Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Riordan woke the day after the fight and the storm in Wade's hotel room, spooning the younger man in the hotel bed. His nose was tucked against the back of Wade's neck, Wade deep asleep like Riordan wanted to be. He couldn't understand why he'd woken up until he realized he could hear someone's heartbeat in the kitchen of the penthouse suite. It was steady and calm, and Wade hadn't seemed to notice it at all. It made Riordan wonder if Wade was that deep of a sleeper, something which could be dangerous when their kind was hunted, or if it was something else.

He was about to wake up Wade, prepared for a fight if one was going to happen, when Riordan realized a second later why someone was able to enter the penthouse without Wade noticing or caring.

"Wade," the person in the kitchen said, barely raising their voice but with an expectant tone of familiarity.

Whoever was out there was able to enter because they were pack, Riordan realized.

Wade jackknifed up to a sitting position in bed out of a deep sleep, staring wild-eyed at the open bedroom door. " Shit . Crap. Oh no. He's supposed to be in DC still."

Riordan winced, making the connection immediately. "That's Patrick out there?"

Wade was already scrambling out of bed. "Yes, and I can't tell him you slept on the couch when you're in here with me!"

"Wade," Patrick called again. "Get out here."

"It's not even seven o'clock!" Wade yelled back right before he hastily closed the bedroom door.

"I took an early flight out from DC. General Reed is pissed about yesterday. I'd have flown in last night except he kept me late at the Pentagon discussing your fly-by of Boston. And it was either you got him or me for the lecture, and I know what you prefer."

Wade groaned and rubbed hard at his eyes. "I hate that guy."

"Patrick?" Riordan asked in a low voice, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"No, his annoying dragon general superior asshole. Ugh." Wade dropped his hands, looking around at their scattered, wet clothes neither of them had bothered to deal with after their arrival last night. "What if you just stay in here? I'll keep the door shut, and you can be quiet."

Riordan's stomach clenched, and not in a good way. "You want to hide me?"

Wade blinked at him before his eyes widened, and he rapidly shook his head. "No! That's not what I meant. I don't want to hide you. Well, I mean. I do, but only from Patrick right now."

"That sounds like you don't want to tell him about me."

Wade groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I want to tell him? But if he knows you're in here with me, he'll think we slept together, and then he'll want to stab you. He doesn't even have his dagger anymore, but he'd still find a way to stab you. Trust me. I don't want you stabbed."

Some of Riordan's apprehension faded away as he realized Wade wasn't trying to hide their tentative relationship out of regret or shame but because he was trying to spare him a shovel talk. "Patrick is one of your alphas. I should meet him, if that's what you'd want."

Wade gave him a look that was very clearly meant to translate as your funeral . It made him laugh, just a little. Wade sighed and returned to the bed. When he got close enough, Riordan grabbed him by the waist and dragged Wade into his lap. Wade tumbled in close without a fight, and Riordan kissed him soundly, ignoring the fact they both needed to brush their teeth and that they were naked, and if Patrick decided to barge in, he was bound to get an eyeful.

Riordan really hoped his first meeting of his lover's family wouldn't be without even his sealskin on.

"Come on," Riordan murmured before they could get too distracted. "Let's get out there."

Wade groaned, and Riordan let him climb back off the bed again. Riordan slid out from beneath the sheets and went to the closet, picking out some clothes from the ones Wade had bought him. Then he grabbed his skin from where it was slung over the chair in the corner, shook it out into a leather jacket, and pulled it on.

They split time in the bathroom for a quick washup at the sink. When Riordan came out after his turn, he found Wade dressed and shifting from foot to foot by the door, chewing on his thumbnail. Riordan couldn't help but hug him, running his hand up and down Wade's back. "It's fine. I mean it."

"Patrick won't be fine," Wade muttered.

That didn't stop him from opening the bedroom door and taking Riordan by the hand to drag him out into the firing range of an overprotective pack member. Riordan peered over Wade's shoulder as they exited the bedroom and had a clear view of the way the redhead leaning against the kitchen island went completely still, gaze sharpening in a way that had Wade's grip tightening around Riordan's hand.

"Hey, Patrick," Wade said, trying for casually cheerful and missing by a mile if Riordan was any judge.

Patrick Collins smelled a little bitter, a little harsh, to Riordan's nose, the other man's scent not typical of any magic user he'd ever met over the centuries. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with messy, dark red hair and green eyes that looked at Riordan the way a hunter might look at caught game, wondering how to skin them.

He was glad, in that moment, to know that this mage was Wade's pack because Wade deserved to be protected. Riordan just had to convince Patrick that Wade didn't need to be protected from him because Riordan would rather give up his skin forever than see Wade come to harm.

"There's a Dunkin' two blocks away. Go get us coffee and donuts," Patrick said, never taking his eyes off Riordan.

"You just made coffee! It's percolating right behind you. And the hotel's private chef would totally go get the donuts for us."

"Now, Wade."

Wade bounced on his heels a little. "You just want to get Riordan alone."

"Riordan, is it? The same selkie you mentioned the other day?"

" Patrick ," Wade groaned.

