28. Toby

The tiles were cold under my knees. I held on to the toilet bowl as the room spun, grateful for the first time that Blaise was spending the night at his place.

When I was certain I wasn't going to vomit again, I flushed the toilet and slowly climbed to my feet to brush my teeth.

I cringed at the taste in my mouth. How did humans cope with that regularly? Up until the past few days, I'd never vomited. Why would I? It wasn't like supes could get sick.

Not unless they were cursed, that was.

Whatever had been on that blade was clearly making its way through my system. Almost three weeks had passed since then. I'd hoped I'd have more time before symptoms began to show. I'd also been hoping it was a curse that would maybe make my hair fall out or make me clumsy.

But no. Typically, I appeared to have a curse of the standard ‘slowly destroy you until you wish for death and then you actually die' variety.

Not that any of the others knew that. I'd known the only way to keep it from Blaise was to keep it from all of them. River had cornered me the morning after, full of concern for his twin.

"How can you be certain you're both fine?"

I shrugged, not looking away from the bar I was scrubbing. "Blaise is a fire mage so curses don't work on him. It's to do with his blood."

"Huh. I didn't know that. What about you?"

"Vampire," I said by way of explanation, flashing him a carefree grin. "Curses don't affect us either. We have the same thing in our blood as fire mages."

River chewed on his lip, eyeing me sceptically. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. No offence, River, but you didn't even know fire mages couldn't be affected. I'm certain I know more about being a vampire than you do. Don't forget, I've also been in the medical field since before you were even born."

River flushed as my arrow hit its target. "Yeah, you're right. I guess you probably know more than me."

I kept smiling as I lied through my teeth. "I definitely do."

He started to walk off, halting as I called out. "Hey, River?"

He stopped, looking back at me questioningly.

"Don't mention this to Blaise, okay? He knows the blade was cursed, but he doesn't know I'm the one who pulled it from him."

His eyes narrowed. "You're asking me to lie to my twin?"

I held his gaze, willing him to go with it. "It's not a lie, it's more of an omission…"

"Why?"

I offered a grain of truth to seal the deal. "Look, he's only just started to move on from everything that…happened. Yesterday, seeing Bailey die again, it's taken him right back there. I'm worried that if he knows I touched the sword too, it might make him spiral."

River cocked his head to the side, a predator studying its prey. "But why would it matter if you've not been cursed?"

"It doesn't," I said through gritted teeth. "At least, it shouldn't. But he's not thinking rationally right now. I'm trying to protect Blaise, River. To keep him happy. That's all I'm asking for your help with."

River's face softened. "You really care about him, don't you?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He tapped the bar twice before walking off. "Okay. Your secret's safe with me."

With River onside, it hadn't taken much to convince everyone else that there was nothing to worry about. They'd all agreed to not mention anything to Blaise either, so there was no danger there.

All I had to do was keep searching for a cure. Given the demons hadn't even known they couldn't be cursed in the first place, there was little point in going to them for advice. Besides, one of them would tattle on me to Blaise, which would be a whole other problem.

I'd considered reaching out to Sebastian, but would he even want to help me? It was highly unlikely. He only ever showed up these days if it would benefit him in some way. Given it'd been over two centuries since we'd had a civil conversation that had lasted more than a few minutes, I doubted he'd be willing to help, even if he knew how.

So my immediate circle was a big fat no in the help department. I'd even subtly prodded Ferry, but he didn't seem to know anything about cursed weapons either. I'd struck up a friendship with the Reaper, both of us taking up residence in the club night after night while the men we truly wanted to be with slept.

Once I'd brushed my teeth and showered, I shot off a text to Blaise.

Morning, boy. How did you sleep?

Blaise

Fine.

What's on the agenda today?

I was still giving Blaise daily tasks. The difference now was that not as many included me. I didn't want to put any distance between us, it was the last fucking thing I needed, but in spite of what Blaise believed, he was highly intelligent and perceptive. The more time I spent with him, the more likely it was that he'd realise something was wrong.

If Blaise had noticed, he hadn't commented on it. Like me, he'd put up walls of his own. No matter what he told me, I knew my rejection had cut him deep. Part of me, a big part, wanted to confess everything. To tell him he was the future I wanted. Not a contract, but a relationship.

