Evans, Gabrielle - Reckoning [Fatefully Yours 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) (5 page)

“No,” Hex said immediately.

“I can drive one vehicle,” Gage announced.

“I’m mostly healed,” Craze added. “I can drive the other. We’ll get you guys home.”

Letting out the breath he’d been holding, Echo nodded his appreciation. “Let’s go.”

“He saves our lives, and now he thinks he owns us,” Myst mumbled under his breath, but the corners of his lips twitched.

Echo sauntered over and gripped a handful of Myst’s firm ass. “I do own you.” He gave the muscled globe a good squeeze. “Your ass is mine, babe. Don’t forget it.”

“Yes, sir,” Myst purred.

“Oh, now I
know
you’re feeling better.” He pushed up on his toes and kissed the underside of Myst’s jaw. “Take me home.”

Chapter Four

The ride home was uneventful considering that they’d nearly lost their lives. Syx had so many ideas running through his brain, he wasn’t sure how he’d hold them all in until Echo felt ready to discuss what had happened. He was both anxious and wary, but also excited because he felt sure a new piece of the puzzle had just fallen into place.

Sitting in the backseat with Echo and Vapre, Syx felt good despite the fact that he’d been bleeding from practically every facial orifice. The pain had been excruciating, like someone driving nails into his skull. He’d felt sure he would die in that alley among the broken beer bottles and discarded trash.

Once again, Echo had saved all their asses. Syx couldn’t have been prouder than if his firstborn had started playing Mozart at the age of two.

Though the temptation was there, he refrained from dipping into his lovers’ minds and rummaging through their thoughts. They all needed a little break and time to regroup before they began talking about what had unfolded back at Silver City. If he caught even a glimpse of their thoughts, he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his mouth closed.

“I love you,” Echo whispered, stretching out in the seat between him and Vapre. His tiny feet rested in Vapre’s lap, while his blond head nestled on Syx’s thigh. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”

Syx chuckled under his breath. That was his Echo. The man rarely made a big deal about any of the hardships they faced. “I love you, too, sweetheart. I’m very glad we didn’t die, either. Thank you.”

Echo flopped his hand around and yawned. “It was nothing. I hope he’s dead.”

This startled Syx. Echo didn’t have a violent bone in his body. Each time he’d been forced to take a life to protect himself or someone else, the guilt had eaten away at him. What were they changing their sweet little mate into? Echo hadn’t even spared a glance for the fallen werecats—something that would have normally had the man in tears or close to it.

“Do you mean that?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“Yes.” Echo rolled over and cuddled closer to him. “I’m sorry if that makes me sound cold and heartless.”

Syx glanced over to see the same startled look on Vapre’s face that must have shown on his. Hadn’t Echo begged them not to kill the weres at the hotel? And now he practically relished in their demise. Though Syx had no reservations over the fact that Echo’s ex-lover and his henchmen deserved exactly what had been delivered to them, he didn’t like that Echo felt the same. His sweet, innocent mate was their light and refuge. They couldn’t allow him to become what they were.

With a silent sigh, he looked straight ahead and caught Gage’s gaze in the rearview mirror. The man’s eyebrows drew together, and he shook his head slightly. Then he reached up and pushed his hand through his hair, subtly tapping his temple. Syx caught on immediately, dropped his shields, and reached out to Gage’s mind.

“I can see what you’re thinking, and stop it. Echo did what he needed to do to save us all. Worrying over his motives isn’t going to help anyone.”

Syx frowned and shook his head slowly. He pushed his thoughts back at Gage. Slipping into people’s minds to extract thoughts was intrusive enough, so he rarely used the reverse of his power. Besides, it was much more difficult, and the other person had to be receptive.

“It’s not his motives that concern me. It’s that he doesn’t seem to feel any remorse. He’s never been this way before, and it worries me that we’re changing him.”

“War changes people,”
Gage answered immediately.
“He protected his mates. He’s riding the high of everyone being safe. Wait until tomorrow before you start jumping to conclusions.”

