Chapter Forty-Nine

Cone Beard

Vince

The moment we walked out of the forest in Tirnal Park, my phone started vibrating like crazy with an influx of texts.

When I pulled it out of my pocket and opened my messages, my mouth quirked. About seventy percent of the texts were from Dan.

Dan: So when are you coming back from your sudden mystery ‘vacation’?

Dan: Kinda weird that Crossbody is off sick or something at the same time…

Dan: UH, Larkin just accidentally let slip that you and Crossbody are FUCKING?????

Dan: What the fuck bro????

Dan: Did you both seriously take a week off to fuck??

Dan: CROSSBODY?

Dan: How the fuck did that happen?

Dan: Why didn’t you tell me? Is this revenge for me not telling you about me and Rafe at first?

Dan: Are you even getting these? Where are you?

Dan: Holy shit dude, F&B have popped up in California under a different name. Rafe’s been keeping track. There’s a news report about a hobby store being robbed but all they took were the bins of zippers. They tagged the place with ‘Banger and Mash’ and a drawing of a dick sausage in a pile of mashed potatoes.

Dan: But anyway, back to you and Crossbody. What the FUCK?

Dan: Kit is saying they’re not surprised. They said you two have always had mad sexual tension. I can kinda see it now, actually.

Dan: Holy fuck, you two haven’t eloped, have you???? Are you going to come back to work as a fae prince consort or something??

Dan: HOLY SHIT. I JUST REALISED. WAS CROSSBODY THE GUY YOU BANGED IN THE ARENA????

I snorted as I read through them all, my belly swooping at the realisation that everyone that work now knew about us. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, mainly because I didn’t really know what we were doing anymore. Still just fucking? Now good friends who fucked? More?

The last week or so didn’t feel like something I’d do for just a friend. What he’d said about how he felt back in Otherworld wasn’t just friendly either.

And the way my chest got all hot and tight every time I looked at him, the way my whole body tingled with the urge to touch him, the way all I wanted to do was bury my face in his neck and breathe in his scent… that definitely didn’t feel like anything as simple as friendship. Or just fucking.

I went to type out a reply to Dan, letting him know I was still alive if nothing else, but before I could think of a way to respond to his many questions, Crossbody’s quiet voice had my head jerking up.

“Do you think it will work?”

Now that we were back in the human world, the enormity of what he’d just done seemed to have hit him. The light, carefree, adrenaline-fuelled air that had clouded him on our way to the crossing had faded a little. It had started leeching out of him when we left the Spring Court and parted ways with Ianthe at the crossing. I suspected he was starting to realise that there was a good chance he could never go back there.

“Yes.” I quickly pocketed my phone and found myself automatically reaching over to thread my fingers through his as we walked toward the park exit. It was only around midday, the sun shining and far hotter than it had been in the Spring Court. Tirnal Park was already filling up with people on their lunch breaks, and none of them paid attention to us as we slowly made our way along the path, Crossbody dragging our suitcase behind him. Groups of mothers with their strollers, a couple having a picnic, office workers in their suits trying to catch some daylight and fresh air, several joggers who ran past without sparing us a second glance.

None of them had any idea that they were walking past a ghoul and a fae prince who’d just renounced his title to live among them.

Oh, and that we were both professional wrestlers.

Who fucked.

Unless that pervy motel incubus was somehow here. I cautiously glanced around just to check that he wasn’t sitting on a nearby bench pretending to read a newspaper that had eyeholes cut out of it or something.

“If Ethel’s threats weren’t enough, Axel will make sure your mom can’t remember anything important anyway,” I reassured Crossbody when I spotted no leering incubi. “But if she does start sniffing around again, Ethel and Freddie are on high alert. So is Holt. It’ll be fine.”

“It just doesn’t feel possible that it’s all… over. That she will leave me alone. That I can really just enjoy my life here.” He let out a shaky breath. “I was so scared that she would take it all away from me.”

“I wouldn’t have let her,” I told him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “Plus, she’s probably focused on making sure her youngest son doesn’t become a human world porn star now.”

Crossbody burst out laughing. “Well, she considers what I do practically porn anyway, so I don’t know if she’d be able to handle that. If he wants to leave, though… I hope he does.” His expression sobered, even softened a little. “I don’t hate my brothers. Especially not Ariyon. He was still young when I left, and we all had the same upbringing. I know why he was the way he was before I left, but it seems like he’s… reconsidering things just as I did.”

“What if he shows up here?” I asked curiously. “Would you help him?”

