Page 6 of Unwanted
“No.”
Their heads whipped toward the door. Kyrie leaned against the frame and watched. He didn’t sound angry as he had before, but neither did he look pleased.
Frost looked crestfallen again. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to find out how I can help you. This falls under patient-doctor confidentiality. I swear I’m just working on your case.”
Kyrie’s bright yellow eyes flickered Gemini’s way before returning to Frost. “I suppose your mate would know everything you know, no matter what. As is his right. So I can’t really be mad about him helping, which is also his place. I came back to apologize for how I reacted earlier.”
“No. You had every right to be angry,” Frost said, cutting him off. “I was fully in the wrong.”
Kyrie drew a deep breath, looking exactly like he fought a battle with himself. He released the air in an audible sigh. “Your job here in Wulfe is to keep us healthy. I’m sure you feel like you can’t help if you don’t know someone’s history. I’m trying to keep you safe here. Sometimes not knowing is the best protection.”
Gemini got it. He knew Frost did too. It was there in his mind. There was something bigger happening. It had been buildingsince Frost got to town. Whatever secret Kyrie held in his blood could bring terror to their town, and goddess knew what to Kyrie. Unfortunately, considering Frost’s blood looked similar, what did that mean for him? Nothing good, he feared.
Frost spoke on their behalf. “I’ll destroy all the samples.”
A sweet smile touched Kyrie’s lips. He looked so young and tired. Gemini’s heart went out to him. He didn’t know what burden Kyrie carried, but Gemini wasn’t blind to how Kyrie had been made an outcast in this town, even by his pack.
Kyrie straightened from the door frame. He wobbled a little, as if every ounce of energy suddenly slipped from him. “I think I need to—” He hit the floor hard. Just totally dropped. His body landed at an angle that had Gemini certain Kyrie was dead even as he shot to his feet to help.
“Holy shit.” He raced to Kyrie’s side. Frost landed on his knees at the same time as Gemini. They immediately went to work.
Fen came crashing into view. “What happened?”
Frost met Gemini’s stare. “He doesn’t have a pulse.”
Gemini’s mind locked up, failing him at the time of crisis. Kyrie had really dropped dead, and he had no clue what to do. What the hell was in that blood sample?
Chapter Three
Icycoldwaterengulfedhim. Anticipation hit Kyrie before the dread set in. More and more often, Kyrie found himself pulled into the heavenly sea. When the first dream came, Kyrie had woken alone and confused. Everything had felt so weird—like he didn’t belong in the real world anymore. His entire existence had turned colder. Each smile got harder to fake. Kyrie found himself trying to get back to his peace. Sometimes, Kyrie wondered if he had started down a slippery slope he couldn’t return from. It seemed as if he diminished a little more every day. One day, maybe he wouldn’t wake up—forever dreaming.
His feet gently landed in the sand. A warm, tropical breeze washed over him. Peace settled into Kyrie’s soul, stealing away any rational thoughts. Maybe he didn’t want to go back. Perhaps he had finally come to the point where he could leave the world behind no matter what the destination. The smell of coconut teased his nose. Kyrie closed his eyes. He loved that scent. Itreminded him of a certain brand of body oil people used at the pool to get the perfect golden tan. These dreams were as close as he would ever get to a vacation. Life was expensive, and Kyrie was a little too used to human conveniences to live full time as a wolf. He didn’t get into the whole letting nature provide, leaving worldly goods behind. Kyrie loved worldly goods—like air conditioning and winter coats. He was not an outdoor wolf, but he was in love with the ocean. One day, it would be his.
As the delicious scent engulfed him, so too did a set of familiar arms. Kyrie found himself lured backward against a very solid chest. He was cozy—like sinking into his favorite sleeping position. It really was too bad he didn’t know when that affection would turn to pain and fury.
Warm lips skimmed the shell of his ear.
Kyrie smiled. “Didn’t I just see you?”
He felt Monnie shrug. “You’re addicted to me. I can’t help it if you keep fighting your way back to me, but I’m okay with that.”
Of course, he was unbothered. It wasn’t his life that had been upended by this half-life. Once upon a time, he hadn’t minded. Lately, everything had turned against him. Real life was still empty. That was his only constant.
“You’re not alone. It looks like Fen has taken an interest.”
A small smile passed over his lips at just the sound of Fen’s name. As much as he hated to admit it, Fen gave him a reasonto hope. But he needed to remember where he was and hide his thoughts. “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t actually want to be interested.”
A soft chuckle rumbled against his neck. “Fen might be a vampire, but he’s still a man. Not even the gods can fight that.” Monnie’s hand slipped down Kyrie’s body, shaping every line and curve. “It’s impossible for him to see this, combine it with the sunshine you bring into every room, and still stand firm in his black and white sense of morality.”
Kyrie leaned his head back, fully relaxing against Monnie’s perfect body. Sometimes, he still wished nothing had changed between them. When he spoke, his voice wouldn’t work beyond a whisper. “I know things will turn out how fate decides, but…”
Monnie gently spun Kyrie. As always, Kyrie stopped breathing the instant he saw heaven swirling in Monnie’s unnatural blue eyes. They didn’t only look like the sky. They were the sky. His nearly white blond hair was the clouds. Everything about him was as flawless as any god. Irresistible. Monnie’s mouth quirked. “I need you to stop thinking about my body if you want me to be serious.”
Longing raced through Kyrie’s blood. Maybe if he seduced Monnie… “I’m tired of being serious.”
Monnie didn’t back down. “We don’t have much longer. The clock is ticking, but I very much want everything you do.” He held Kyrie’s stare while he pulled the bandana loose that Kyrie kept around his wrist at work. It was all fake. He had toremember it wasn’t real. Monnie slowly brought Kyrie’s wrist to his mouth and kissed it while never breaking eye contact. An unsteady breath stuttered from Kyrie’s lungs. “You have to focus on Fen. It’s time.” Monnie whispered the words between the sweet kisses he placed on Kyrie’s wrist. He looked so turned on and in love. Kyrie swallowed hard, trying to fight the devastated tears. None of this existed. Monnie was right. Kyrie had to focus on reality. It was time.
Fen sat in the corner and stared at Kyrie until his vision blurred. Then he blinked and started the process all over again. He watched tears flow from Kyrie’s eyes. Fen desperately wanted to know why Kyrie cried in his sleep. Maybe he was in physical pain from this mystery illness. Fen had tried several times to poke at Kyrie’s mind. There was nothing but an impenetrable wall. Fen had never been so scared and confused. Honestly, it was strange.He should be able to see Kyrie’s every thought. Fen had no clue how Kyrie unconsciously blocked him. Maybe he was nearer to not returning from this state than anyone realized. That was a heartbreaking thought.
