs to shift into a dragon? Not me. Let’s do that again.” He gripped Magnus’ nape and kissed him.
“Okay, now you can say something,” Sage said and let Garridan go long enough for him to reach out a hand and grab the back of Ladon’s coat, pulling him away.
Magnus came with him falling forward into Ladon. He would have fallen, but Ladon wrapped an arm around his waist, steadying him. Ladon smiled and leaned in to kiss Magnus again.
“Nope.” Bennett pulled Magnus back.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sage felt the cold night air on his face. He snuggled into Garridan, trying for more warmth. “I never gave you a Christmas gift.” Garridan kissed Sage.
Sage smiled. “That was two months ago. Plus, you made me the bookshelf. Which I love, by the way.”
“Well, I think for Valentine’s Day I’m going to give you something special.” Garridan rubbed his cheek against Sage.
“Oh, I want you—”
“If you talk about Garridan’s dick in front of the entire family it will get weird,” Vaughan said from the other side of the deck. “Why the fuck are we out here freezing our ass off on the back porch again?”
“Because this is where Ramsey says he gets the best reception on his phone and Gabriel is going to call us. Now shut up, dear,” Mother Estelle said.