“Yes. Of course. If he doesn’t want to eventually become king just as I don’t, of course I’ll help him create a new life for himself. Gods,” he added with a chuckle, “I cannot tell you how much of a relief it is that it’s over. That I’ve formally announced, to all of the court’s nobility, that I renounce my title. She can’t hide that or twist it to suit her needs.”

“Nope,” I agreed, squeezing his hand with a grin. “I’m proud of you.”

He glanced over at me with a sheepish smile. “Do you think I’m a spoiled brat? Being grateful that I won’t one day have to become a king? Something many people would probably long for.”

I frowned. “No. Of course not.” Trying to lighten the mood, I side-eyed him and slyly added, “But maybe you’ll act like one later on in bed so I can punish you for it.”

His cheeks flushed pink, light brown eyes darting around to see if anyone had overheard. “Does that mean… Would you like to stay over tonight, or…?”

“Yeah.” I saw no point in playing coy about it. “If that’s okay.”

And maybe tomorrow night too. I didn’t fucking like the thought of sleeping apart from him.

“Of course it’s okay,” he said quickly, clutching my hand a little tighter. After clearing his throat, he asked, “Have you heard from your uncle? Is he alright? And Lady Potato?”

“Oh, yeah, I got a couple texts from him, hold on…” I pulled out my phone and quickly opened my messages from Rob. “He just said she loves that old cat tree and Isabella adores her. Then he texted me again this morning letting me know, for some fucking reason, that she’d done what he called a ‘very healthy-looking’ shit in her litter tray. So. They’re both fine.”

Crossbody snorted, grinning over at me, and he looked so unfathomably beautiful in the afternoon sun, in his human form with his peachy skin and golden eyes and long, flowing hair, that I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

I couldn’t believe how long it had taken me to see how beautiful he was. Or at least acknowledge it to myself.

I couldn’t believe I’d wasted the last five years being pissy at him for no real reason, when that whole time we could’ve possibly had… this. Or at least something more like friendship.

“Shall we go get her first?” He blushed as he said, “She’s a little fucking demon, but I have missed her. Surprisingly.”

I could feel my gaze softening as I smiled at him. Jesus fuck, when had I turned into such a sap? And how? Why? Because of him? Because I…

“Uh.” My voice was a little strained as my heart beat faster, the emotions churning inside me unfamiliar but terrifyingly unmistakable at the same time. “Sure. But maybe we could stop at my place on the way so I can grab clean clothes.”

“Of course.” He gave me a tiny smile. “I liked your house. When we were there the other day. It was nice.”

I shrugged. “Yeah, it’s fine. Hell of a lot nicer than the place my mom rented when I was a kid. And a lot bigger than Uncle Robbie’s trailer.”

He squeezed my hand. “You work hard. You deserve everything, Vince.” Cheeks flushing again, he looked down and cleared his throat self-consciously. “I should have stolen some jewels from the palace. Unfortunately, that sock full of coins is useless currency here. I wish I had… more to offer you. I wish I could give you anything you want.”

My heart thudded hard, then began to pound. Flustered, I stammered, “I—It’s—You don’t have to give me stuff. You don’t have to offer me anything.”

“I know, but… I want to.”

“Crossbo—Elvis.” I smiled softly as I turned to face him, cupping his chin in my free hand. “I don’t need stuff. I lived most of my life with next to nothing until I worked really fucking hard to provide for myself and my uncle. Why are you suddenly feeling like you need to… I don’t know, buy me shit?”

He flushed. “I just… I don’t know. It suddenly all feels… final. That’s it. I’m completely on my own. For good this time. I never wanted to go back there, to become king, but it was still a… safety net, of sorts. And now it’s gone.”

“I’m sure that feels pretty unsettling, but…” I cupped the side of his neck, stroking his jaw lightly with my thumb. “You’re not on your own. You have me.”

My pulse was rabbiting in my throat. He was staring at me, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze flittered over my face before returning to mine.

Tongue darting out to wet his lips, he croaked, “Vince, I… I want to—”

He abruptly stopped when a man carrying six ice creams, having just bought them from the vendor by the park gate, tripped while cheerfully walking back to his family. And accidentally launched them all directly at me. All six of them.

Most hit me square in the chest, but one managed to catch me on the chin, and the cone clung on like a pointy beard for a few seconds before slowly peeling away and splatting on the ground.

“Oh fuck,” the guy breathed, and a little girl sitting on the grass nearby gasped in outrage.

“Daddy!”

“Fudge,” he hastily amended, staring at me in horror. “Shi—shoot, man, I am so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” I chuckled, my face hot as Crossbody’s mouth twitched. He reached over and flicked away an ice cream cone still stuck to my shirt.

A lady was hastily trying to comfort a tiny boy who had started wailing at the realisation that his ice cream was gone, and the guy glanced between me and his family with a stricken expression.

