Page 24 of Mytho Investigations: Side Stories

“Would you rather I stay upstairs?” He’d rather banish himself.

Mason stared at him, his mouth open and shut. Then he sighed and shook his head. “Last year, I would’ve said yes, so this year, I’m saying no.”

“Why would you have said yes?”

“Because I’d be worried about what he thought, and I wouldn’t want to push his buttons and get into an argument.”

Vlash inclined his head. That was a good enough reason to make different choices. And if Bud did want an argument, he’d find that he was fucking with the wrong man. Because Vlash wasn’t going to let Bud cause Mason any more grief.

He didn’t like people making his friends miserable.

Mason pulled on a gray hoodie that had been draped over a dining chair and opened the front door. “Hey.”

“I called twice today to say I was coming around, and you didn’t reply, so I thought I’d come by. I’m hoping we can talk and work things out.”

Vlash stood around the corner, out of sight, as there was no need for him to create extra trouble, yet.

“I don’t have anything to say to you.” Mason’s voice was cool.

“I gave you Christmas to cool off.” Bud’s voice dropped as though he were trying to seduce Mason. “We can sort this out.”

Vlash clamped his teeth together to keep from speaking.

“We never sorted anything out by talking, Bud. That’s why the problems grew bigger with each year. But sure, come in.”

Vlash didn’t want Bud coming in. He needed to back Mason up while not riling Bud up. If he went out there as head archer, there’d be more than an argument. He gave a grim smile, knowing exactly how he looked with his long hair and wearing the bright T-shirt—it was a look that usually made humans overlook him, which is what he liked. So he drew in a breath, checked that his hair covered the points of his ears, and then sauntered down the corridor, swaying his hips as if he didn’t know what was going on. “Is there a problem, babe?”

Bud was a little taller than Mason, about the same height as Vlash. But Bud was not built like an elf. He was built like an ogre.

“What the fuck is going on?” Bud demanded. “Have you been whoring your ass out this whole time?”

Mason’s jaw tightened.

Vlash put his hand on Mason’s lower back. “I’m not interested in his ass. Riding his dick is a dream.” Too much? If it was, he didn’t care.

That his ex didn’t see Mason as more than a bit of ass, that was his problem.

Bud’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Vlash. Vlash held his stare without flinching. “And who are you?”

“He’s the ex I told you about,” Mason said as if Vlash wasn’t already aware. His voice was level, but tension vibrated through his body.

“Ex? Is that all I am? You agreed to marry me in front of all our friends. You broke it off over the phone. For that…” He sneered at Vlash.

“Have you come to collect your things or argue?” Mason asked. His knuckles were white as he gripped the door.

“I deserve a chance. We deserve a chance.”

Mason nodded. “And what difference do you think another chance would make? Do you think if you come in, I’ll fall into bed with you?”

“I’m the man you need. His skinny ass can’t give you⁠—"

“What I need?” Mason snapped. “When was the last time you listened to me? Or asked what I wanted? Even now, you’re trying to change my mind. I don’t love you.” He took a breath. “You deserve someone who does.”

That was very generous; Vlash was feeling far less charitable. If he opened his mouth, he’d be giving Mason an example of elf magic.

“I love you.” But there was no kindness in Bud’s words.

“No. You love me when I agree with you. When I give in and push aside my feelings.”