Page 112 of Tell No Tales
Klaus laughed. "Oh, no. You'll not get out of it that easily. You drained everyone in the room with a single thought."
"They've seen that before," Vadim said. "Many times."
"But have they seen you bring someone back to life?" Klaus batted his eyes at him, his thick eyelashes making him look even more wide-eyed and innocent.
"Gods, you're beautiful." Vadim held up his tray to remind Klaus they needed to eat to regain their strength. Klaus looked like he would rather devour Vadim whole.
"You say the prettiest things," Klaus said as he made his way over the mattress to the back wall. He sat with his back to it, tray in his lap, and Vadim followed, taking his usual spot in the corner.
Vadim had left the door open for the light, and an inquisitive little feline head sneaked around the corner to gaze at them. Satisfied it was really them, Mewskers hopped onto the mattress and prowled toward them. He had grown in the few days they'd been gone, and his eyes and coat were much brighter than they had been.
"Someone took good care of you while we were gone." Vadim offered his hand, and the little scamp bopped his head against it.
"Hannah," Klaus said around a bite of hard roll. "They desperately want their own kitten."
"Wildfire'sship cats will be island cats soon enough, and they can take their pick."
They ate in silence until both their plates were empty, save for fish bones. Klaus gathered their tins and took them back to the galley, lest Mewskers try to chew on them.
Instead of following, Mewskers climbed into Vadim's lap and pawed at his chest.
"Did you miss us?"
"Mew?" It was a question, one Vadim didn't know how to answer.
Mewskers pawed at his chest again, and then hopped off him when Klaus returned and closed the door behind him.
Vadim still had the pen light in his pocket. He tapped it against his index finger, and the light filled the small space, far brighter than usual.
"You're glowing like the sun," Klaus said. "I noticed it when I landed on the air ship, but I didn't want to mention it, if it's something new."
Vadim stared at the light in awe. "This must be part of my balance." He didn't feel drained, even though he'd used death weaves to get them out of the palace and the tower, and healing weaves on Hugo's disease.
"And you said I was beautiful."
Klaus gave him another of his bright smiles, and Vadim's heart ached. How had he assumed he could resist? The thought of pushing Klaus away after everything they'd shared hurt worse than Hesse's death, or betraying Efren.
"I love you," he confessed, staring up at Klaus as he stood by his feet. "I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. It's like hearing a voice crying out for help. I can't deny them solace, even if it means their death. I can't deny the tiny voice in my conscience anymore, either. I have loved you since the day you asked me not to kill you."
"That was far easier than I expected." Klaus kneeled beside him, his knees pressed to the curved ship wall, not touching him, but close enough to feel his warmth. "Why does that make you sad?"
"I don't want to burden you with …" with both hands, he motioned from his head to his feet, "all this."
"You're not a burden."
The amount of sheer joy pouring through their bond shocked Vadim to silence.
"You are kind, sweet, and gorgeous," Klaus traced the scar over Vadim's left eye with his thumb as he straddled his legs. Finally, the physical connection settled Vadim's anxiety so he could relax against the ship's wall and bask in Klaus's love. "You are everything I ever wanted in a man, and more than I could have ever hoped. And somehow, you love me as much as I love you."
Vadim swallowed hard, certain he'd misheard. "You love me?"
"I have loved you since you jumped off this ship to save me. Maybe before then." Klaus brought Vadim's hands to his lips to kiss his open palms. "Then, you trusted me enough to touch me without your gloves on, and I fell even harder."
"Of course I trust you, but how could you trust me? You don't know what I've done."
"We've both done shitty things for Coryn." Klaus lowered their joined hands between them. "We're not our pasts. We made it this far. Imagine the greatness we'll accomplish together."
Mewskers took advantage of the opening, snuggling between them and rubbing uncomfortably against Vadim's cock. "Mew!" The kitten looked up at him with the same smug look he had when he finished a tin of fish guts.