"There's also a Dunkin' four blocks away. You can go to that one instead."

Wade looked over at Riordan with a faint grimace and an apologetic expression. Riordan smiled encouragingly at him. "It's okay. Go get us breakfast."

Wade reluctantly let him go and headed for the front door. He stabbed his finger in Patrick's direction as he passed the other man. "Be nice ."

Patrick didn't even look at him. "Bye."

Riordan didn't move, didn't speak, until he heard the elevator descending toward the lobby. "Wade suggested I stay in the bedroom. I told him I wanted to meet you."

Patrick never moved, staring at him with an intensity that Riordan, who'd lived for centuries, found mildly disconcerting. He knew Patrick was a mortal who'd fought against the gods of all the hells, championed by the ones in heaven, and survived the end of the world. But the world's savior wasn't who he stood before.

It was Wade's pack, his family, his older brother.

And Riordan knew a thing or two about older brothers and siblings in general and just what they'd do in defense of their loved ones.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't toss you out the nearest window and see if you're as good at flying as you are at swimming," Patrick finally said in a tone of voice that didn't—quite—promise murder, but it was close.

"Because I gave him my skin, and he keeps giving it back to me without hesitation, and he's the only one I've ever trusted to do that. I don't want to stop giving it to him."

It was more than fixation at this point, and Riordan knew the only person who deserved to know that was Wade, but Patrick needed to know he didn't mean Wade any harm. He'd sooner give up his skin forever and suffer all that entailed—the loss of his magic and the sea and his clan—than willingly hurt Wade.

He would never, ever do that to his mate.

Patrick finally blinked, and it felt as if Riordan could take a breath. The coffeepot beeped, signaling it was finished brewing, but neither of them moved.

"Wade told me about his past," Riordan said quietly. "About the god that held him prisoner and what was done to him. You need to know I will never hurt him. I just want to keep him safe."

I just want to love him , but Riordan didn't say that out loud.

"I don't know you, so you'll have to deal with the fact that I won't believe a word coming out of your mouth for, oh, let's go with a few years if you stick around." Patrick shoved away from the island and went to the coffeepot, casually putting his back to Riordan in a way that was utterly dismissive in seeing him as a threat, and Riordan decided to not take that personally. "Wade can make his own choices when it comes to relationships. We've always supported that."

"But?" Riordan asked carefully.

Patrick found the mugs on the first try, taking one down to pour himself a cup of coffee but not bothering to pour one for Riordan. "You're the first one he's had since we took him in as pack. So you can bet your ass no one will find your body if you hurt him."

If it was coming from anyone else, the threat would be melodramatic and laughable, but Riordan had no doubt that Patrick would commit murder for his pack and never feel anything but satisfied. Because that's how Riordan would feel toward a threat pointed at his own siblings and clan. He was relieved that the New York City god pack appeared to operate in the same way. "I wouldn't even fight back."

"You wouldn't get the chance." Patrick turned around and leaned against the counter, sipping his coffee. Riordan wondered if he'd survive getting his own mug and then decided maybe waiting for Wade to return was the better option. "Wade knows better than to fly like he did yesterday, so you're going to tell me what happened and if there's any leftover threat I need to take care of while I'm here."

Riordan knew Wade had been updating Patrick and his pack about what was going on in Boston, but he didn't know all that had been said. So he started at the beginning, with Saoirse's stolen skin and everything that had happened since. He was just finishing up about how they'd all agreed to meet at the Boston god pack's home that morning when Riordan heard the elevator rising. The doors pinged open a moment later, and three people exited it.

"Look who I found in the lobby," Wade said as he made a beeline for them. He held three boxes of donuts in his hand, with a carton containing three to-go cups balanced on top of it. "Witnesses."

"You act like that would stop me," Patrick said.

"Be nice . I like them."

Saoirse and Donal trailed after Wade, both of them looking clean and well-rested after what Riordan hoped was a good night's sleep. His siblings had bunked up with some of the clan who had returned to their homes now that the threat from Niall was taken care of. They still didn't have a home to go back to, and that was a headache Riordan wasn't looking forward to.

"Hello," Saoirse said, tone a little questioning as she stared at Patrick.

"Saoirse, Donal, this is Patrick, one of Wade's alphas," Riordan said.

Saoirse's eyes went wide. "Oh! Wade didn't say you were coming."

" I didn't know Patrick was coming," Wade grumbled as he set the drinks and donut boxes on the kitchen island.

"I would have flown home to New York if we didn't have to deal with a dragon sighting in Boston." Patrick glanced at Wade before taking an interest in the array of donuts left after Wade had clearly snacked on most of them. "General Reed is suppressing the news stories."

"I'm not telling him thank you."

"I wouldn't ask you to. Hand me the old-fashioned donut."

Wade passed one over, then picked up the chocolate bar that was Riordan's favorite and walked over to hand it to him. "Here. I saved you this one."

"Thanks," Riordan said, taking the donut. "I was filling Patrick in while you were gone."

Wade nodded, taking a bite of a blueberry cake donut and getting flecks of sugared glaze on his lips. Riordan really wanted to kiss him, but Patrick was in the room, and he wanted to live to see another day.