If I did that though, I'd have to also confess what I was hiding. Even worse, I'd have to tell him I hadn't found any answers that might save me.

I knew what that would do to him. I wasn't putting that man through another minute of guilt or stress, not when I could avoid it.

Blaise

Currently doing a puzzle and then meeting Bailey at the gym for a workout.

I smiled down at my phone. This burgeoning friendship between Bailey and Blaise hadn't been on my bingo card. The two of them had bonded over their love of exercise and Marvel. I admitted that I'd made Blaise watch all the movies in the hope he'd have a talking point with Bailey if needed, and I was fucking delighted that it was helping to build a stronger bond between the two.

Another message flashed up before I could respond.

Blaise

Will I see you today?

I glanced up at my reflection. Did I look as bad as I felt? Was my skin more drawn? Were those bags under my eyes always there?

Maybe.

Three little bubbles appeared under my message, appearing and disappearing so many times that I almost hit the button to call him.

When his reply finally came, it was short. It was strange how much power could be packed into two letters, the knowledge that I'd hurt him again all too evident.

Blaise

OK.

The day didn't unfold how either Blaise or I had expected.

Mere hours after I'd spoken to Blaise, I'd found myself at the gym at the same time as him. Not to see him or work out, but in a medical capacity.

Ferry, one of the most powerful demons to ever exist, had been floored by a single punch from Harlow. It had spooked us all, none of us understanding how it was possible. Ferry had confessed he'd been feeling spates of fatigue, something that had alarm bells ringing. I'd checked him over carefully, unable to figure out what was causing it.

The only thing I was certain of was that it wasn't a curse. Thanks to my own recent experiences, I knew that Ferry wouldn't be feeling like this occasionally—he'd be struggling constantly. His powers had bounced back relatively fast too, implying it wasn't a curse that was slowly eroding him away. Given he also hadn't been exposed to anything carrying a curse, we could cross that off the list.

That hadn't been the most unexpected thing to happen today though. Mere moments after he'd recovered, his bond with Leo had told him he was in danger.

I'd barely had a moment to acknowledge Blaise before we were being launched into the air in the arms of a demon. As the fire consuming the tower block came into view, everyone was focused on the task at hand. While we didn't tend to get involved in human emergencies as a rule, none of us would ignore an imminent catastrophe such as this.

Blaise had been put to work getting the fire under control using his powers, while I'd helped Cal search the building for survivors.

Hours later, we were back at Blaise's house. Ferry had managed to save Leo, but the danger was far from over. It'd taken all my medical skills to pull Leo back from the brink. Without Ferry's mark on him, he wouldn't have survived the journey back to Blaise's.

Not only had Leo been in peril, Ferry had barely made it to the ground before collapsing himself. I'd let Blaise and Cal take care of him, focusing my energy on Leo. If he died, he'd take Ferry with him.

Fortunately that hadn't been the case. The demons had stolen various pieces of hospital equipment, setting them up in Blaise's spare bedroom. It had taken a long time, but Leo was now on the road to recovery. Any moment now, he should regain consciousness, all his injuries fully healed.

I rolled my shoulders as the kettle came to the boil. What I wouldn't give for some extra supe healing right now. I'd never needed to worry before, but with this curse, my own powers were no longer sufficient. All my muscles were aching, something I'd never experienced before.

Large hands landed on my shoulders, gently massaging them. "You okay?"

"Yep." I wanted to relax into Blaise's touch, but that might alert him to something being wrong. Instead, my whole body tensed.

His hands slipped away, his breath hitting the back of my neck. I wanted to face him, to bury my head against his chest and let him hold me. I might be a Dom, might be the one always in charge, but I still wanted to be held sometimes. To share my burden with another. To not feel so…alone.

Blaise wasn't that person though, not for me. Not right now. This wouldn't be a burden halved, but a burden doubled.

"Where's our furry friend?" I filled my mug and watched the tea bag float to the surface. Please don't call me on my weird behaviour.

