Lan was equal parts thrilled and terrified.
Adrian gazed up at him expectantly. “What do you think, doll?” He brushed gentle fingers through Lan’s hair and pressed soft kisses to the crown of his head. “If it’s too much right now, just take your time.”
Meeting the Ringleader all of a sudden? He had been building up this savior for years. This creature—the all-powerful Lord of the Highest House of Night—was interested in him? How was that possible? He wouldn’t get anything out of being kind to Lan.
“I want to,” he began, eyes lowering sullenly, “but I have nothing to offer him right now. And…”
Adrian took his hands, kissing each rough knuckle languidly. “And?”
“The disappearances.”
He hummed, waiting for Lan to continue.
“I heard they found bodies. Or well, parts of bodies.”
The report had come out early that morning and Clarisse nearly shut down the business for the rest of the night. Police search dogs had sniffed out Human remains in the woods. It seemed wild animals devoured most of the evidence, but there was still enough to positively identify the victims.
Even if it wasn’t, Lan had gotten the message loud and clear. One crafted just for him.
Adrian nipped the tip of his nose.
Heat shot up Lan’s neck and he jerked back, rubbing his nose in surprise. “What was that?”
“Your nose and ears are sensitive, aren’t they?” Adrian tilted his head innocently, but his eyes were glittering with amusement. “Is that how wolves kiss?”
“Not exactly,” he replied, still flustered. “It’s—uhm, it’s close enough.” Lan buried his face against Adrian’s neck and took a deep, steadying breath. “I think the disappearances—or, well, the killings, are my fault.”
Adrian rubbed slow, comforting circles into his back, keeping him close. The timbre of his voice made Lan’s shoulders slump, guard falling. “How can I help?”
Tears pricked at his eyes and his throat closed up.
They stood together in silence.
Lan knew it wouldn’t end without casualties. He’d taken Li’s life to escape. Killed another packmate in a bid for freedom years ago. That last attempt should’ve given him a clear idea of what was to come.
But how could Valentine sanction Human deaths? Did Nyx really convince him that it was alright? Or maybe he’s acting alone.
Given how much freedom Nyx had, it was possible. No one watched the vanguard closely and these killings could also be passed off as something utterly normal. A Human could’ve been behind it, too.
Lan knew better though. He was being given a choice.
Come back or they keep dying.
How long until the body count reached Clair de Lune? How many people would be sacrificed in exchange for Lan to play at freedom? It wasn’t even real. He hid inside a suffocating building of ill-repute and buried his worries in endless nights of pleasure.
It was better than anything he’d ever experienced, but if the cost was innocent Human lives, how could he go on like this?
“Let’s relax for now.”
Lan blinked, only then realizing his face was wet and Adrian’s shoulder was drenched. Lifting his head, he found red eyes studying him closely, brows scrunched in concern. It was more than he had expected to be honest.
Adrian was unfailingly kind to him for no reason at all, but this felt like more. There was something genuine about his expression. Is he worried?
Obediently, Lan sat down on the couch and snuggled against Adrian’s side immediately. He sniffled, rubbing at his eyes and trying hard to stifle the whimper building up. It was too easy to just let this man take care of him.
There was nothing in their relationship thus far to indicate Adrian would be anything other than gentle and sweet. Maybe that was dangerous in and of itself. Lan had no immunity to this sort of doting. He could only crumple into a messy ball of feelings and desires when he knew Adrian would simply hold him tighter.
Call me doll. Sweetheart.
Lan listened to Adrian’s soft murmurs. They were just sweet nothings. Soothing words to comfort him despite not knowing what was wrong. Even if Adrian grew bored of him one day, that was fine.
He had already given Lan more happiness than he could comprehend.
“I want to meet him.”
Adrian quieted, stroking Lan’s hair idly. “Any time.”
“Tonight.” A cold sweat broke out on his back, but he ignored it. This was no time to get scared of the outside. Lan couldn’t stomach another missing person report in the newspaper. He absolutely had to move and do something.
But would this even improve the situation, or would Nyx simply continue his hunt? What did it mean to ask the Ringleader for help?
“I’ll call for the car.”
Lan nodded faintly, dropping his head to Adrian’s lap and curling into himself. A dozen different plans ran through his brain. He’d gotten too comfortable as of late. He should’ve been concocting countermeasures instead of getting lost in a fantasy.
He didn’t know how much time passed before Adrian urged him up and they headed for the door. Along the way, they passed Clarisse who stopped them immediately.
