Page 29 of Brush with Death
Cyril glanced around.The spot where Vale was crouching was close to the lake, and that was where Sam had been found.It looked like he and the people with him had lit the fire, and somehow, Sam had ended up in the lake.
Cyril was frustrated.Without his ability to talk to Sam, he couldn’t find out what happened.It made him feel useless.
Who was he if he wasn’t a necromancer?How was he supposed to help people if he couldn’t talk to them?How could he keep his promise to Katie and find out what Sam had gone through?
Cyril was useless like this, and he hated it.He needed to do something, but without his ability, nothing he could do would be enough.
* * * *
THE FRONT DOOR OF THEapartment clicked shut behind them, the sound barely audible over Cyril’s shaky exhale.His shoulders slumped in what Vale knew was frustration and defeat.He could read his boyfriend’s expression like an open book because Cyril didn’t hide things from him.
Vale watched him carefully, his gaze softening as he took in the way Cyril’s dark hair stuck up at odd angles from running his hands through it all day and the faint tremor in his fingers as they clenched into fists.He was taking this hard.Vale didn’t have to ask to know that Cyril was worried about getting his ability back and about not being able to help his friend.He wished there was more he could do for him, but beyond supporting him, Vale was useless in this situation.
They hadn’t found much at the lake, but it was enough for Vale to be sure that Sam’s death hadn’t been an accident.It was frustrating for Vale, and he could imagine how much worse it was for Cyril.He’d been quiet on the way back, but he didn’t need to say anything for Vale to know what he’d been thinking about.
“I can’t do it, Vale,” Cyril muttered.“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.I’ve tried everything—everything—and I still can’t reanimate people.”He laughed bitterly.“I bet I couldn’t even reanimate a damn mouse right now.”He started pacing the length of the living room.It wasn’t big, but apparently, Cyril didn’t care about that.“What if it’s gone for good?”he asked.“What if I’m just broken now?”
Vale’s heart hurt at the pain and fear in Cyril’s voice.He stepped forward, catching Cyril by the arm and stopping him.“You’re not broken,” Vale said.He kept his voice low and steady in the hope of comforting Cyril.“You’re just tired.We’ve been at this for days.You need to breathe and allow your body to heal.”
Cyril shook his head and tried to pull away, but Vale didn’t let go.Instead, he tugged Cyril closer, wrapping his arms around him tightly.Cyril stiffened at first, but then he melted and allowed Vale to take his weight.He pressed his face against Vale’s chest, muffling a choked sob as his hands fisted in the fabric of Vale’s shirt.
Sometimes, Vale wasn’t quite sure what to do.Cyril was his first real relationship, and it left Vale feeling a little lost.He wanted nothing more than to promise that everything would be okay, but he couldn’t, and he hated it.He needed to do more, but there was nothing more hecoulddo.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, brushing his lips against Cyril’s temple and praying it would be enough.“You’reokay.We’ll figure this out together like we always do.”
Cyril’s breath hitched, his voice small and vulnerable.“But what if we don’t?What if I can’t fix this?Katie and Sam need me, Vale.Katie is counting on me, and I’m letting her down.”
Vale cupped Cyril’s face, tilting it upward so they could look at each other.He brushed away a tear from Cyril’s cheek and once again wished he could do more.“You’re not letting anyone down.You’re doing everything you can, but you have to remember that you’re not alone.”
For a moment, Cyril just stared at him.He looked like he was about to argue, so Vale readied himself for it, but Cyril didn’t say anything.Instead, he leaned into Vale’s touch, his eyelids fluttering shut as he exhaled.“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.
Vale never wanted Cyril to believe that.If anything, it was Vale who didn’t deserve Cyril.“Yeah, you do.”
Cyril’s lips twitched into a smile, and that was all the encouragement Vale needed.He dipped his head to capture Cyril’s mouth in a slow kiss.It wasn’t demanding or hurried—it was soft, patient, and full of unspoken promises that Vale couldn’t put into words because he didn’t know how.He wanted Cyril to know how much he meant to him, though.Hell, right now, Cyrilneededto know.
Cyril’s hands slid up Vale’s chest to loop around his neck and pull him closer as he kissed back with a desperation that made Vale’s heart clench.He wanted to give Cyril everything he yearned for, and he prayed he’d be able to.
When they finally parted, Cyril’s breathing was uneven.His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were bright with something other than the sadness he’d felt before—which was what Vale had been aiming for.
Vale smiled and reached up to brush a strand of dark hair from Cyril’s forehead.Cyril kept saying that he needed to get it cut, but he forgot every time.Vale didn’t mind.He liked Cyril looking a little messy.
“Better?”he asked gently.
Cyril nodded, though his expression turned sheepish.“A little.But I think I need more convincing.”
Vale raised an eyebrow as he smiled.There was the Cyril he’d been trying to coax out.“Oh?And how exactly do you expect me to convince you?”
Instead of answering, Cyril slipped his hands under Vale’s t-shirt and skimmed his fingers over the planes of his stomach.Vale sucked in a sharp breath.His muscles tensed under Cyril’s touch.He wanted more.
“Like this,” Cyril murmured.He didn’t sound sad anymore, and the heat in his voice went straight to Vale’s groin.
Vale’s hands dropped to Cyril’s hips, gripping them tightly as he pulled him harder against his body.“Cyril,” he said with a growl.“I love you.”
Cyril’s expression softened, and he leaned closer to nip at Vale’s jaw.“I know.I love you, too.”
Vale kissed Cyril again, but this time, he didn’t stop there.They stumbled toward the bedroom, and Vale had never been so happy that the apartment was so small.It didn’t take them more than five minutes to reach the bedroom—more time than it would have if they hadn’t been kissing and trying to get each other naked.
They discarded their clothes on the floor in their haste to feel skin against skin, dropping them as they went.Vale noticed something skitter from under his t-shirt and made a mental note to keep an eye on Oscar in case he tried to suffocate him by sitting on him the whole night in revenge.The damn thing was always sweet with Cyril, but he could have a mean streak where Vale was concerned, and it wouldn’t be the first time that Vale woke up with him sitting on his face.
