Page 28 of Caroled
“What—” Charles let his lids flutter open. Tenrael sat beside him, cradling Charles in one arm and holding a glass of juice. His wings were furled tightly against his back and his red eyes glowed with concern.
“No questions. We can trade tales later.”
Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea; Charles lacked the strength to speak more than a few words anyway. The most important information was obvious, in any case. Charles was alive and with Tenrael, who appeared unharmed. They weren’t in a hospital, nor in their room at the St. Francis. Charles wanted to know at least whose bed he was in. “Where?”
“We are in Abe and Thomas’s house.”
That was a relief, yet it also raised more questions—which Charles could ask later. He finished off the juice and, exhausted, let Tenrael lay him back onto the pillow. Yet Charles wanted to maintain some direct contact, so with great difficulty he raised his right arm, which proved to be swathed in bandages, and settled his hand on Tenrael’s bare leg. Only then did Charles notice the gold encircling his own index finger. “Your ring.” Confused, he lifted his other arm with the intention of removing the jewelry, but Tenrael stopped him with a gentle grip.
“Keep it on, Master.”
“But—”
“No questions.” Tenrael ran his broad fingers through Charles’s hair, and it was such a ridiculously tender thing for a demon to do to a mongrel like him that Charles had to smile. A moment later, he slipped into sleep.
* * *
“This is the part where everyone gets to explain.” Abe, in shirtsleeves and stocking feet and with a bottle of liquor in one hand, looked delighted at the prospect. “And I don’t care if it’s none of my business, I’m listening in. Actually, itismy business, seeing as I’m a Bureau agent. So explain.”
Tenrael looked to Charles for instructions, apparently letting Charles take charge of everything but his own care and welfare. Tenrael remained firmly the boss when it came to that.
Charles sighed and set aside an empty pie tin. The treat had come from Bianchi’s, and he’d eaten half this morning and the other half a few minutes ago. A full belly was doing wonders for his strength, and after four days of lolling in bed and venturing no farther than the bathroom, he was eager to move around a little. He still wanted answers, but he didn’t especially want to relive that night at the Sea Dog. He certainly didn’t want to do it more than once.
“If we discuss this now, we’ll have to repeat it for Thomas’s sake.” Thomas was stuck down on the living room couch, still unable to navigate the stairs. And since Abe spent every night lying on a bedroll on the floor beside him, Charles had the benefit of Thomas and Abe’s comfy bed.
“I’ll tell him the story.” But Abe looked slightly guilty, probably over leaving his lover out of the main action.
“We’ll still have to explain to Townsend.”
Abe made a face. “Townsend. Yeah, I almost forgot that schmuck is involved.”
Charles nodded sympathetically. Now that he knew the events leading up to Abe and Thomas—and Townsend—joining the Bureau, he understood why his hosts were especially uncomfortable around the chief. Hell, even agents without that history were wary of the guy. “Can’t be helped. This is most definitely under Bureau jurisdiction.”
“I know. And he’s paying all of our rents.” Abe pointed the bottle at Tenrael. “Heispaying you too, right?”
“Yes.”
Abe grinned and raised the bottle. “Mazel tov.” Then his expression grew serious. “Okay. I’ll call themamzerand see if he wants to come up here.” Mumbling to himself, he left the bedroom.
Tenrael, who’d apparently decided this was a clothing-optional household, was kneeling beside the bed, looking entirely content. Charles ruffled his smooth dark hair, which felt like raw silk, and leaned back against the pillows. “This is a nice bed.”
“It is.” Ten had been sleeping with him, ever careful not to jostle Charles’s injuries.
“Maybe we should get a new mattress when we get home. Ours isn’t nearly this comfortable. We can afford it with what the Bureau’s paying me.”
“Payingus, Master. I have never spent my own money because, before this, I never had any to spend. I am looking forward to trying it.”
Charles chuckled at the image of his magnificent demon carrying a shopping basket through the aisles of a grocery store, accidentally brushing items off the shelves with his wings. He’d have to wear trousers for the pockets, or else carry a wallet in his hand. Would he collect Green Stamps, lick them, and stick them in a booklet? Or perhaps he’d interrogate the greengrocer about the proper kinds of apples for pie.
“You look happy, Master.”
Did he? That was a nice change. “I was thinking about how I never really expected the normal trappings of domesticity. But what I’ve ended up with is so much better.”
“You have bites all over your body.”
“And a demon at my side.”
Tenrael grinned. They might have investigated whether Charles was healed enough for gentle lovemaking, but Abe knocked and entered the room. “Townsend will be here in a couple of days. He’s dealing with a bigger crisis right now.”