“We don’t allow outdoor dates with clients under the current circumstances,” Clarisse explained in a such a way that it was obvious how many times they’d said it.
Lan forced a smile. “It’s not that. I’m going home with Adrian for the night. I promise we’re not playing around outside.”
“We’ll be with Kallum Kingsley at his townhome,” he elaborated, offering Clarisse a sleek black business card with silver print. “Of course, a few other Delirium performers will also be present. My driver is waiting outside.”
Although skeptical, Clarisse nodded grudgingly. They slipped the business card behind the glossy counter and then reached for the intercom. “If it’s a party, then you wouldn’t mind having another one of our employees tag along, right?”
Adrian smiled brilliantly. “Anything you wish.”
Lan’s face fell. Was it really alright to let a Human wander through a crowd of Night Children? Or perhaps, it was the safest place to be in the current situation. He relaxed minutely. They’d never dare step into the Ringleader’s territory.
The arm around his waist tightened faintly, drawing his attention. Lan rubbed his nose against Adrian’s neck, calming himself down at they waited for whoever Clarisse summoned.
A minute later, Liza appeared. Her grin was absolutely unstoppable. “Well? Are we ready to go or do I have time to put on something cuter?” She tugged at the uniform curiously. “It’s not bad, but this is Delirium we’re talking about.”
Adrian chuckled. “You look perfectly fine. If anything, this may just encourage the others to play dress up with you all night long.” His lashes lowered, expression filled with promise.
Liza practically bolted out the door to the waiting car. Lan laughed quietly, watching his coworker buzz with excitement as she climbed into the backseat of a discrete black sedan. “She’ll be safe, right?” Lan mumbled.
“We have our own laws,” Adrian responded, lips tracing the shell of his ear, “and the Ringleader is very strict with how we feed.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Lan climbed into the backseat as well. Adrian slid in beside him, shut the door, and signaled the driver to leave. Their bodies were pressed close together and even though Liza was chattering away, Lan couldn’t bring himself to really focus on it.
He could feel layers of protective perfume peeling away. The sweat and musk of clients no longer lingered in his nostrils, instead being replaced by the scent of leather seats and Adrian’s cologne. In the confines of Clair de Lune, everything was so muddled that Lan’s nose burned.
This was the first time he’d gotten a clear whiff of Adrian’s scent since meeting in the forest years ago.
When they arrived, Adrian led the way inside and directed Liza toward a bustling parlor room. She darted off without a second thought, figure vanishing around a corner. Lan almost called after her but resisted.
There was something more important he had to do.
“He should be in the library.” Adrian guided Lan with a hand on the small of his back. It felt so natural that Lan wondered if they were perhaps too compatible. How could a Lycan and a Night Child find such comfort in each other’s presence?
The heavy wooden doors creaked open.
Lan sucked in a sharp breath, eyes falling on the figure across the room. Bookshelves lined every wall and nestled among them were large armchairs and a crackling fireplace. The man lounged with a book in his lap, firelight illuminating pale red eyes.
“You were right, brother. This wolf truly is just a puppy.”
Lan’s knees wobbled at the sound of his voice. If it weren’t for the hand suddenly gripping his waist, he may have dropped to the floor.
Kallum laughed and it sounded as delicate as silver bells in the night. Setting his book aside, he leaned forward, head tilting to gaze directly at Lan through the dim light. Long, elegant fingers reached out to him. “Come here.”
The command was soft. Barely aspirated.
Lan scrambled forward, head whirling with hopes and gratitude and too many dreams. In a flash, he was seated at Kallum’s feet and relaxing into the cool touch against his cheek.
“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time,” he blurted, feeling like he was drowning. “There’s so much—I just—your name—”
“How may I help?” Kallum tipped his chin up, and their eyes locked.
It was heaven.
Tears rolled down Lan’s cheeks for the second time that night. He stared into Kallum’s eyes and knew there was hope. The future was bleak, but not as bleak as the past. Lan could envision a place beyond the confines of a society that didn’t care for him.
Even if this new one—this world ordered and arranged by the Ringleader—brought new despair, it was better than returning to a place guaranteed to hurt him.
And so, in a fierce storm of wails and sobs, Lan broke down. He spoke of the claiming, the attempts to escape, the resulting torturous years, and finally his recent successful escape. Lan didn’t know if what he said made any sense, but it was out in the world now.
He couldn’t remember what happened next though as his eyelids grew heavy and the world fell dark and silent.
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