Page 81 of Bitter Heat
There was a darkness there that Janus wished he dared to confront, but Caleb just shook his head and turned his attention back to his son, cooing at him sweetly, as if he hadn’t just looked ready to murder a man with Yosef’s sharp stick.
“Kerry can’t know,” Yosef said, his brows unfurling. “Not just because I suspect he’d reject the help, but because, if questioned or it comes to light, he can’t afford a bribery charge.”
Caleb nodded. “Fair enough.”
Janus hated the idea of keeping anything from Kerry, especially when it had to do with his life. He’d already been so violated, his wishes disregarded, and yet… There was no way he’d stand a chance against judges bought and paid for by the Monhundys. If Xan had some reason to want to screw that family over and free Kerry at the same time, then so be it. He’d let his cousin use his infinite amount of wealth for something undeniably good.
Like Kerry. He sighed longingly. Oh, his omega wasso very good.
“Getting him to agree to testify to a future with you is going to be hard enough,” Yosef said. “He was resistant to the idea in our interview.” He pierced Janus with a hard look. “Haven’t you told him how you feel? He seemed to think you wouldn’t agree to such commitments, even when I told him that you’d already agreed to them in your interview with me. He seemed to think I pressured you.”
Janus rubbed his hand over his face, a groan escaping. “I haven’t spelled it out.”
“He has to know you love him,” Caleb said. “Wolf-god knows he loves you. He’s mad with jealousy about me.” He rolled his eyes. “Make all of this right, Janus. Fix this problem.”
“He won’t let me talk about the future!” Janus burst out. “I’ve tried. He shuts it down. I would dearly love to impart to him how deeply and ardently—”
“You admire him?” Caleb laughed. “Oh, Janus. Get down to the reality of it. I think your omega is going to need to have your intentions drilled into him.” He smirked. “Make of that what you will.”
Yosef sighed. “At the very least, you have to get him on the same page. The court and church might need bought off, and thank wolf-god Xan has the funds to see to that. But they will enjoy looking good for the press as well. The newspapers will be all over this, and having a compelling story about two lovers, an alpha and omega who are meant to be, will make the medicine go down a bit easier. No alphas enjoy seeing contracts broken. It leaves them feeling vulnerable.”
“Though most aren’t in the kind of contract that Kerry faces,” Caleb pointed out. “My parents weren’t very helpful when I contracted with Xan, but he made sure I had a top-notch attorney of my own, and well, of course,youwould never have set me up with a contract that didn’t give me certain rights.”
“Exactly. And, of course, once he’s free, I can walk him through a contract like that with you, Janus. Kerry will be allowed to leave you at any time, for any reason. He could leave you if you smile wrong.”
Caleb laughed again.
Janus frowned.
“Oh, stop, darling. He will never leave you. Why should he? You adore him. And giving him the freedom of a weak contract will only tighten his bond with you.” The babe popped off Caleb’s chest, and he hastened to cover himself up again, before turning the babe over his shoulder and patting him until he let out a series of deep burps.
“Charming,” Yosef said with a laugh that wrinkled his eyes.
“Of course, I have no problem with a weak contract,” Janus said. “I just want him to be sure. People have forced him into far too much.”
“Yes,” Yosef said grimly. “It sickened me to hear the details.”
Caleb grew solemn. “Does he need…other help? There are new doctors in the city. Men who help people with troubled minds.”
“Kerry has his wits about him,” Janus protested. “He only needs his wings back. It might take him some time, but he will fly on his own again.”
“Like his bird,” Caleb said with a smile.
The evening began to fall harder, and Caleb confessed to being hungry again. Nursing always left a man hungrier than usual. They started back up to the house together, their conversation reverting to more casual things, like Yosef’s partner Rosen, and his art show in the city. Which led to Caleb bringing up the plan for a charity art auction and Yosef’s assurance that, yes, Rosen would want to participate in that as well.
Janus enjoyed the sensation of beginning a friendship with Yosef, and the continuation of his friendship with Caleb, which for the first time felt unburdened by history or desires. He stopped, letting the others walk on ahead a bit, while he nudged a rock out of the path. It could be a tripping hazard if Kerry weren’t paying attention, and with his newly shifted center of gravity, it could result in a dangerous fall.
“Janus!” Zeke called from somewhere up the path, his next words coming in a panicked rush. “Come quick! It’s Kerry!”
Janus’s heart skipped a beat, and his mind filled with all sorts of horrible possibilities. “What’s happened?” he asked, running up the trail, leaving Yosef and Caleb behind. “What’s going on?”
“He’s hurting. I think it’s the baby.” Zeke’s accent thickened. “I think he’s a’comin’ early.”
Janus blinked. It wasn’t a good sign at all if the baby was on its way now. He’d be too small to live, and… He didn’t have time to think about that now. He needed to get to Kerry, confirm Zeke’s suspicions, and if they proved correct, then he’d need to get several items from Dr. Crescent’s supplies. There’d be no time to waste on worry.
He didn’t even realize that he’d left the rest of the group, including Zeke, behind until he was taking the stairs two at a time to get to Kerry, who was groaning loudly enough for Janus to hear as soon as he’d burst through the front door.
Throwing Kerry’s already ajar door wide, he rushed to where he sat sweating on the bed, his feet on the ground, his shirt off, and his hands protectively over his stomach. He met Janus’s eyes with a panicked expression of his own, but he said nothing, gritting his teeth and groaning as his stomach muscles tightened up hard.
