Seconds later, Dima is nothing more than fragments of bone. The flames sway, pushing against Simon’s control, hungry for more.
Cody’s broad head nudges Simon’s hip. The support knocks him back to clarity, and he calls his magic back.
The foyer darkens, leaving only scorched marble and mangledremains.
Simon sinks to his knees. No longer nauseous, just cold. He reaches without thinking, and Cody’s already pushing into his embrace. Still in wolf form, as comforting as ever. Simon flings his arms around Cody’s neck and buries himself in the ruff. A million painful thoughts coalesce into a single truth.
“I love you,” Simon murmurs, muffled by the deep fur.
A sound trembles through him. Another, thin and fragile, until he inhales. Then laughter forces from his lips. Clutching Cody, Simon shakes with the absurd wheezing. He’s safe. Cody’s safe. Whatever happens next, they can handle it, because they’re together.
He laughs until he has no breath left, then breaks into a sob.
Chapter 32
Cody
Safety and comfort gradually pull Cody from sleep. He wakes human and naked, curled up on stone—except his cheek, which is pillowed on denim. Slim fingers stroke through his hair. Cody inhales, savoring Simon’s scent and touch.
Then he remembers everything.
Simon’s fingers fall away as Cody forces himself to sit. He aches, reflexes slow and mind groggy. The surrounding stone chamber is creepy. Prison-like. But everything smells reassuringly of Simon—who sits with his back to a coffin and pedestal.
Cody drinks in the sight of him. No apparent injuries. Simon has changed into a tank top, and his feet are bare, but he’s wearing the same jeans as earlier. So, Cody’s been asleep for a while, but not too long.
Simon’s face holds the calm that waits beyond panic’s far border. He leans forward slowly, as if Cody’s a skittish animal, and traces a cool line from temple to jaw. “Are you all right?”
Cody shudders through the rush of memories. The first whiff of poison. His teeth mere inches from Simon’s throat. Recognition. Control. The taste of blood, and the violence of flame.
And afterwards, quiet words Cody hardly dares believe.
“Areyouall right?” Cody counters, his voice rough.
“I think I am, thanks to you.” Simon’s smile is weak. “Dima is… well, the threat on my life is gone.”
Shit. Cody tries pulling himself together. He has responsibilities to Simon and his job. “I need to call this in.”
Simon grabs his wrist before he can stand. “I called Tobias already and told him what happened. He remembered the enthrallment as soon as Dima died. I called the treaty council, too. A representative will be here tomorrow night to begin the inquiry.”
Cody’s gut wrenches. He still needs to call Tobias—as a friend, not an employee. But Tobias has Aditi and the rest of his family right now. Cody is needed here. He flips their grip, so he’s holding Simon’s hand. He wants to stroke away his lover’s miserable expression. “How do you think that will go? We can still abscond to a remote location to keep you out of trouble.”
Another weak smile brightens Simon’s gloom. “Tobias can corroborate that Dima enthralled him. That and Kimiko’s testimony about Lawrence should keep us out of hot water.”
“Good.” Cody feels insufficient. Words alone aren’t enough, but he has to try. “Simon, I know Dima meant a lot to you. Are you really okay?”
Simon looks away, frozen. Then he softens. “I will be. I need time, and I have plenty of it. Tonight, I just want to think about us both being here.”
Cody’s heart flips. “I can work with that.”
“There’s one thing I don’t understand,” Simon says. “What happened when you shifted?”
The memory grates painfully. “That was some sort of poison. Dima blocked his scent, so I wouldn’t go after him. Simon, I’m so sorry, I couldn’t—”
“Obviously.” Simon rolls his eyes. The brattiness is reassuring. “He was trying to force a treaty crisis. Werewolf bodyguard kills vampire. The story writes itself.”
Guilt shudders through Cody. It was too close a call. “You have it all worked out. What don’t you understand?”
“Why didn’t it work?” Simon asks. “That wasn’t a normal shift. You were out of your mind. Why didn’t you kill me?”
