Page 124 of Labor of Love

“I could feel you growing heavy a moment ago, like you were about to pass out on me,” Marcus said, rubbing his forearms again. “Let’s get you home.”

“Yes, please,” Laney murmured, warmed by the wordhomeand every fuzzy feeling that was wrapped up in it.

With Marcus holding his wrists securely, he let his eyes close, trusting the gargoyle to get him back to the manor, even if he happened to fall asleep on his back. He was almost there too, when they landed and the soft jostling of Marcus’ feet touchingdown startled him back awake again. Yeah, it was definitely time for bed.

Only Marcus wasn’t quick to turn loose his wrists and instead, caressed them before slowly turning him loose. As Laney stepped down, he realized that Truett had landed behind them and was ready to carefully steady him as he slid off Marcus’ back.

“Thank you for this evening,” Truett said, offering his arm as they headed in.

“Yes,” Marcus said. “Many thanks. After the day you had, you didn’t have to gift us with your company.”

“I’m the one who should be thanking you for showing me the forest and the village,” Laney admitted. “Even if I did sleep through the last part of the woods.”

“No worries,” Truett said. “You’ll have plenty of time to see it all.”

“Why don’t we collect your things and show you to your room?” Marcus suggested.

“That would be wonderful, thank you,” Laney said, stifling a yawn. “Excuse me. I’m afraid the day is catching up to me.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Truett told him, escorting him in after Laney had shifted back to his larger form.

Even that was exhausting and took almost the last of the energy he had left. It took effort to put one foot in front of the other as they returned to the laundry room, where Marcus folded his things and placing them back in the backpack he’d washed and dried with them. He carried it too, so Laney didn’t have to do anything more than let Truett guide him.

Still, there was so much to see as they moved through the community spaces that Laney wished he wasn’t tired, because the library they passed, and the in-home theater, both fascinated him. He couldn’t wait to be asked to accompany someone to spend time in them.

He heard a door open and stumbled when Truett came to a halt unexpectedly as a fae with long, violet and silver hair, stepped from a room and nearly collided with them.

“There you guys are,” the fae said, his eyes lighting up when he spotted them. “I was wondering where you’d gotten to tonight. And who is this?”

“This is Laney,” Marcus said as he embraced the fae and tugged him close, resting his chin on the top of that violet covered head. “Our new companion.”

The accompanying intake of breath was sharp, but the squeal that followed was all joy.

“Please tell me you are not pulling a prank on me right now,” the fae said, peeking his head out from beneath his mate’s arm to study Laney. “He’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Laney said, straightening his shoulders while trying not to look so exhausted. “Are you Elden?”

“I am,” Elden replied, stepping away from Marcus and extending his hand to clasp forearms with him and pull him into a one-armed hug.

The moment they touched, the electric tingle that had prickled along Laney’s skin earlier returned full force. Gasping, he started to pull away, only to lock eyes with Elden, whose eyes widened as a soft gasp spilled from his lips too. Instead of releasing Laney, he turned their hands over and looked down, as did Marcus, peering over his shoulder while beside Laney, Truett let out a low rumble, leaving Laney to fear that he’d somehow offended one of the owners of his new home.

“I-I” Laney started to stammer, onto to catch sight of the colors blooming along this skin in a rapid arc of swirling hues that only grew when Marcus reached to touch the place where their bodies were joined.

Now his gaze met Laney’s, awe and joy flashing in those gray-green eyes, along with the glow that had been there earlier, only it was brighter now, as Truett reached to touch the spot as well.

The quarts on their stoney arms brightened as if lit from within, vines and ribbons of amethyst, stary aventurine and smokey quarts adding to the colors they already bore. Laney could only stare in awe as violet, sapphire, and other colors wrapped around his wrist, crossing and weaving into elaborate knots that left him frozen as they etched into his skin.

This was…. everything.

Everything he’d dreamed about and hoped for.

Only.

Shaking his head, Laney tried to clear his vision, and once more tried to tug his hand out of Elden’s grasp as it dawned on him that he was probably dreaming or so tired he was hallucinating and giving in to the wistful thinking that had been taking up residence in his mind for most of the night.

“Laney?” Truett said, a gentle finger brushing the hair back from his cheek, right before he glided it beneath Laney’s chin and tilted his head up.

“S-sorry, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to hold on like that,” Laney stammered. “I-I think I’m just overly tired at this point. My brain is starting to play tricks on me. I really should go lay down.”

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