"We're supposed to meet with the Boston god pack today. Lady Caith said she'd take Niall back to Brigid. Boston has a hawthorn path in Back Bay Fens, and they left last night."

"Let's go see how the Boston god pack is doing," Patrick said.

They didn't linger, and when they all made it to the valet outside the hotel, Riordan reluctantly decided to go with his siblings, leaving Patrick to ride with Wade. The sad eyes that Wade turned on him made Riordan almost cave, but he knew Patrick probably wanted to talk to Wade alone.

"We'll meet you there," Riordan said before climbing into the front passenger seat of Saoirse's car. His and Donal's cars had been utterly destroyed in the fire at their home, and Saoirse's had survived by virtue of being parked down the street at the time.

Saoirse got into the back seat, letting Donal drive. They pulled out first, idling for a couple of seconds until Wade pulled out behind them. Riordan watched Wade's car in the rearview mirror, already missing the quiet moment of holding the other man in his arms in the early morning hours.

"Patrick seems a little intense," Donal said off-handedly.

Riordan snorted. "He saw me leaving the bedroom with Wade this morning. I'm surprised I'm not bleeding."

"Is he here to take Wade home?" Saoirse asked.

"Wade was always going to leave."

It ached, knowing they probably only had a few more hours together. With Niall gone and the threat neutralized, Riordan knew there was no further need for Wade to stay in Boston. As much as he wanted Wade to stay with him, Riordan's clan wasn't Wade's pack, and they both had their duties.

"Did you give him your skin?" Donal asked.

"He won't keep it."

Donal snorted. "Boyo, I'm not asking if you let him borrow it like you have been. I'm asking if you gave him your skin ."

There was a formality to giving up everything you were to someone you loved when you were a selkie. Riordan desperately wanted to share that with Wade, to give in to the fixation that had hit him in the gut when he'd first met Wade at the dessert table in Underhill. "Someday."

Donal made an aggravated sound before knocking his fist against Riordan's shoulder. "Now would be good."

"Just drive."

His siblings were kind enough to not pester him about his reluctance, but Riordan didn't want to back Wade into a corner. He'd rather they come to an agreement slowly so that Wade had ample time to think about if Riordan was who he truly wanted. Because Riordan wanted Wade, and he was pretty certain Wade wanted him, but he would never force Wade into anything.

When they finally made it to the Boston god pack territory, they found nearly all of the street parking was taken. Cars were doubled up in driveways, and they had to go further afield to find a spot. Ella must have had someone on the lookout for them because the front door was open when their small group finally walked up. It was interesting to see the way she froze in the doorway at their arrival, attention focused solely on Patrick.

"Oh," she said after a moment. "We didn't know you were coming."

"Just passing through," Patrick said easily. "Wade and I are leaving later today. I came to see how your alphas are doing."

Riordan refused to meet his siblings' eyes at that news even as Wade sidled close, tangling their fingers together.

"Casey is resting. You're more than welcome to come inside."

They all entered the home, and no one asked Patrick for hospitality. Harper came downstairs, going through a formal greeting with Patrick as one god pack alpha to another. The pair got drawn into a conversation that Wade seemed happy enough to escape from.

"This is why Patrick is our alpha," Wade said after he'd dragged Riordan into the god pack's kitchen and started rummaging around in their cupboards. "I'm good in a pinch, but he has authority I don't."

"Authority for what?"

"I'm pretty sure they're hashing out an alliance of some sort. We didn't know Lucien was best friends with Abhartach. If Lucien is going to try to make inroads in Boston for whatever reason, Patrick is letting Harper know we'd be happy to come and deal with him if he becomes too much of a problem."

Riordan almost wished Lucien would stick around, if only to have an excuse for Wade to come visit. "So you'd only come if there was an emergency?"

"Would you only want me to come for an emergency?"

"No."

Wade made a pleased sound and withdrew his arm from a cupboard, coming away with a box of strawberry-flavored Pop-Tarts. He ripped open the top and drew out a packet. "Good. Because I'm planning on asking Marek for a private jet as a present this year so I don't have to keep borrowing his and Sage's."

Riordan stepped close as the younger man tore open the foil packet and shook out two Pop-Tarts. He kept one and offered Riordan the other. Riordan took it, even if Pop-Tarts weren't his favorite snack. Anything Wade gave him, he would eat.

"Why would you need a private jet?"

Wade arched an eyebrow. "To come see you. There's no way I'm driving up here and dealing with both Manhattan drivers and Boston drivers in the same day."

Riordan laughed. He settled his free hand on Wade's hip, fingers sliding beneath his T-shirt to press against warm skin. He stroked his thumb over the jut of Wade's hip bone, liking the way it made the other man's breath catch. "But you would if you had to, right?"

"Yeah, I would. But I'd expect to be greeted with all the snacks for having to be stuck in traffic."

"Anything you want, mo chroí ," Riordan said before kissing Wade in a kitchen that didn't belong to either of them, but it still felt like home with Wade in his arms. "Anything for you."