Chapter 6

Six

C ody did nothing but eat and sleep for days. He felt the trailer move underneath him, knew that things were moving, going in and out around them.

And he could smell it when the terrain changed. West Texas had a feeling in the air, a scent to it. Phillip was taking him to the ranch.

We're going home? Are you bringing everyone? They need to be safe.

The whole kit and caboodle. Some of the day workers opted to move on, but the rodeo is coming to the ranch.

He relaxed, knowing that both he and Phillip, as well as his people, would be safe at the ranch. His wards were great, his ranch remote, and he would just dare that demon uncle of Phillip's to try to set foot on his land.

The bastard would fry.

Phillip's chuckle stroked his ear. "Will he now?"

Yes.

"I like that idea, love."

That low, growly voice sent a shiver down his newly sensitive spine.

Love? He wanted to know that was true.

You have always been that, Cody. I've never stopped loving you. Never. He felt Phillip's hands on him.

He wanted to scream, to cry, to hold on tight. The thing he did was hold on, because his voice was blown still, and tear production was nil.

It was too much. It wasn't enough. And he was too damn sick to deal with it.

"Rest, Cody. I'll be here when you wake up."

He closed his eyes, which were mostly working, and went right back to sleep.

When he woke much later, the world was still again, and he felt the difference in the bed. They were home.

They were home, and Phillip was here. With him.

He opened his eyes, but they weren't right. Not yet. They felt covered in a film. So he closed them and used his hands to explore the bed. He found Phillip right away, sitting up against the headboard.

You okay?

"I like your house."

Thanks .

"I was just reading. How are you feeling? Need a snack?"

I'm tired, but it feels good to be here.

"It's damn good for you to be with me, Cody. That whole situation terrified me." Phillip put his book aside.

I don't intend to do it again, no. What did he want?

"He wants something I have. A family relic that has been around for a long time."

Serena. He knew that Selena was a live representation of that relic, and that there was no going back from that. It was ingenious on Phillip's part to give Selena a physical form and keep the family's good-luck charm, but give her a will of her own.

"Yes."

Damn. Why?

There's a demon war coming, love. He needs her to keep the wolves at bay, so to speak. Not our pack of course. He won't give up.

Then we destroy him. He can't have Serena. She's special.

She is. And I will protect both of you with my life. Phillip's mental voice went hard. Growly. Which was so damn hot.

And if Cody could think that, he must be feeling better.

I want to help.

You need to rest and heal. That's how you help. Lord Phillip was bossy.

I could use more blood, Cody admitted.

"Werewolf or kitty?" Phillip chuckled. "I would offer, but you sucked me pretty dry. Give me another day."

Sorry, I wasn't quite myself.

"No apologies." Phillip's fingers trailed along his cheek. "I have Brax… He donated."

You give me that, and I might start craving catnip. The energy of it though? That was going to heal so many things. Brax's blood was so damn sparkly and downright… well… healing, like everything else about the guy.

"It was freely given. Everyone's been very generous. They worry about you. They love you."

He wasn't sure if the tone in Phillip's voice was confusion or fondness. It was hard to tell.

They're my people. And Phillip was his demon.

"I am yours. Now eat." The bag was pushed to his mouth, and he struck, still too hungry to deny the urge.

He expected the energy that hit him to be electrified, but instead, it was remarkably mellow.

Like getting drunk—or better.

His entire body relaxed, and he stretched, a low rumble coming out of his throat.

"Oh, isn't that pretty?" Phillip chuckled. "I think I'm going to have to make sure you get one of these every now and again. It's the mixture to make you a much better person."

Cody would argue, but it was true. This was neither bright nor hot, not a bit fiery. This was like being wrapped in a warm snuggly blanket of joy.

Brax was like that. He was the earth daddy kitty of the rodeo cavalcade, feeding everyone and giving a deep sort of comfort. So that was what his blood did as well.

"Don't go away while I sleep," he warned. "I might track you down this time." Listen to that. His voice was working. And he'd managed to put both humor and a deadly seriousness in it.

"Oh, love. I'm here." Phillip's tone switched to… somehow wistful. Not at all like his razor-sharp mate. Something had truly changed in Phillip this time, he thought.

"Okay. I'm believing in you. I love you, and nothing's been right in years."

"No. Nothing has. It's been a very dry, lonely existence." Phillip stroked his hair, fingers so gentle. "And I've decided I'm done with that shit. There will be no more of us being apart."

"I'd have thrown myself off a building earlier if I'd thought it would bring you back…" That wasn't true. He wasn't the leaping type. But the sentiment was real.

"Bah." Phillip chuckled. "But this threat was entirely true. I could have lost you forever. A few decades are nothing compared to that. You scared me half to death."

Your uncle's a skank-assed motherfucker. What does he want? With Serena, I mean? His voice was still raw enough that it was easier to talk mentally.

"He wants to use her. Supposedly, there's some sort of demon war coming. You know what? I give no shits."

I understand. Well, we've all acknowledged that him getting her is not going to be a thing. I don't know about you, but that puts my back up. And I will get all western on his ass. He caught me by surprise once. The chances of that happening again were slim to none. Cody was going with none.

Especially now that Denny and Thack had their eyes open. And honestly? His money was on Phillip against anyone, demon or human.

Even when they were fighting and hating on each other, his money had been on Phillip.

"You know how I feel about Serena," Phillip said.

Yeah, but you did choose your uncle once.

The long fingers combing through his hair paused. "No. No, I chose a traditional Darque family business interest over one of our shared ones for a short time." Phillip sighed. "And it was a mistake. Have I done enough time to make up for it now?"

He forced his eyes open, trying to see Phillip. "Yes. Come home."

"Good." Phillip nodded sharply, which he saw in kind of three fuzzy silhouettes. "Thank you, love. And when you're all healed, I will tear you up again. In fact, I am looking forward to it with some excitement."

So formal. "I can't wait to make you try." They had been fun, once upon a time. They could be again. "You'll have to grovel a little. It cut deep, feeling like you were ashamed of me." He closed his mouth. It was getting harder to talk every second.

"Never. I have never been ashamed of you. But I admit, I was not at all certain how to be what you needed." Phillip chuckled. "I've lived in your world long enough now to give it another shot. So we'll discuss this when you're all feisty again."

"Mmm." He melted against Phillip when his lover slid down in the bed with him and held him tight.

"I love you, Cody. Never forget that." Phillip kissed his forehead, the contact warm, tender, and amazing.

He sure never would get tired of hearing it.

And it was the best ever thought to send him back into sleep.