“Seriously, man, it’s all good,” I assured him, then added to Crossbody, “This is probably the universe getting back at me for throwing a cake at your mom.”

He grinned wryly. “But she deserved it.”

“At least let me buy you both a cone,” the guy rushed out. “To apologise.”

“I think we’re good,” I told him with a grin. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay,” he said anxiously, taking a step back. “Seriously, I’m so sorry. I, uh… I can pay for the dry cleaning—”

“I’ve had this suit for years.” I chuckled, taking the napkins he held out to wipe away the worst of the ice cream blobs on my shirt. “It’s probably worth less than the dry cleaning would cost.”

By the time I’d finally managed to convince the guy that he didn’t have to do anything, the ice cream stains on my shirt had dried. As Crossbody and I continued on our way to the exit, I could smell artificial strawberry and vanilla and chocolate wafting up with every step I took.

When we reached the parking lot, Crossbody dug my car keys out of the suitcase before loading it into the trunk.

“Should we go to the office?” he asked uncertainly as I opened the driver’s side door. “Let Holt know we’re back and everything is… resolved?”

“I’ll text him, but…” I grinned over the roof of the car at him as he opened the passenger door. “We’re not in the line-up this weekend, so we don’t have to go in until Monday.”

He slowly smiled back. “Did you have something else in mind for us to spend the weekend doing?”

“Uh-huh.” I climbed into the car, and he quickly followed, both of us slamming the doors shut and reaching for our seat belts. “Gonna tie you up and fuck you until you can’t walk,” I said conversationally as I started the engine, then added, “You spoiled fucking brat.”

I heard his breath hitch, but he was grinning when I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.

I was too.

—

Crossbody had only been to my place once, when I’d packed my clothes before we left for Otherworld, so it was still pretty weird to see him in my house. Standing in my hallway, all tall and poised and regal. Peering with interest at my messy living room, taking in the artwork I’d chosen for the walls and the clutter I’d left on the coffee table. His elegant, long-fingered hand holding my old Gateur Garbage Disposal and Waste Management mug when I made him a cup of coffee.

“I know we were only gone a day and a half, but fuck, it feels good to be back in the modern world,” I said, gulping down my own coffee and hastily replying to all my text messages—letting Uncle Rob know we’d be by soon to pick up Lady Potato, and confirming to Dan that yes, Crossbody and I were… a thing.

Something. I wasn’t all that sure what anymore.

He’d said he loved me.

But he hadn’t brought it up since, so… maybe it had just been a heat of the moment thing? Maybe he hadn’t meant it? Maybe he was even regretting it. I hated feeling so unsure of myself, but I had no idea where we stood right now. What this was. And I didn’t want to pressure him into anything. Crossbody could still be stubborn and arrogant and difficult for the sake of it, but I also knew now how soft-hearted he was. Hesitant and almost timid in some situations.

And naturally submissive.

Drumming his long fingers on the side of his cup, he said, “Part of me didn’t think I’d be able to come back, so… it’s a little surreal.”

I snorted. “There was no fucking way I was leaving without you.”

The words came out before I really considered them, and the air grew slightly charged as our eyes met in the ensuing moment of silence. Then we both quickly looked away, Crossbody taking a sip of his coffee as I shoved back my hair and took a step toward the front hall.

“I, uh… I’ll go unpack and change out of this fucking ice cream suit.”

He nodded, mauve eyes tracking down my frame. We’d both shifted into our true forms once safely inside my house, but he was keeping his wings tightly tucked together so they didn’t knock into anything.

“You can, um, come with me if you want,” I said awkwardly as I began to unbutton my shirt. “You don’t have to just stand in here on your own.”

He hesitated, glancing down at his coffee before setting the cup on the counter. “Alright. If you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine.” I offered him a wry smile. “You were in my bedroom, like, two days ago.”

He blushed, fiddling with his tunic cuffs as he followed me out of the kitchen. “No, I know, but…”

He trailed off, clearing his throat, then grabbed the suitcase before I could when we got back into the hall. I realised I was a little tense as we made our way upstairs. Things suddenly felt… strained, in a way. Off. Weird.

I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said back in Otherworld.

“I can’t wait to get out of this fucking tunic,” he grumbled as he followed me upstairs. I laughed, glancing back at him over my shoulder.

“You look good in it, but I get it.”

He smiled up at me. “You look good in the suit. Even with ice cream all over it.”

“Yeah, well, I’m about to put on sweats, so hopefully I look just as good in those.”

“You do.”

I glanced back again to see him blushing. Growing a little flustered myself, I led the way into my bedroom and said, “Uh, we could go and get something to eat after taking Lady Potato back to your place, if you want. Have you ever been to Lupe’s in town?”

