Page 34 of The Night Vision
“I can do that too,” Everly said in his soft, flat murmur, his head tilting as he smiled at Smoak.
A hard shudder passed through Smoak and his head jerked and his eyes rolled. “Stop!” he gasped as blood dripped from his nose and ear. “How dare you, you—!” he swung forward, his head slamming onto the empty plate in front of him and making the silverware rattle.
“What are you doing? Stop!” Niall begged Everly.
“Gae from me, imp!” Smoak bellowed as he threw himself back in his seat and grabbed the armrests, looking winded as he scowled at Everly in disgusted horror.
“See? I can do it too,” Everly said in his small voice, pleased as he clasped his hands in his lap and beamed around the table. “Nox taught me that I can learn anything I want because I’m a changeling.”
“Look at that!” Bryn boasted as he put an arm around Everly. “You’re such a badass,” he said and kissed Everly’s hair.
Merlin rapped his knuckles on the table, calling the room to order. “That was well done, indeed. But we’re all friends here and Nox would not want us to mistreat a guest, no matter how rude he is or how much he offends our host.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Nelson agreed. “Please, enjoy your dinner and the rest of the evening. We’ll talk in the morning,” he said, then left them.
Smoak left a few moments later but the mood remained tense and little was said as everyone ate and the table was cleared. Niall went to find Smoak, and Fletcher, the twins, Everly, and Merlin gathered in the study. The study looked extra stiflingwith so many extra people but Silas must have sensed that Tighe was getting a headache from all the talking and tension. He wished everyone a good night and graciously excused himself and Tighe for the evening.
For Tighe, it was interesting to see how everyone had dispersed after Nox and Nelson retired. He wasn’t surprised to see who would conspire together and that Merlin would want to manage the others and reassure them if there were concerns. Tighe also wondered if Silas was still jealous and harbored any resentment toward Smoak for coming between him and Niall. But at the moment, he was more concerned about what had been said at the table.
“I don’t think I want any part of a Hunt,” Tighe said as they undressed and he sat cross-legged on the bed, happy to be alone and naked again.
“That was nuts, right?” Silas had taken off his shirt and paused after he unzipped his jeans and leaned against the bathroom door. “They can’t meanthatkind of Hunt—like Odin’s,” he said but Tighe held up his hands.
“We had stories about our gods and a Hunt like that. I heard them as a child and then I read about them in a book about old gods. All I know is that I don’t want to spend a millennia hunting without rest, no matter how much I like Nox and his friends.”
“No, that’s not happening,” Silas stated with a hard shake of his head, stalking to the bed. He stepped out of his jeans and boxers, then lowered and crawled to Tighe’s lips. “That’s not why we found you. I wouldn’t have taken you from the woods if I wasn’t convinced that you were in danger.”
“I believe you.” Tighe fell back, pulling Silas on top of him. “I believe Nox too but I think he could change his mind later, like Smoak says. It makes sense.”
“Maybe but it doesn’t have to be our business,” Silas said simply. “We already have a plan, remember?”
Tighe nodded and twisted his lips, pondering the various plans already set in motion—by forces under Nox’s roof and far afield—and how they could become entangled and upended. Be it by the machinations of a demon or a warlock or the whims of a god, Tighe wanted something else: he wanted Silas.
“Is it hard to be this close to Niall? Do you wish you were with him now, instead of Smoak?” Tighe asked cautiously. “I would understand if you still loved him. You haven’t had very much time to—” he started but Silas stopped him with a kiss, pinning Tighe to the bed by his lips and with a hand around his neck.
His chest heaved and his nostrils flared when he released Tighe’s lips. “I haven’t cared about Niall like that or wanted anyone but you since I touched your skull in that vision. I loved you then and my soul was yours the moment our eyes met at the stream.”
“Mine?” Warmth and joy flooded Tighe’s chest and his eyes watered. He had spent years wandering alone and missing his brother, Tighe never imagined he’d feel that kind of love a. Or that someone like Silas would behis.
“Yours,” Silas stated, sealing the vow with another kiss. “It’s too fast and it doesn’t make sense, but I’ve never loved or needed anyone the way I need you.”
“This doesn’t feel fast to me,” Tighe said as he traced Silas’s brow and along his jaw. “I think I’ve always loved you and I’ve waited years to find you.”
“Damn it, Tighe!” Silas groaned as he kissed Tighe. He was hard as he rolled onto his back, pulling Tighe on top. There was a different kind of ache in his voice and touch and Tighe wanted to soothe it.
“What do you need? Tell me.”
Silas’s hand hesitated as it glided down Tighe’s back and he bit down on his lip. “Would you— Do you…like to…be on top?” he mumbled, avoiding Tighe’s eyes.
“I am on top,” he noted but understood what Silas meant when his neck and face turned red. “Oh! Yes!” he nodded quickly. “I was not on top very often with my brothers but I like that too!”
“You do?” Silas seemed relieved and relaxed, reaching for the drawer on the bedside table. “I’ve never tried it with anyone before, other than myself. Most of the guys I dated were bottoms and I never got comfortable enough with any of them to try or admit I wanted to.”
“I should be gentle, then,” Tighe said seriously and was intent as he studied the bottle of lube and its strange cap. “And I should use a lot of this.”
“Not too much, a little goes a long way,” Silas advised, once again fighting back a smile. He pressed on the lid and there was a softclickas it opened and Tighe could see a hole to pour it from. “You don’t have to betoogentle. I get a little rough with myself when I’m in a…frisky mood.”
“Are you in a frisky mood now?” Tighe asked as he scrambled to his knees, positioning himself between Silas’s thighs.