"Just got out of the shower." My shoulders sagged in relief as Blaise went with my subject change. "He's very…forward."

I snorted. That was one word for it. Danny was also a firefighter, and Leo's best friend. Mori had pulled him from the building, informing us that he'd found him under several floors' worth of debris.

A normal human wouldn't have survived, but Danny wasn't human. Unbeknownst to Leo, his best friend was a wolf shifter. Not just any wolf shifter either, but an alpha. I'd never come across an alpha who was a lone wolf, but apparently there was a first time for everything. Harlow had tried to ask Danny about his clan, but all he'd got for his troubles was a withering glare.

When he wasn't avoiding questions about his absent clan, Danny was…well, he was a flirt. Didn't matter whether the man in question was human or supe, mated or single, Danny had managed to work in an innuendo or two. If it hadn't been for the concern he'd shown towards Leo, I'd have thought there was little more to him than being a flirt.

The sheer terror Danny had displayed about his friend when he'd regained consciousness showed that he was a man who cared deeply though. I was willing to put good money on his fuckboi behaviour being a front. Like Sebastian, who was an arsehole to keep everyone at a distance, I suspected Danny was guilty of something similar.

But if he hit on Blaise once more, he was going to find my fangs in his throat.

"He's certainly something," I said, finally turning to face Blaise. There was a smudge of ash on his cheekbone. My fingers itched to rub it away, but I kept them tightly clamped around my mug. "How are you doing? Feeling okay after today?"

"I'm fine." He tilted his head to the side. His stare was far more intense than usual. Normally, his submissive tendencies had him keeping his eyes down. There was none of that right now. Heat flickered in his gaze, like he was trying to burn through the layers of me to see what was underneath. "Are you okay? You were rolling your shoulders like they were aching."

I echoed his words back at him. "I'm fine. Just feeling a bit tired, that's all. Today was a lot."

My answer did the opposite of placate his worries. "You don't get tired. Ever. I've watched you dispatch dozens of demons while running on two hours of sleep over the previous three days."

Fuck. What was I supposed to say to that?

Thankfully I was saved by Danny striding into the kitchen. The red in his dark hair shone under the fluorescent lighting, his large body practically humming with energy. He walked towards the back door and wrenched it open before addressing Blaise over his shoulder. "Leo wants to see what I can do. Maybe you should come too, buttercup. You might see something you like."

My fangs lengthened as venom filled my mouth. Danny winked at Blaise before disappearing into the night.

Blaise coughed, trying to hide the fact that he was blushing furiously. "Should we go out there?"

I glared in the direction Danny had gone, reminding myself of all the reasons why I shouldn't go out there and bury my stake somewhere painful.

Leo would be upset.

You'd have to clean your stake after. Wolf blood is a fucking pain to remove.

Blaise would be confused as to why you were so jealous.

That last one worked.

"We probably should," I said reluctantly. "Leo's only just recovered. If this all goes south, they might need me to help."

Wolf shifters were notoriously volatile. Given Danny's general attitude and the fact that he was a lone wolf, he was likely a loose cannon just waiting to explode.

I kept close to Blaise as I followed him into the garden. I tried to contain my jealousy, but from the shit-eating grin Danny sent my way, he saw right through me.

Leo and Ferry joined us. I swept my eyes over the two of them, satisfied that neither was looking worse for wear. Leo's skin was luminous from both the full moon and the shield Ferry had slipped over him.

Danny rolled his eyes as he spotted it. "You don't need to protect Leo from me."

Leo glanced at a now-scowling Ferry. "What are you doing?"

"Shielding you. I'm sure Danny wouldn't intend to harm you. But his kind is…"

"Dangerous? Uncontrolled? Feral?" Danny listed them off as he stripped. "You can say it, Ferry. It's nothing I haven't heard before."

Ferry winced. "Look, I'm not trying to offend you, but?—"

"He's your mate. I get it."

Privately, I thought Ferry was right to shield Leo. I was tempted to slip one over Blaise, and he wasn't even human.

Or my mate.

Danny was now getting chewed out by Leo, who was less than pleased that his best friend knew he had a supernatural mate before he did. Apparently, Leo also believed his mating was a done thing.