Syx met the werewolf’s eyes again and nodded. Perhaps the man was right. Though he didn’t want Echo marred with the emotional scars of battle, he also couldn’t stomach the idea of his mate becoming a hardened killer like the rest of them. It wasn’t as though killing was a recreational sport, or even that they enjoyed it. Once it was over, they never thought about it again, though. It was just a part of life.

A part of life that Syx hoped never touched the sleeping man in his lap.

* * * *

Echo’s head bounced on Syx’s thigh, waking him from his nap. The SUV bumped along, rocking slightly from side to side, and Echo grinned broadly. They were home. He was so happy to be back. Would it be too weird to lock them all inside and never leave again?
Probably.

Rolling to his back, he peered up at Syx. The concern in his lover’s eyes had him mirroring the drawn eyebrows and slight frown. Reaching up, he skimmed his fingertips down the side of Syx’s cheek. “What’s wrong?”

Syx looked at him for a long time, but eventually sighed and shook his head. “Nothing, baby. We’re home.”

Echo didn’t believe the demon for a second, but he was too tired to argue. Besides, he’d learned early on in their relationship that the quickest way to make Syx shut down was to push him. The man would talk when he was ready, and not a moment before. It was something Echo admired. Very rarely did Syx speak without fully thinking through his words first. How many arguments and misunderstandings could be avoided if more of them were like that?

Sitting up, he stretched his arms over his head and groaned. He wondered if Hex could heal him now or if he’d need to wait until morning. The alpha sat in the passenger seat beside Gage, and he looked completely wiped out. Yeah, maybe Echo would just wait until the morning. He felt sore and achy, and his face throbbed where he’d been punched, but it wasn’t anything life threatening.

Hex needed rest and time for his own body to heal before he began worrying about the rest of them. “I need a shower, food, a bed, and lots of cuddles—in that order.”

“Nice to see where we rank on your priority list,” Vapre teased.

“The way I’m feeling, you’re lucky you made the list at all.” Echo shrugged, lifting his hand to his mouth to stifle another yawn. It wasn’t that he didn’t want his men with him, but he imagined he’d be asleep within seconds of his head hitting the pillow. As exhausted as he felt, he probably wouldn’t even know they were there.

Luckily, he didn’t have to explain any of it. Vapre chuckled and wrapped his fingers around the back of Echo’s neck, pulling him closer and kissing his temple. “I love you, goofball.”

Echo gave Vapre a crooked grin and stuck his tongue out. “Love you, too.” With seven men to please and cherish, Echo felt like he said the words a hundred times a day. It still wasn’t enough.

Once the vehicle pulled to a stop, Syx opened his door and slid out of his seat. He stretched and groaned, much as Echo had, then turned to offer his help. Echo bit his lip. He didn’t want to appear weak and unmanly, but his legs felt like rubber. Besides, he just really needed to be held.

He didn’t know if Syx picked the information from his brain, or if he was just that easy to read, but the warrior stepped closer and held his arms out, waiting for Echo to move into them. Then he wrapped Echo up securely and held him close to his chest. “Is this what you were after?”

Too happy to feel embarrassed, Echo nuzzled against the side of Syx’s throat and sighed. “Yes.” He knew his mates loved carrying him around and holding him, but that was different. He’d never actually asked for it.

“I hurt everywhere. I can only imagine how sore you are. Do you need help in the shower, or would you just like to soak in the tub?”

Echo knew Syx was trying to help him save face, but the man deserved nothing but completely honesty. “I am a bit sore, but I’ll be fine to shower. I just wanted you to hold me.”

Syx kissed Echo on the forehead before rubbing his cheek against the top of Echo’s head. “You never have to ask to be held.”

“I lied.”

“Oh?” Syx walked up the steps and in through the open front door. “What did you lie about, baby?”

“I don’t like hurting people, even the ones who deserve it. I don’t really hope One-seventeen is dead. I do want him to pay for what he did, though.”

