Chapter 13: Athos

Chapter Thirteen

Athos

I ’m all out of refreshing cherry-flavored carbonated beverages. Is an assistant who goes for refills too much to ask for?

I place Eldritch’s passed-out body on the mattress in the guest bedroom of Bane’s house. I briefly contemplated bringing him to Charity’s home, but he could wake up disoriented and shift back out of habit.

If that happens, I’d rather it be Bane’s house that’s damaged.

I need to check in on my mate, but I’m also tempted to make a trip to the store.

It would only take me a minute or two.

Who knew artificial cherry flavoring could be so delectable?

I certainly didn’t.

However, Charity will likely be grateful to have Eldritch in his fae form, making now the perfect time to ask again.

Having Charity be the keeper of my jar is a far more enticing prospect than easily replaceable beverages.

Grabbing my jar from Nadia’s home takes no time at all.

If Charity accepts it, Wraith can finally be free of me.

Appearing at the bottom of the stairs in Charity’s great room, I glance around for the perfect location. I’m technically unable to place it down without her permission. Damn, I hope she’s awake, or I’ll have to return it to Wraith.

I jolt as a loud clatter comes directly at me from the stairs.

I spin around as Charity barrels into me.

My eyes widen as my jar goes flying.

It’s a split-second decision between allowing her to smack into the wooden flooring or saving my jar.

It’s quite the painful choice, emotionally.

Not physically.

I choose to protect my mate’s soft body, even though I’ve been told that, if my jar is destroyed, I will cease to exist.

My jaw falls.

Bane flies through the air, landing hard on his back next to Charity and me as he cradles my jar to his chest.

“Damn, woman,” he huffs, using his feet and shoulders to push himself off the floor in one fluid movement. “Do you have it out for the djinn?”

“Oh my god,” Charity whispers. “I’m so freaking sorry.”

I chuckle and siphon us to our feet, since apparently, Bane wanted to make me look bad with his ability to get upright without using his arms.

Brute strength will never be my greatest asset, but I have other desirable attributes.

I smirk down at Charity as she clutches on to my forearms for dear life.

“I need a favor,” I murmur.

“Anything,” she says as her pupils dilate before my very eyes.

“Since Wraith never made a wish and Bane just took ownership of my jar…” I give her a chagrined smile.

This could look like a setup, but I certainly didn’t plan its near destruction and Bane’s intervention. I simply hoped to bat my eyelashes seductively and comment on how nicely my jar fit her choice in home decor.

I offer some flirty lash batting, just for good measure. “Will you, as my mate, accept my jar?”

Charity’s eyes widen, and she nods tentatively. “Yes, I’m so sorry. I know how important it is. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Give it no more thought.” I bring a hand up, brushing my fingers over her cheek. “You’ll need to physically take it from Bane.”

The dragon shrugs, holding out the three-foot-by-two-foot canister. “It’s kinda heavy, so be careful.”

Charity turns and collects it. “Do I need to put it anywhere in particular? Or do you have a favorite spot?”

I chuckle. “I do enjoy the kitchen, but my newfound love of cooking might be talking. How about near the fireplace?”

“That works for me,” she agrees, carefully taking the three steps down into the living room. She crosses to the mantel and places my jar down near the right side of the fireplace. “Do I need to say anything special?”

My head shakes as the magic binds us together. “No special words. Once I claim you, no one else will be able to command me. I’ll truly be free for the first time in thousands of years.” I siphon to Charity in full form. It’s always strange to have legs, but I enjoy them as she melts into my front. “You’ll need to be extra careful with wishing.”

“Athos!” she screeches. “You just said it.”

I laugh, sliding a hand down to squeeze her ass. “I can say it with no repercussions, but I’ve always done my best to set a good example. Likewise, others can say it in passing, as long as there’s no intent, but the consequences are unpredictable and it’s best not to risk it.”

“So, I’ll be the only person who needs to carefully choose my words?” Charity asks.

“From what I’ve been told?” I bite my lip, studying her face. “Yes. My magic will intrinsically be tied to you once I claim you with a mating bite.”

“That’s crazy,” she whispers, shaking her head. “Wait, I know this might seem really insensitive, considering the timing, but did you…” She studies my face, like she’s searching for the right words. “Is Eldritch okay?”

“He’s sleeping in Bane’s guest room,” I say. “And never feel guilty for being concerned about your mate. I know that, if the situation were reversed, you would be equally worried about me.”

“I really would be.” She smiles, staring at me under her lashes.

“Would you feel better if I brought you to see him?” I offer.

