When June kissed December (Completed)

Chapter 18

Pete shivers under that cool Kinn's gaze which slides over him. Only now he's beginning to realize that all the time Vegas has been watching him, starting with that fatal fall when he was child, Kinn was also somewhere nearby. He was watching Pete too. But on quite different purpose. That's where this feeling of grave cold creeping along the spine and striving to bind his whole body comes from. Vegas wasn't the one to be blamed.

"Well, well, well. And what do you want to talk to me about?"

Kinn sniffs the air along with Pete's new scent. He grins crookedly, revealing his teeth. But doesn't comment it in any way. As if the outcome is already a foregone conclusion. And what finally happened between Pete and his husband doesn't matter.

"I'm sure you can guess. But I'm not going to beat around the bush, and so I'm asking directly: what needs to be done to free you? All three of you," the omega clarifies, just in case.

Kinn tightens the belt of his silk robe, then reaches into his pocket and takes out a small thin flask, tightly stoppered. He holds the it up to Pete's face:

"Do you know what it is?"

"Probably not. But I would venture to assume that... poison?"

Kinn nods.

"Should I," Pete swallows, takes a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm the trembling in his legs, "should I drink it?"

Loud laughter is heard. Pete feels like its echo is rolling in waves outside the apartment. Finally, Kinn calms down, his gaze becomes even colder, as does the voice with which he speaks:

"This is for me. There's exactly one doze here."

Pete is shaking again. He gives himself ten seconds to gather the thoughts. Then he says:

"I don't understand you... You told Vegas that I was the one who had to do something."

Kinn shakes his head. Unkind laughter is heard again:

"I have only one thing that does not fit in my head even after more than a century of ordeal: how this scoundrel — even being a disgusting monster — makes such pure and immaculate creatures fall for him. He..." Kinn throws back his head and squints, his voice softens with hoarseness, "he did as well... and Vegas ruined everything. Even though we were friends. Best friends."

"Pachara did not fall for my husband. You are the only one he loved during his lifetime... and, believe me, he loves you now. Even Vegas admits it. The restless soul of that omega never found peace. And he was not reborn in another body. He shared all your earthly ordeals."

"If Vegas admits it, it's too late. Previously, he had to think when he stood between two true ones."

"He's remorseful. He does not absolve himself of guilt."

Kinn clenches his jaw and narrows the slits of his eyes:

"Don't you dare justify and defend him!"

"I'm even not trying! I'm just asking for a grain of understanding. He suffered too. And he is still suffering, living with a sense of guilt for what he has done and for condemning all of you to suffering!"

"I spent every day of this cursed existence as if buried alive. I'm freezing to the bone — but I can't die from the cold. I'm feverish — but I can't be burnt from this heat. I can't kill myself and no one else can do this to me. But I feel that everything will change soon. That's why I've always — for almost a hundred and thirty years — been carrying it with me," Kinn shows the flask of poison again, "it won't be long to wait. And as soon as I become mortal again, I will drink every last drop with a smile. And I'll meet him. But first," the alpha's gaze turns completely sinister, "I'm going to kill Vegas. He doesn't deserve to be happy."