Chapter Forty-Seven

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"Spencer's awake."

Carson checked his bag once again to ensure he had everything as Edeline took a seat on the end of the bed, watching him.

"That's good news," he said.

Edeline nodded and patted the bed beside her.

"You have something to talk to me about."

Rolling his eyes, Carson declined the invitation by crossing his arms over his chest and remaining where he was.

"Good God, woman, will you ever stop sneaking into my thoughts?"

"I resent that," she replied. "If you must know, I heard it from Priya. She was practically giddy."

Carson groaned.

"I don't want to know."

"No, you really don't."

Shaking his head, Carson went back to his bag. He'd already unpacked it and rearranged things once already, but what if his passport wasn't where it should be when he needed it? He bent over and pulled out the selection of shirts he'd collected from his apartment.

Edeline got to her feet and rounded the bed to stand beside him. She was about to brush him out of the way, her hand already on the crook of his arm, when she paused.

"What is it?" he asked.

Reaching into the bag, her fingers brushed against the sweatshirt of his that she had worn non-stop while hiding in his apartment.

"You brought it."

Carson could feel the hot pulse of a blush rising into his cheeks. He felt slightly ridiculous that he still blushed at his age.

"Well, I was hoping..."

"Of course I want to go," she said.

"We don't need to stay with them. We'll get somewhere further away, keep our distance, just... close enough that Priya is around."

Edeline gathered the sweatshirt to her chest, breathing in the scent of it. It smelled more of her than it did him, these days, at least to him.

"It's okay," she said softly. "We can stay with them if it's easier."

"But, Spencer? Are you sure?"

Edeline replaced the sweatshirt carefully in the bag and turned to him.

"You leave Spencer to me."

"Are you—"

Pushing up onto her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek.

"August is laying the ground work as we speak. Leave the rest to me."

She beamed at him in a way that made it impossible to argue with her. Tapping her hand against his chest, she twirled away from him and danced out of the room.

"Costa Rica!" she called back.

Carson laughed. The vampires would never agree to somewhere so close to the equator where the nights would be short. Even Carson wasn't that fond of the idea of his full moons being shortened so drastically. But, as he returned to reorganising his bag, he promised that he would take Edeline on as many holidays as she desired, to every place either of them had ever wanted to go.

***

"This would have been much easier if you'd just let me carry you," August complained as he adjusted his grip on Spencer's waist and manoeuvred them carefully through the doorway.

Spencer huffed and moaned, gritting his teeth against the pain. William had been right, of course, Spencer had not been pleased that he'd been drugged, and had point blank refused to take more painkillers. It had been quicker, if not better, to agree to his request that he go upstairs.

"I'm not a child," Spencer said before giving him a pained smile. "Nor is it our wedding night."

"You expect me to carry you across the threshold?"

"Of course. Though somewhere nicer than this, obviously."

"Obviously. I never knew you were so traditional."

Spencer laughed, but from the cough and groan, clutching at his shoulder through the bandages, he instantly regretted it.

"Here, get on the bed."

"I don't think now's quite the time for a quickie."

"Oh, shut your mouth."

"That might be the first time that you've told me to close my mouth, Aug... ever."

If he weren't already so injured, August might have hit him. Truthfully, he was still half considering it.

He helped Spencer onto the bed, moving the pillows so that he wasn't lying flat. Taking a seat beside him, he rubbed Spencer's uninjured leg.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I lost a fight to a rabid bear," Spencer muttered, frowning. "And not the good kind."

"There's a good kind of rabid bear?" August asked. He shook his head. "You know what, don't answer that."

Spencer snuggled down into the pillows, closing his eyes and letting out a heavy sigh.

"Ruin all my fun."

Nodding, August leaned in, brushing Spencer's hair back. It had been a long time since they'd been truly intimate, and even this simple gesture felt like he was pushing it. But Spencer smiled softly, looking like he was about to fall asleep.

"Hey," he said slowly. "Before I let you sleep, we need to talk about something."

"Hmm?"

"It's about the wolves... and Edeline."

Spencer's eyes opened. They were wary.

"William is quite taken with Priya," August continued. "And with Priya, comes Carson and Edeline."

"You said it would be us, August," Spencer said slowly. "That we'd get away from everything."

"I know." Gulping, August looked down at his hands. He brushed down the front of his shirt, smoothing out the creases. "And if you don't want them with us, we will leave them at the airport."

"I don't think I can do it," Spencer said. "Seeing her every day, that temptation. I... I can't go down that path again. I won't be able to come back."

August took his hands and clutched them tight in his own.

"If I thought you were at risk of that, I would have said no already."

"You don't know the future," Spencer argued quietly. "I don't want to take you from your family. Maybe I should—"

"Don't even think of finishing that sentence!"

"But—"

Dropping Spencer's hands, August jumped off the bed, turning away from him.

"I said no!"

Spencer slumped further into the pillows. August's anger disappeared as quickly as it had come. He returned to his side, perching once again on the edge of the bed.

"Give me one month," he said.

"A month?"

"One month. If you think the temptation is too much, or if you're sick of William or Thomas, anything... we'll go."

Spencer nodded, but as August leaned close to kiss his temple, he twisted away, curling onto his side. August slowly got to his feet.

"I should get back to planning," he said. "You're to stay in bed, okay? I'll organise everything."

He went to the door, and just as he was closing it, he thought he heard a whisper following him.

"Yes, Sir."


AUTHOR'S NOTE

Sorry for the tardiness. I left the house at 7:30am yesterday and didn't get back until 11:30pm. 

But you're still getting two chapters today, so hurrah!

Remember to vote and comment... then head right on over to chapter forty-eight for a character who made me want to write a whole new series.

Chele


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