The Wolf King (The Wolf Kings #1) (MLM)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.

                Jack listened intently for any sign of what was going on out in the hall, but he supposed Tiberius's room was sound proof. He had a suspicion why, with the giant bed and its many silk sheets, but he preferred not to lose sight of the crappy situation he was in.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the door opened and Tiberius came in. Jack craned his neck to look over his shoulder, but the hall was empty. As soon as he closed the door, Jack was on him.

"What'd you do to them?" he demanded. "What'd you say? Tiberius, I told you, we left because of me and I can explain every—"

Jack was cut off suddenly as Tiberius grabbed his face in his hands and crashed their mouths together. He was surprised, but Tiberius was kissing him with a ferocity he never had before, like he was trying to hurt Jack as much as love him.

Jack felt the back of his knees hit the bed, and he let out a yelp as he fell backwards, the sound muffled against Tiberius's lips. Tiberius ran his hands roughly over Jack's body, his touch burning Jack even through his clothes, until Jack couldn't breathe. He gripped Tiberius's shoulders firmly and pulled away, gasping for air. Tiberius panted against his neck, his body hovering over Jack's without touching him, his hips between Jack's legs.

"They vanished," Tiberius said hoarsely. "I . . . I didn't even question it because I . . . I felt a pain in my chest. I knew you were too far away. Do you have any idea what it did to me? Running back here only to find that you were gone?" He looked up, meeting Jack's eyes, and quietly said, "Do you even care?"

Jack felt like he'd been slapped. He pushed himself up as Tiberius turned his back to him, walking to the end of the room and leaning against the wall. He stared at Jack like he couldn't be fully assured that he was safe, but at the same time didn't want to touch him.

"Tiberius, I . . ." he found himself at a loss. He'd never experienced this kind of cold distance between him and Tiberius, and he hated it. He hated it more than he could've expected. "I did it for you, I . . . I saw wisps during the battle."

Tiberius's agitation deepened. "You mean like the wisps that led you to the trolls?"

"No," Jack said for what felt like the millionth time, and explained. He told Tiberius everything, how he'd seen the wisps outside his window, how they'd felt different to the last one. He told him about his and Everett's theory that someone had tried controlling the wisp last time, and how these ones had taken him and the others down to a room with a rock down below the castle.

"And that's where you found the witch?" Tiberius frowned.

"Yeah!" Jack said. "Yes, and she—"

"Threatened you," he finished coldly. "She threatened you. Do you understand what that means?"

"I—" Jack shook his head. "Weren't you listening? Graham was talking to a witch. He's been planning something this entire time! The wisps only showed up because I wanted some way to save you! Sounds to me like the witches disappeared after the one we found left. This all has to do with that rock and Graham somehow—"

"I don't care," he said. He sounded angry and weary and frustrated all at once. "I don't care why you did it, Jack, I don't care who else was involved. All I care about is getting here and finding you gone." He stood. "I thought a witch had taken you away, don't you get that?"

"I—I do, but . . ." he really didn't like this distance between them. "I just wanted to help you, the battle didn't stop until we found the witch responsible, you could've been hurt a lot worse if it had gone on any longer—"