To his bewilderment, Syx beamed at him. “I’m glad to hear you say that.” The smiled slipped from his face, and an intimidating snarl fell from his lips. “If he isn’t dead, he’ll wish he was. Make no mistake, Echo. He will pay, but not by your hands. I don’t want…”

Echo waited, but when it appeared Syx wouldn’t finish, he prodded for a little more. “What don’t you want?”

“I…I don’t want the world to taint you. You are everything that is good in our life. I don’t want anything to take that away.”

Remaining silent, Echo thought over the words. He didn’t think it was realistic for him to remain the same person after all they’d been through in the past months. It warmed him that his lovers wanted to protect him from the world, but that also wasn’t realistic. Still, he felt like the same person essentially. He was a little less naïve, a little more accepting that death was a part of battle. It was either adapt or lose his mind, though. Adapting seemed the better choice.

“Oh, gods!” A loud, anguished cry cut into his inner ramblings, and Echo whipped his head around just in time to see Jinx and Syn launch themselves into Craze’s arms. “Oh, baby, baby, baby,” Syn crooned, touching Craze everywhere he could reach. “What happened to you?”

Though the Addonexus had been able to heal himself, there was still dried blood smeared across his handsome face. Considering Echo’s reaction when he’d first witnessed the awful sight, he could only imagine how terrified he’d be if he was seeing it secondhand without any knowledge of what had happened.

“Shh, love.” Craze dropped to the sofa and crushed his lovers to him. “I’m fine. I just need a shower and some rest, and I’ll be good as new.”

Jinx jumped up and grabbed Craze’s hand. “Let’s get you cleaned up and off to bed then. We’ll take care of you.”

“Let me see if I can help the guys out first. Go get the shower started. I’ll be right up.” Craze kissed Jinx’s hand and patted Syn on the hip. When they looked at him skeptically, he smiled and dipped his head. “I promise, guys. Go on.”

The vampires seemed reluctant to leave their mate, but eventually nodded their agreement and shuffled up the stairs.

Craze pushed up from the sofa with a grunt and went to stand in front of Gage. Mac and Sony clung to the big werewolf, and Mac actually had tears in his chocolate brown eyes. “Are you hurt?” Craze asked.

Gage shook his head. “Just tired. I’m fine, but thank you. I’m just going to take my mates to bed.”

Sony backed away toward the stairs, tugging Gage with him. “Come on, my big, bad protector. Let us love you.”

The trio disappeared up the staircase, and Craze started making his rounds. Each time he touched a warrior, the demon would immediately begin to regain some color. Echo had completely forgotten that not only could Craze heal himself, but others as well.

When Craze finally made it to him and Syx, Echo looked up and smiled as the man worked on Syx. “You didn’t have to do this. Thank you.”

Craze removed his hand from the side of Syx’s head and returned Echo’s smile. “I don’t mind.”

Echo could see it was taking a toll on the big man, though. Now Craze was the one who looked pale and exhausted. His hand reached out, but Echo caught Craze’s wrist and shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, and I swear it has nothing to do with me not liking you. I actually respect the hell out of you and think you’re a pretty great guy once you let your guard down. You’re tired and hurting, though. I’m only a little sore. Go let your mates take care of you.”

Craze looked torn. It was obvious he wanted to be with his mates, but he also wanted to heal Echo. “It will only take a minute.”

“And then you’ll probably drop like a sack of potatoes. I can tell it’s draining you, Craze. I’m fine.”

Eventually, Craze stepped away and nodded. “You know where to find me if you change your mind.” He turned without another word and hurried off to find Jinx and Syn.

“Are you really okay?”

Echo shifted his gaze to the other side of the room. He hadn’t even noticed Pax and Jet huddled against the wall. They stood on either side of a big, burly man who looked more suited to leathers and Harleys than the Wranglers and cowboy boots he was currently sporting.

“I’m fine.”

Syx began to sway a little, and Echo felt like the world’s biggest asshole. Here he was complaining about a few aches and pains, making his lover carry him, and Syx had been through something exceedingly worse. The man had almost died, for fuck’s sake.