“No. What is it?” Crossbody set down the suitcase and unzipped it.

“Really good werewolf diner.”

“Diner?” His head popped up, eyes sparking with interest. “Like the one near the motel? I liked the food there very much.”

“Yeah.” I grinned at him. “Lupe’s is better than that one, though. Hey,” I added as I pulled off the suit jacket and shirt, then unbuttoned my pants. “What other places have you never been to here? I bet there’s a tonne of stuff you still haven’t done yet.”

“Like what?” he asked, voice muffled as he pulled his tunic over his head.

“Like… well, I mean there’s the obvious one. Roller skating.”

Crossbody paled a little as he dropped his tunic, his wings now hidden so he could get changed with ease. “But I’ll be terrible. I’ll fall. And you compete professionally.”

“So? I’ll teach you.”

“I’ll look stupid.”

“Everyone looks stupid when they first try roller skating, babe.”

He blushed, looking away as he picked up a loose linen shirt from the suitcase. “I suppose I could try. I don’t have skates, though.”

“You can just rent them.”

He looked at me in abject horror. “Rent shoes ?”

“At the rink, yeah. You just rent out the skates—”

“Vince, I am not putting on shoes that other people have worn.” He shuddered. “That’s possibly one of the most revolting things I’ve ever heard.”

I laughed, my chest warming with affection. That was the Crossbody I’d known for years. “You have to do that for bowling too. But I guess you’ve never been bowling, huh? No, wait, we did that for Holt’s birthday.”

“I didn’t actually bowl,” he said sheepishly as he slipped on his shirt and began to button it. “I was too worried about looking ridiculous because I didn’t know what I was doing.”

My heart squeezed a little. “You should’ve said. I would have shown you.”

He burst out laughing, which made me glance over with a little frown.

“You hated me, Vince.”

My heart squeezed much, much harder. “No, I didn’t. Not really.” Guilt churning in my gut, I looked away and mumbled, “Sorry.”

“No, it’s—” Crossbody chuckled and shook his head. “I didn’t say it to make you feel bad. We both disliked each other then. Can you imagine if I’d gone up to you and asked you to teach me how to bowl? It’s just funny to think about now.”

I didn’t think it was all that funny. It was kind of making me feel like shit, because I knew how I would’ve reacted at the time. Probably laughed at him, made some cutting, sardonic remark, asked why he was even bothering to learn when it wasn’t like fae princes did shit as mundane as bowling.

My brows were pulled hard into a frown as I tugged on a pair of sweats. I was getting angry at myself over something I hadn’t even said . I was furious at myself for being such an asshole to him, for years, for no reason, just because I’d decided I didn’t like him, which had made him decide he didn’t like me either.

I heard Crossbody sigh as I turned for my dresser, my shoulders hunched and stiff with tension.

“I’ve made it strange, haven’t I?” he quietly asked as I opened the drawer to grab a T-shirt.

Instead, I stiffened even further, not moving as I stared down at the messily folded shirts. “What do you mean?”

“With what I said.” Embarrassment coloured his tone. “In the palace. It was… not the time or the place to—”

“So did you mean it?” I heard myself blurt, then whirled around to face him, my heart thudding hard and fast.

Crossbody froze, his eyes wide and stunned, his hands hovering in front of his half-unbuttoned shirt. “I… What?”

“Did you mean what you said?” I was breathing faster, that terrified anticipation rising again, making my belly swirl with nerves.

Colour rushed to Crossbody’s cheeks. He looked away and continued buttoning his shirt, hands visibly trembling. “Which part?”

“You know which part,” I croaked, and saw his throat bob with a nervous swallow.

There was silence for a long moment as I waited, stiff and tense, for him to say it, to tell me, to be the brave one. Before all of this, I would’ve considered myself braver and stronger and tougher than Crossbody, but that was bullshit. He far surpassed me in all of those things. Just in a different way than I’d expected.

He’d been the first to make a move. He’d been the first to admit he wanted more. He’d let me tie him up and use his body as much as I wanted and force him to admit to the things he craved.

He’d thanked me, multiple times, knowing how vulnerable it made him. Knowing how much power it could’ve given me over him.

And he’d apologised first too. Even though I’d been the one to start our stupid feud. It was my fault we’d spent the last five years hating each other for no good reason.

And yet here I was again, forcing him to be the brave one. Forcing him to make himself vulnerable and exposed first. It wasn’t fair. It was my turn to put myself out there and make myself raw in front of him.

To admit things I’d never, ever thought I’d be admitting.

Except, with him, I wanted to.