Page 96 of In Your Light

Another first for Hadeom.

“No one has ever held me like this,” he admitted quietly.

Fyn gave him a squeeze and kissed his forehead this time.

Another first.

It made Hadeom feel warm and gooey, and he shivered all over.

“Are you cold?”

“No,” he replied. “I’m happy.”

“It was what I did to you last night, wasn’t it,” he said. Not a question, just a statement.

Hadeom laughed. “Maybe it was.” He was certainly feeling more limber than he had felt in a long time, but he put that down to finally morphing and flying and being free on the wind. And also unlocking the brutal guilt he’d been mired in for millennia. He hadn’t let it go completely yet, and he doubted he would ever be able to, but it was unlocked and open now, and it felt like a step forward.

He still had to face some consequences today. Talking to the Tenebrae consortium wasn’t high on his list of fun things, but he did have explaining to do.

More importantly, he had to face Salem. He had to answer for his actions.

And he would.

He would do this for Fyn. And also for himself, but mostly for Fyn.

Fyn wanted to live here. He wanted to be part of Tenebrae, and after meeting Fyn’s brother, Pax, Hadeom was hardly surprised.

“I need to speak to Salem today,” he murmured.

“He’ll be okay,” Fyn said. “Maybe not right away, but one day.”

Hadeom sighed. He wasn’t sure about that. He doubted Salem would ever forgive or even tolerate him.

But he had to try.

And for Fyn, he would. Hadeom had promised himself just moments ago that he would do whatever it took.

Fyn gave him a long squeeze and a soft kiss on his forehead. “Let’s get up and shower, and then we can find some breakfast.”

“Hm, shower together? Another first for me.”

Fyn hummed a contented sound. “And for me as well, but I fear the shower will be too small.”

“Mm-mm,” Hadeom said, kissing Fyn’s neck. “The smaller, the better. It means we’ll have to get very close.”

A moan rumbled low and deep in Fyn’s chest. He quickly rolled off the mattress and dragged Hadeom to the shower.

Both of them laughed into wet and soapy kisses until their laughter became groans of pleasure, and Hadeom swallowed every sound, and when he went to his knees to pleasure Fyn, he drank every drop.

As they walked into the café, a rare ray of sunshine broke through the clouds, and Fyn gave Hadeom a reassuring smile, even though he still felt like he was walking to his execution.

He needed to do this.

Everyone was there. Everyone from the consortium, anyhow. Hadeom knew their faces from their profiles and information he’d accumulated on the job.

When they entered, the quiet hum of conversation withered into silence.

Salem, Aurin, and four little humans were seated at the table at the back. Salem’s expression turned dark, and Hadeom could see Aurin’s neutral expression wasn’t without effort.