Page 53 of Only You, No One Else

The remnants of a rage Mark was uncertain he would ever work through followed him as the roar in his mind led him away from Caster, away from everyone. He wanted to get out of this house, go home, but he didn’t have a home to go back to. Why was Bastian here? Where had Caster been?

The questions swirled in his mind, his wolf stalking the space it occupied in his mind with rhythmic snarls. The desire to kill Bastian had been so strong he couldn’t see straight. His scent had been unmistakable; the memories it conjured too painful to contend with.

He walked past a disheveled Kyle and frowned at the state he was in. What had happened to them? Caster was a few paces behind him and even as angry as he was, Mark couldn’t escape the calm his presence brought.

Caster said something to Kyle, words that couldn’t reach past the roar in his ears, and Mark jumped at the sound of the door closing. His vision cleared enough for him to take in their room, Caster’s room.

Caster reached for him. “Baby…”

Mark took a step back, and Caster’s extended hand hovered between them before dropping to his side with a defeated sigh. A small part of him hated the hurt crossing Caster’s expression, but he couldn’t help the betrayal he felt.

“I’m sorry.” Caster sighed, but stayed on his side of the room. “Look at me!”

It was not a command, and Mark almost resisted, but the request was so devoid of the energy he’d come to associate with Caster, he couldn’t find the strength to deny him. The rational part of him felt betrayed, needed an explanation, but he wanted nothing more than to comfort Caster. The mixture of strange emotions confused him, so he did nothing, choosing his own protection.

Caster sighed again. “I know. Sometimes I don’t know how to feel either.” He took a step closer, and it took everything in Mark to hold his ground. “The only thing I am sure of is that I love you beyond measure.” He took a breath, closed his eyes, and rubbed at his temple.

“Why?” The single word was all he could muster.

But Caster understood him better than he understood himself. He opened his eyes and nodded, making no attempt to reach for Mark again. “Bastian asked to meet with Damien.” He shook his head, his regret palpable. “I couldn’t let him go to that meeting alone.”

That rational part of him reared its logic again, and the tempest that was Mark’s anger died down to a shallow gust. He could understand Caster’s need to be there for Damien. He would do the same for his family. But… “Why would you bring him here?”

This time when Caster took a step towards him, Mark couldn’t hold his ground. He hated himself a little when that hurt expression crossed Caster’s face again. “I didn’t.” He shook his head, halting the explosion of anger Mark had been readying to deliver. “The witch attacked us before he could tell us why he’d called for the meeting.” He stepped even closer, the look in his eyes daring Mark to step away from him again.

That look held him in place, his mind reverting to the moment before he’d caught Bastian’s scent. It was his turn to reach for Caster. “Are you OK?”

“Yes, baby. I’m fine.” His touch on Mark’s arm was a tentative caress as if testing the waters. “I would never betray you like that.” His voice was a whisper, the distance between them disappearing. “In the chaos, Riley must have pulled Bastian here with us.”

Mark’s anger was consumed by his need to comfort Caster. The pain indicated by the way he winced every time Mark touched him was a concern.

Caster pulled him closer. “Her power was too much this time. But I am healing.”

Mark leaned his forehead on Caster’s, and his still present desire to tear Bastian to shreds took a backseat to his relief.

“But we can’t keep putting this off. I need you to understand that I am not denying you your vengeance.” Caster’s caress travelled from his forearm to the back of his head, tightening a fraction, drawing them even closer. “If you want to kill Bastian, I will not stand in your way.”

Mark wasn’t sure how he felt about that anymore. He doubted he would ever contain the rage Caster’s cousin inspired in him, but did he have a right to want him dead? He’d thought killing Bastian would avenge Zeke, but was vengeance a clear goal when he’d never known Zeke, when Zeke had been a party to that betrayal?

Caster tightened his hold, pulling him even closer. “We will do whatever you want.” His latest sigh settled between them, further diluting Mark’s rage. “But right now, he may have information we need.”

Mark couldn’t help the involuntary tension in his muscles. He wasn’t sure how to feel about Bastian, but he couldn’t trust him.

“No. No. I’m not asking you to trust him. I don’t.” His touch turned lighter, drawing a sigh from Mark as his wolf responded to Caster by calming. “He will remain a prisoner here until we have extracted all the information he has. Then, you will decide what we do with him.”

Mark tried to find the words, but his mind was overloaded with the never-ending complication that his life had become.

Caster took his hand. “Don’t think. Just let me feel you.”

Mark had little resistance to offer as Caster led him to their bed, drawing him into his arms. It didn’t take too long for all the tension of the day to drain away.

Caster kissed his temple, and he relaxed further. Your mind is unprotected.

He gasped, the comfort of Caster's embrace lost in the threat of punishment looming over him.

Yes, I noticed, and there will be consequences.

CHAPTER 34