"Wait," Leo said suddenly. "I get a choice?"

Beside me, I felt Blaise shift on his feet. Leo didn't have a choice. Not really. I mean, he could deny the mating bond, but it would never fully go away. He would always be Ferry's, and Ferry would always be his.

It was nice, in a way. To not have to worry if you were making the right choice. To know that fate had taken the decision out of your hands. That your person would find you eventually and then you'd live happily ever after.

That wasn't an option for me. Or for Blaise.

And a happily ever afterwouldn't be on the cards for us if I didn't find a cure for this curse.

I cleared my throat, breaking the tender moment between Ferry and Leo. The latter turned back to his best friend, quirking an eyebrow. "Okay, let's get this over with. Show me what you've got."

Danny swept a hand down his naked body, leering. I fought the urge to slap my hand over Blaise's eyes. Of course the shifter had to be fucking ripped and a firefighter. "This isn't enough for ya?"

Flames flickered over Danny's hair, singeing the edges before extinguishing. I shot an incredulous look at Blaise, but he shook his head, trying desperately to stifle a laugh.

I grinned broadly, turning back in time to see Danny gaping at Ferry. "Did you just set me on fire?"

Ferry did a piss-poor job of hiding his smirk. "Me? No. You must be imagining things."

Danny muttered something about ‘fucking demons and their fucking fire'under his breath before transforming.

Leo's reaction was predictably human. He cycled through shock and obvious questions before trying to approach the wolf.

I stepped forward at the same time Ferry did, ready to intervene if needed. Ferry grabbed Leo with a growl, pulling him away from Danny.

"He's not going to hurt me, Ferry. It's Danny." Leo's admonishment had the Reaper backing off rapidly, looking chastised. I exchanged a smirk with Blaise. Who knew it'd be this much fun to see humans walking their supe mates like dogs?

When I looked back, Leo was rubbing his eyes while Ferry fussed over him in concern. He gestured me over even as his mate reassured him that he was fine.

I patted Ferry on the arm, well used to dealing with overwrought demons. "He's okay, Ferry. With your strength and powers, he'd now survive the entire building falling on him."

"See, seven floors is nothing," Danny said in a sing-song voice.

"Besides," I continued, ignoring Danny and studying the demon closely. With everything that had happened with Leo, we hadn't had a chance to discuss whatever was going on with him. "You're the one I'm worried about, Ferry."

Leo's head jerked to look at Ferry. "Why? Are you hurt? What's wrong?"

Ferry glowered at me in a way that suggested he was going to introduce me to his infamous scythe later. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Nothing. I'm fine."

Yeah, I wasn't letting this go. Knowing demons the way I did, Ferry was likely going to try and ignore the issue until pushed. If clueing Leo in meant he'd be pushed earlier, then that was the route I was going to take. "You're not fine."

"Do we have to discuss this right now?" Ferry hissed, his demon rising in his eyes.

My hands went to my hips as I arched a brow. "I think now is the perfect time, unless you plan on being a complete wanker and hiding this from Leo."

Hypocrite, my brain whispered. Fucking hypocrite.

No, this was different. Leo and Ferry were mates. They might not have been fully bonded yet, but that didn't change that they were fated. Blaise and I weren't mates. We weren't even in a relationship, just a contract.

Then why do you hate yourself right now?

Ferry and Leo had a heated discussion. I knew straight away that I'd done the right thing. Leo wasn't going to let this go, which meant Ferry wouldn't be able to ignore the issue and hope it went away.

Like you are, you mean.

Fuck, I needed a drink.

"Well as fun as this, I think I'm gonna grab a quick cuppa before heading off," Danny said, still naked as the day he was born.

Blaise cleared his throat, making me whirl around. My boy's face was flushed, his gaze on the sky. "Umm, do you think you can put on some clothes first?"

My fangs pushed at my gums at the mere idea that Danny was making Blaise feel uncomfortable in his own home. I held back, reminding myself that Leo would be upset if I tore his best friend's throat out in front of him.

Just then, Danny laid a hand on Blaise's chest. "Why? See something you like and are struggling to control yourself?"

Something inside me snapped.