Page 58 of Threads of Fate

The person next to him begins a running commentary about the character and plot of what appears to be his favorite show. Nix turns his head just enough to take in the sight—a tiny figure with a head full of fluffy brown curls, big, expressive dark brown eyes, and a heart-shaped mouth. He’s sipping an icy drink through a straw, the faint clink of ice against the cup filling the quiet, and the rich aroma of mocha hangs in the air.

It’s an iced coffee, Nix realizes, but his focus lingers on the boy’s delicate features. He’s so strikingly pretty that Nix’sheart skips and races, a long-forgotten warmth blooming in his chest. He knows he should be more concerned about a beautiful stranger lounging in bed with him, but he lets the strange mix of comfort and sizzling attraction seep into his very bones, grounding him in a way he’s never felt before.

Nix tunes in on the quiet commentary. “That’s Jensen. Don’t tell Gideon, but Jay knows him! They were on an award show once. He’s so hot, right?Rawr.” The boy slurps his coffee again and smacks his lips while Nix wonders who Jensen, Jay, and Gideon are.

“I guess he is. If you like that sort of thing.” His throat is dry, and his voice is deeper than usual; maybe the boy will share his coffee or get him a sip of water.

“I do like that sort of thing. But I’ve already got another ten spanks coming and I don’t need anym—” The boy flails, dumping his iced coffee down his front, as the tablet smashes to the floor with a crack.

Nix can’t help it. With a startled yelp, he bolts upright, his arms rising instinctively to shield his head from the jarring noise—and whatever threat might follow. His fingers grip a black t-shirt beside him like a lifeline, his gaze locked on the ground, too afraid to risk meeting the stranger’s eyes in case they mean him harm.

The boy jumps off the bed and Nix notices the whole bed is covered by blankets and…laundry.

“Shit, you’re awake, Nixie! Shit. Was not expecting that, no I was not. Okay…” He cautiously picks up his tablet and places it on the bedside table. “I’m Luca.” Luca seems nervous, too, while the mocha smell suddenly grows bitter, and Nix wonders what he’s worried about and if he should try to help. The urge to make him feel better and make that chocolate-y smell sweet again is strong. That he thinks the smell is coming from the boy—Luca—is a bit unsettling, too.

Eyes still wide, Nix nods. “Where? I—here?” He can’t catch the words he needs, but it’s better when he brings the t-shirt to his nose. The basil scent is so good that he does it again and again until his mouth waters and his belly gets warm. It makes him feel comforted like nothing bad can happen, even though Nix knows from experience that bad things can always happen.

A tsunami of dread floods his system and scares him like nothing else has since he’s woken up. Bad things must have happened; otherwise, he wouldn’t be in an actual room instead of the ER, and if he’s here, where is Dawson? What if he comes and sees the boy—Luca—and hurts him like he hurts Nix?

He’s just Dawson’s type. Luca looks so sweet, and he’s clearly kind and gentle. He’s wearing a skirt and a tiny coffee-covered sweater, which makes Nix’s heartwigglein his chest despite his fear. Luca does not look like he knows pain, not like Nix.

Nix needs to protect him.

Just as the realization hits, the door swings open, and a man is standing, backlit, in the doorway. The lights are bright in the dark room, making it difficult for Nix’s eyes to adjust. Not being able to see the newcomer causes the dread in his belly to transform, and Nix stumbles on weak legs off the bed, yanking out his IV needle and feeling a terriblepullbetween his legs, but he can’t let that slow him down.

Disoriented and alarmed, Nix’s panic sharpens into certainty—Luca is in danger. The intruder must have already called Dawson. Without thinking, Nix lunges, wrapping his arms around Luca’s waist. He grabs Luca around the waist and it’s surprisingly easy to throw them back across the bed, where they land in the space behind it.

The sharp, metallic tang of blood hits his nose, making his fear spike into something wild and primal. Someone is bleeding—the scent is unmistakable—his frantic mind fixated on the terrifying possibility that it might be Luca.

Who hurt him?

In the space behind the bed, the dim light from the hall and the window can’t reach them, so he puts Luca on his butt in the corner and grabs as much of the laundry and blankets as possible, piling it on top of him, all while not taking his eyes off the man in the doorway. Dawson can’t get Luca if he can’t see him, and Nix might let Dawson hurt him, but he willnotlet him lay a hand on Luca.

The man raises his hands like he’s trying to calm a wild animal. Nix can hear loud growling and hissing coming from somewhere, and Luca is trying to remove the blankets and stand up. “Nix, it’s okay. It’s just the nurse—”

But Nix can feel something wild waking up inside him, and he growls a warning, “No.”

The nurse thinks better of approaching, abruptly vacating the room. The victory feels short-lived because Nix isn’t stupid, and he’s probably just gone to get Dawson. Nix doesn’t know where they are in the building, so they can’t run, and there are more people in the hallway.

Luca doesn’t smell scared (how can someone smell scared?), but the mocha scentisgetting stronger, and suddenly, all Nix wants is to close his eyes and snuggle with Luca in the pile of laundry and blankets. So they can cuddle and be safe together in the corner. The feelings are so strong Nix can feel them start to drag him under; instead of growling, he hears himself purr. Why is he purring? He didn’t even know he could make that sound.

Snap out of it, dummy!Nix scolds himself. Dawson is coming. Protect Luca. That’s all that matters.

Shaking his head, he digs his claws into his palms, the pain grounding him. The cozy pull of mocha-scented comfort fights against his instincts, but he shoves it aside, forcing Luca down onto his butt every time he tries to rise, a firm hand pressing on his head.

Doesn’t he sense the danger? Luca protests softly, confusion in his voice, but he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t know about Dawson.

The nurse doesn’t return, thankfully, but Nix spots feet under the door—hesitating, pausing, before moving on when the growling starts again. The acrid scent of even more blood stings his nose, reigniting his worry that it might be Luca’s. But he can’t help Luca now. He has to stay ready.Focus.Once they’re safe, he’ll bandage Luca up himself. The thought of the sweet, gentle boy enduring this kind of pain sends a fresh wave of grief through him.

Hatred for Dawson burns hot and heavy in his chest, building until it manifests in a burnt vanilla scent that saturates the small space behind the bed. The intensity makes Luca whimper, and Nix’s heart clenches, guilt and fury warring within him.

He doesn’t remember Luca from before he woke up, but maybe they are friends. He can’t remember if he has any. He doesn’t know how long it has been since Nix came to the hospital, but if Dawson has missed him, it’s going to be bad.

As if he can read Nix’s mind, he feels Luca’s touch on his ankle. A warm grip that grounds him reminds him that he’s not alone and that Nix can come back to the present, the high-pitched whine fading away. He comes back to himself with a new resolve to make sure Luca never meets Dawson, no matter what he has to do.

When Nix hears thundering footsteps approach, he looks at Luca to be sure he’s still buried under the blankets and clothing. The big brown eyes meet his from under the pile of blankets, and he smiles, “It’s okay now, Nix, my ma—partners are here.” Nix doesn’t think Luca knows that sometimes partners can hurt you, too.

The footsteps don’t stop until they are right at the door, and Nix’s growling gets louder in warning. Frustrated, he shouts,“Don’t! Don’t want you!” He shakes his head, and there’s a sudden, sharp pain in his mouth that he ignores. He thinks that if it’s Dawson out there, this time he will fight for Luca.

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