Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 45

Do what? 

My eyes shift towards the creature who is my soul mate, the one being engulfed in black. The one who's willing was fading because this youthful version of himself was so busy trying to be accepted that anyone who batted an eye at him received his attention. But, as Marisol had often lamented, it was fleeting feelings. He couldn't be held to one person, not only did he lack the focus but he was a young warlord coming into his own. 

"You're not my husband, that's my husband." I scowl. 

"That's the problem, isn't it? You've been right shit to be around since we came to this time." 

I nearly choke on the audacity. "Good to see that your priorities are straight. I'm trying to save my family. I'm trying to send you home."

"You remind me of every pompous prick I worked for as a guard! Perhaps consider that you're killing your own attempts with your foul nature! You're horrid to be around!" He sounds so genuine, so hurt, I'd strike him for his ridiculous behavior if he didn't sound so much like me when I was his age. I consider my time with the warlord. 

I thought of him as coarse, too. Calloused, lacking emotion, and yet so locked away that I couldn't help but wish to peel back the layers. I knew when he touched me that there was gentleness behind the blood, grit, and scars. My body overloads with magic, I feel like I'm going to implode, finding myself wishing I hadn't taken the enhancer. 

Too often I've jumped to violence, thrown the city into turmoil. Glancing around, I see the decimation, the horrified faces, no wonder these people wanted to get rid of us. We were dangerous and unpredictable, and we bred danger wherever we went. There was a time when I was the Good King, when I held rallies instead of lobbying for revolutions. 

Now was not the time to convince this man that I was his life partner, that I would be the one to bring him back every time he tried to dive into the abyss. I couldn't compare to Caspian in that regard, I couldn't shower him with desire and lust as the Spanish man did at every opportunity. "You're going to have to look beyond the physical and see the fact that I am fighting for you, the you that is here and belongs here. That I am madly in love with this man who is dying because-" 

Stopping, I feel my throat tighten. Verando had warned me he was young, broken, I'd seen the drug-induced fracture of his mental state. "Because-" I pause, allowing the wolf to make an approach. "I'm not doing a good enough job in showing you how important you are to me. It's not your fault you're here.. it's not your fault you are struggling to cope, it is, however, my fault, that I'm not reassuring you that I'm still going to love you."

It didn't matter how often I said it, how much I pointed it out, I must reveal it and it was something I struggled with. Outward affection came with unending lust or snarky commentary, that was not something that this younger version thrived on or what my current husband needed. I'm speaking to both of them, my gaze locked on the black orbs staring me down. 

This enhancer would be good for one thing, I could heal his bleeding wounds, I could pull the ink out of his body if he'd let me. Exhaling slowly, I extend my hand. "I love you so much, Randy. Let me help you." 

He flashes his teeth, bristling his coat. "Verando is no longer in this vessel. Do not tempt me with flesh when it's that of a man. I've tasted innocent blood, your coward of a friend is long gone. It's about time this body was allowed to do what it was designed to do."

I ready myself, shifting my stance. "Randy... I don't want to hurt you but I've got to get this out of you." It seemed like an easy enough task, to separate the darker entity from the lighter one, to pull the 'ink' from his form. 

Randy makes an uncertain face, "Are you sure you're going to be able to do that? Seems like quite the feat and I haven't seen you do much magic?"

Cracking my neck, I shake out my arms to ready myself.  "I'm one of the most powerful Solomanari to ever live before I was converted into a Lycan, I think I can manage this." Or, at least I hope. "Good thing is, you're immortal.. so there is a margin for error as long as I don't stop your heart."