Page 67 of Galen
Galen exhaled before holding me a little tighter. “It’s not a happy story.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“Very well. His name was Marcus,” Galen said, his tone distant just like the look in his eyes. “I first met him when I attended a gladiator match. I thought the games to be barbaric, though I took a sick satisfaction from them. It made me feel better about my own depravity. Humans could be such dreadful and cruel creatures. If the Creator still loved them despite that wickedness, it gave me hope that perhaps one day I’d be loved by Him as well.” He glanced over at me. “I was silly back then.”
“I don’t think it’s silly. So you met Marcus while watching the games?”
“Yes,” Galen answered. “He was the one in the arena.”
I gaped. “He was a gladiator?”
“A famous one, at that. The crowd cheered his name as he stood covered in blood, raising his sword as dead men lay at his feet.” Galen smiled, and that nagging jealous sensation returned to my chest. I’d wanted to know though. Needed to. “I was intrigued by him and met with him after the match. We…” He looked away from me. “Well, you don’t need all the details. After weeks of us… seeing each other… I purchased him.”
“Youpurchasedhim?” I asked, appalled.
“Many gladiators at the time chose to fight for honor and glory, but some were forced to because they were slaves,” Galen answered. “I paid off his debt to release him from his former master. Even after I freed him, Marcus chose to stay by my side. We built a home together. A life.”
“What about your brothers? You didn’t live with them?”
He shook his head. “Back then, we had our own lives. We still kept in touch but lived separately. Marcus and I were happy. For a short time, at least. And then that happiness was ripped away.” Galen moved his gaze to the sky, his shoulders tensing. “After we defeated Lucifer and most of his generals, my father included, the rest of his dark army fled. The demons were confined to the underworld. When I met Marcus, we hadn’t come across any demon activity in years. It was a rare time of peace for us. And like a fool, I let my guard down.”
My stomach knotted up as I suspected what happened.
He continued. “What we didn’t know? In those years of supposed peace, Belphegor was gaining power and building an army of his own. When he finally attacked, we were taken by surprise. I came home one evening to find Marcus outside. He’d just checked on the animals because rain was expected. For having been a ferocious gladiator, he had such a kindness to him. I remember him turning to smile at me. That’s when the demon appeared.” Galen’s hand tightened into a fist. “His throat was sliced so deep it nearly decapitated him. I caught him as he fell and screamed as his blood puddled around us both. I tried to heal him, but our powers have limits. He was already dead. I had never felt such pain before. Or such rage.”
It made sense now. The man Galen loved had been killed right in front of him. His anger had then consumed him.
“What happened after that is somewhat of a blur,” Galen said. “I remember fighting demons with my brothers, my anger only intensifying with each one I killed. Lazarus appeared with an army of angels, and Belphegor fled, taking his demons with him. But even after the fighting was done, I couldn’t calm down. The bloodlust took me over, and I started attacking innocent people. Lazarus locked me away in a cell outside of the celestial realm. It was the only thing strong enough to hold me. My mind was gone, Simon. All I knew was anger. I wanted everyone to suffer.”
“How did you come back?”
“Gray,” he answered. “Alastair begged Lazarus not to kill me before approaching my cage. I slammed against the bars, grinding my teeth so hard I tasted blood. And then I heard a small voice say my name. I looked down to see Gray with huge tears in his eyes. He reached through the bars and grabbed my hand. It brought some sanity back to me. The rage then turned to grief as I fell to my knees and cried for what felt like hours. I swore to myself that I’d never fall in love again. It’s too dangerous.”
“I can’t really argue with your decision now,” I said, my heart sinking. “God. I feel so selfish.”
“You’re not selfish for wanting love, Simon. That’s only human. I’m the selfish one. I brought you here and let myself get close to you despite all the reasons why I shouldn’t. I apologize for that.”
My heart weighed heavily and ached as I absorbed everything he’d said. I wanted to slap him for walking into my life. I wanted to call him an asshole and shove him away from me. But I also wanted to hold on to him and never let go.
“You’re such a jerk,” I said, pressing myself closer to him. “I should punch you.”
Galen’s body shook with a light laugh. There was something sad about it. “I’d let you. I deserve far worse.”
“No, you don’t. You told me from the start that it was just sex. It’s my fault for getting attached.”
“I never marked Marcus, you know,” Galen said. “He never touched my shoulder blades either.”
I peered up at him. “He didn’t?”
“I always took him from behind so his hands never wandered. He didn’t even know I was a Nephilim.” Galen lifted a hand to my cheek, wiping away a stray tear that escaped. “I was so desperate to live a normal life back then that I kept secrets from him. You’re smiling.”
“No, I’m not.”
“It pleases you to know you’re the only one.” He lowered his face to my neck and gently bit me right above my collarbone. I moaned and tilted my head back to give him better access. He grazed his teeth back up my throat before placing his mouth beside my ear. “This is why being with you scares me, Simon. My body aches for yours. My lips yearn to taste you. My hands long to touch your soft skin. You calm the anger inside my veins.”
“I do?”
“Mhm.” He kissed my earlobe, and shivers moved along my skin. In a low, husky voice, he then said, “When I’m with you, I can breathe so much easier. My soul feels lighter. I say I can let you go, that I can keep you at a distance, but the truth is, I crave you like I’ve never craved anyone else. And the thought of you leaving pains me. It’s why, deep down, I know I’m fucked.”