“Yeah, you do that,” Bane says, typing away on his phone. “I’ve got an errand to run.” He shoves the device into his pocket and swaggers over, pulling Charity out of my hold. “Make yourself at home.” He bends low and captures her mouth in a filthy kiss that makes me wish I had that kind of confidence when it comes to a woman.

The meeting of their mouths goes on for so long that I find my foot tapping against the floor as I wait.

I could have easily popped over to a store for some cherry carbonation and been back by the time Bane stands to his full height.

“We have no idea if Eldritch will be the creature we’ve met or someone completely different when he wakes.” Bane’s jaw flexes, and he gives me a serious look. “I’m trusting you to keep her safe in my absence.”

His words could be insulting, but ultimately, he’s entrusting me with his mate. That is a great honor, considering how territorial dragons are.

I bow at the waist. “Always. It doesn’t even need to be said.”

Bane gives Charity a final kiss and smirks. “By the way, check out the bedroom immediately across the hall from mine. It’s a surprise for you.” He winks and swaggers off in his unlaced boots.

How he doesn’t constantly fall on his face is beyond me.

Then again, I rarely bother with legs, so there’s nothing to trip over.

“Come along, darling.” I hold my arm out for Charity. “Let’s check on Eldritch and see about that surprise.”

Eldritch is fine—sleeping off the transformation, but in perfect health, as far as I can tell. It takes quite a bit of convincing to get Charity to leave him, but her eyes are red, and she’s running a fever once more.

If she is on the verge of her quickening, she needs to rest and allow herself to relax. It’s supposed to be an intimate time, when the fae’s mates lavish them with extra care and attention.

She finally concedes when I mention it could harm Eldritch to bother him too soon. He needs the opportunity to heal and wake on his own, much like Charity needs to allow herself to be pampered for once.

“I don’t actually know which bedroom is Bane’s,” Charity says as we make it into the hallway.

“We’ll figure it out.” I grab her and siphon us to the second floor. It takes two tries before we locate the primary bedroom. The door directly across from that opens to a guest bedroom.

We step inside, and Charity frowns, staring across the room. It’s immediately clear to me what I’m looking at, but I’m not sure she understands.

I don’t see how he could know her quickening would begin, so I assume it’s part of dragon culture to build their mate a nest. I know it’s prevalent with wolves and large cat shifters. It gives them somewhere to ride out a heat, as they call it. It also provides a safe, comfortable place to give birth and for the mother to tend her young.

“Do you know what it is?” I murmur close to her ear as my hand snakes around her middle. “Your dragon built you a nest.”

“Oh my god, no freaking way,” she squeals.

“Would you like to check it out?”

“Yes.” She nods wildly against my chest, and I move to the side to scoop her up.

The front is open, with four carpeted steps leading up to the platform. There are walls built out on the left and right to give the raised area some protection, which doesn’t make sense in a home in Haven, but in nature, it would offer additional safety.

The nest itself is built into the floor of the platform. It has a step down, and then the entire floor appears to be a plush mattress. The walls on the left and right feature floor-to-ceiling cabinets that, if I had to guess, house extra pillows and blankets.

Charity coos, wiggling in my hold until I place her on her feet.

“May I borrow your phone for a moment?” I ask.

She mindlessly reaches into the pocket of her silk robe and tosses it over her shoulder at me as she descends to test the nest.

Pulling up the camera feature, I zoom in on the pure joy on her face and send Bane several quick texts before siphoning over to check the cabinets.

I genuinely hope he appreciates the effort I’m putting in to being a good packmate. We’re going to be stuck together for eternity, so I’d rather we find some peace and common ground.

“Would you like to examine the extra supplies?” I ask, patting around to feel the sheets and blankets.

Charity belly flops onto the nest mattress, rolling around to check out the pillows and throw blankets lining it. “These are fine for now. They even smell like Bane!” She sounds so awed that I chuckle. “Come snuggle with me until I have to get ready for work?”

I siphon across the room, appearing at her side.

“I’m not sure you should leave the nest. Your quickening could start at any time.” I brush my fingers over her cheek to covertly check for her level of fever.

“I have to do payroll tonight,” Charity says, frowning. “There’s no way I can call in sick, but I might be able to leave early, once it’s done. Wait, what in the world are we going to do with Eldritch if he’s still asleep?”

Everything in me wants to push for her to be selfish for once. Nadia or Aline could come in for one night to handle the issuing of funds, but Charity is far too sweet to pull her friends away from their new babies.

“We’ll figure it out,” I assure her. “Now, if you’re planning on working this evening, I need you to get some rest while you can.”