Page 23 of Vallaverse: Twist
I can't.
“Lazarus.”
Chapter Eleven
Brooks
When I saw Laz at the restaurant, he was wearing a suit. His hair was mostly in place. He looked stressed but well enough. Now, in the afternoon light, perched in the center of his bed, he looks... unwell. That's the best word to describe him right now.
His shirt is hanging on his thin frame the same way rags hang on a scarecrow. Heavy dark circles smudge his dull eyes, and he's visibly clammy.
“Are you alright? I ask him, taking a small step forward.
He pulls his bottom lip into his mouth, looking anywhere but at me, and nods.
“You don't look alright.”
He shrugs and focuses his gaze on the floral pattern on his comforter.
“Lazarus.”
He stops fidgeting but doesn't look at me.
“Look at me, Laz.”
My breath catches when he finally looks up at me. I can tell from the uneven dilation of his pupils that he's going to go into heat soon. But he really doesn't look well. The dark rings around his eyes make them look sunken, and paired with his pronounced cheekbones and jaw, he looks almost gaunt.
His scent, though... His scent will be a problem. I had no intentions of using the hours I paid his Alpha for for their obvious purpose, but I am going to struggle to keep my civilized composure if the pheromone level in this room rises even another half degree.
“I'll ask you again. Are you alright?”
He takes a small intake of breath. “I'm alright, Brooks. Did Kris call you here?”
“Kris is the woman?”
He nods.
“No,” I answer. “She didn't call. I called myself.”
Laz's shoulders sink. “Oh.”
“I wanted to see you again. The other night—“
Laz's eyes widen and dart toward the door behind me, and he bites both lips between his teeth.
Oh, I don't like that. But I lower my voice, just the same. “You sounded like... I wanted to come check on you. With my own eyes.”
“Thank you,” he whispers. “I'm okay.”
“Can I come sit with you?”
He hesitates but nods.
His scent gets stronger with every step I take toward the bed. This is such a mistake.
“Are you having a heat spike?” I ask him bluntly.
He blushes. “Sorry.”
