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“Jesus fucking Christ.” There was no more lazy drawl in Soren’s voice. “How’s Alexei taking it? How areyoutaking it? When do we kill Wolfe?”

Jay didn’t know what to do with the last question, but still, how lucky he was to have such a fierce friend on his side. “He’s not awake yet. I need to stay with him. Do you think Gabe could bring some blood from the hospital? Just this once.”

Danny had lectured Jay before on the importance of not stealing bags of donated blood from humans who needed it, and Jay had taken that very much to heart. But for Alexei…

Soren tsked. “We’ll bring as many bags as you need. I don’t have Danny’s moral code against blood stealing; I’ll empty out the whole hospital if you ask me.”

“Um.” Jay couldn’t tell if Soren was joking or not. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”

“And Wolfe?” Soren’s voice held a dangerous edge.

“Leave him be.”

“Jay.”

Jay sighed. “This isn’t me being too nice or too naive or too anything else you want to call me. He knows I know he did it—he’s the one who told me Alexei was…hurt. He’ll defend himself against any attack. And I don’t want anyoneelsehurt. And—and he could have killed Alexei, if he wanted to. He didn’t.”

“He still needs to be dealt with. This is some Lucien-level fuckery.”

“And Lucien is still very much alive, isn’t he?” Jay countered, feeling a little pleased with himself for coming up with it. “But…I know. We need to have a— Um, a sit-down. Somewhere public. Neutral ground. So none of our people are in danger of getting hit.”

“Jaybird.” Now it sounded like Soren was holding back a laugh, which was a little unkind, considering Jay was coming up with some really great ideas. “Have you been watching mobster movies by chance?”

Jay was grateful Soren couldn’t see his flush over the phone. “Um. When Alexei told me about his past, I wanted to do some research.”

Soren didn’t quite hold the laugh back this time. Jay didn’t mind all that much, really. They’d both been exposed to so much trauma and violence in the den, and Jay knew Soren was skilled at getting his laughs in where he could (even if Jay thought he’d acted totally reasonably). “What did you choose for yourresearch?”

“I started withThe Sopranos, but I didn’t get very far. Tony wasn’t very nice to his wife.”

“That’s theItalianMaf— You know what, not important right now. We’ll bring the blood. See you soon.”

After Soren hung up, Jay leaned forward to smooth Alexei’s pretty hair back from his handsome face. He pressed a kiss to Alexei’s cheek. He grabbed onto his human’s cold hand.

And he waited.

The first beats of Alexei’s heart sent Jay’s own hammering.

It was happening. It washappening.

Jay tightened his grip on Alexei’s hand, his beastie alert and watchful.

Soren had told Jay bonded mates could feel each other’s emotions. How would Alexei feel when he woke up? Scared? Regretful? Resentful, even? It was Jay’s fault this had happened. Maybe Alexei would never want to speak to Jay ever again. And Jay would respect that. Hewould.

He stilled himself for the onslaught, not daring even to breathe, his entire being focused on Alexei’s face.

But the only thing Jay felt through the bond when Alexei opened those pretty multicolored eyes was…relief. Followed by affection. Desire. And a mix of the two that felt an awful lot like love.

Jay’s breath left him in a rush. Oh, it was there all right. Jay had been right before. Alexei had so much love for Jay.

“You’re here.” Alexei’s voice was raspy, like he’d just woken up from a long sleep. Which Jay supposed he had.

Jay squeezed Alexei’s hand. “Of course I am. Alexei, I’m so, so sorr—”

“My mate,” Alexei said, his gravelly voice so full of satisfaction that Jay could recognize it even without the added help of the bond.

Jay bit at his lip. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell—” His words were cut off in a gasp as, in one smooth motion, Alexei rose into a seated position and pulled Jay onto his lap, curling forward to nuzzle his head into Jay’s neck like a big blond puppy.

“Smell so good,” he murmured, nosing at Jay’s skin.

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